This last weekend was general conference. Conference happens twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Basically the big wigs in our church get up in front of the world and televise their talks, thoughts, doctrine whatever they feel is relevant to the church population in general. There are dozens of speakers over 2 days and about 12ish ours of speakers.
Let me just first point out that over those dozens of speakers only 3 (I think) this conference session were women and just a handful are people of color. This year there was actually an African American woman who spoke in conference. This is a HUGE first! Now kudos to the church for including her in their speaking lineup, they are REALLY into pointing her out at this point. I think they want to show people how progressive they are...The church has been around for almost 200 years and now is the first time a black woman has been asked to speak...umm...good for you? But I digress.
I made a post on my facebook page regarding conference, here's what it said:
No bashing, no saying that I now think it's a load of poo. Nothing like that. Frankly conference can be so hard for some people. They teach and preach inclusion and love over the pulpit (not always sometimes it's blatant racism, sexism, homophobia choose your poison) all the while not including a lot of these people in their doctrine and covenant making. For example: To be a member in good standing and be LGBTQ you must remain single and celibate. In order to receive all the blessings of eternal life you must be married to a person of the opposite sex. If you are a woman you cannot hold the priesthood or be a leader of men because you do not hold the priesthood, you can lead other women and children. If you are a person of color you just got the blessings of the temple and priesthood in the 1970's, before that the color of your skin prevented you from having these privileges. So you see why some people may have a hard time with some things said at conference?
I 100% want to be a safe place for anyone who needs to rant/vent/chat about the teachings of the church always! This was my way of putting it out there and not making a stink. Cuz, trust me I wanna make a stink. I wanna shout what I have learned from the roof tops but I also respect my LDS friends enough to know they are happy where they are and that's ok too. I put this blog out there and they can choose to read or not.
I totally know if I have the "right" bishop and stake president (leadership roulette is a thing) I could be excommunicated just for my facebook post and this blog. I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon but I have read about and heard of others being "X'd" for a lot less.
Anyhoo someone on my post decided to link to a conference talk...Ummm...I'm not about that anymore and someone else decided to point out to me that I don't have to "eat the whole elephant at once"...whatever that means. I'm not really sure.
Just like anything I say isn't going to sway those true believing mormons to not believe, anything they say isn't going to bring me back to the church. If anything ever brings me back it would literally take a vision of, I don't know God and Jesus coming to me and telling me that I need to go back to the LDS church. So not likely happening any time soon. I also know to never say never because I did say I'd never leave and here I am.
Thing that would need to change for me even to consider coming back:
LGBTQ people having all the rights and privileges that every one else has. Ability for them to enter the temple and be sealed to whomever they want (consenting adults only please). I want them to be able to hold callings and have priesthood and be welcomed into the church just as they are.
Women getting the priesthood. I'm not saying all women want the priesthood but those that do should have the option of having it and being able to hold any calling a man can hold. PERIOD
Stop baptizing little children and forcing them into an "agreement" they don't have any clue what it means!
If a bishop or any leader finds out about abuse happening to anyone the police instantly get called 100% of the time ZERO concern for their own legal liabilities.
Don't tell me what to watch, wear, read, listen to, write, question EVER...
The list could continue but let's start here. Yes, I know a lot of these won't happen at least for 50 more years, if ever. So here I sit. Wishing for change, knowing it won't happen and frustrated that no matter how I feel about the church and no matter how much I put out there that I'm done with it there will still be people in my life that are gonna try and "reactivate" me.
It's not gonna happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment