DiscussMormonism.com

Liz, I like you, and I think that hearing your story, as well as your POV on your faith would help to balance out the flavor here at MD. You see, we have the TBM stories, complete with Wade's rant, and we have some very colorful exit stories. But we haven't heard the point of view of those "in the middle" per se, those who stay but who don't always agree. I want to explore life from your POV. As well as others, if they consent. So I'm pleased that you are allowing me to interview you. You rock, chica!

Onto my initial questions:

1. How long have you been a member? Were you born into the church or converted?

2. If converted, what "cinched" it for you?

3. Is your family LDS?

4. How have you been able to balance your more liberal views with a more stringent church culture?

5. Would you say that wards have a different makeup given their geographical location, and that in some places, SLC doesn't have as much of a pull as perhaps they would like to?

6. What do you think of TBMs? How do you think that exmos, non-Mormons and less fundamentalist Mormons should approach them?

7. When do we get to do our duet?

That's all for now, over and out! *grin*

Hey girl!

:)

I like you, too! We need to do that duet real soon! ;)

1. I've been a member of the Church all my life. I grew up in California. My Mom was also born into the Church. My Dad, however, is a convert. He joined the Church partly because of my Mom. However, he did gain his own testimony of the gospel, and later converted most of his family.

2. Although I grew up in the Church, I gained my own personal testimony when I was in the 6th grade, and decided to read The Book of Mormon cover to cover. I had a very strong witness that what I was reading was true.

3. My parents and grandparents on both sides are LDS. My husband's family is also LDS. His uncle is a fairly well-known GA.

Today is my day off from work, and my 3 year old is getting into my daughter's candy, so I need to go. I'll answer the rest of your questions a little later, though.

Thanks for interviewing me! This is fun!

:)

Liz, I am honored that you have graced me with your interview. I look forward to the rest, but until then, rest up and take care of you and your loved ones. :-)

I'm going to answer #4 in more detail when I have a chance to really dedicate to it. I will say, that I have always been an independent thinker, and am not afraid to question pieces of any organization which I disagree with.

Thanks again, GIMR! I appreciate your patience. I really do want to continue the interview when I have a little more time to dedicate to it. I should be able to answer the rest of your questions in more detail on Monday.

:)

Liz

Sure babes!

I'm doing a final project, myself. And I might have to take on an extra part of the other one I was involved in for my other class, as we've lost our scribe, and one person seemed to have been kidnapped in week two!

*sigh*

Oh well, I have to grow up someday. Damn, why today?

4. How have you been able to balance your more liberal views with a more stringent church culture?

5. Would you say that wards have a different makeup given their geographical location, and that in some places, SLC doesn't have as much of a pull as perhaps they would like to?

6. What do you think of TBMs? How do you think that exmos, non-Mormons and less fundamentalist Mormons should approach them?

Hi GIMR! Thanks for being patient with me...and anyone else who cares to read this. LOL!

In answer to question #4, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I was always brought up to be a free thinker. My parents were also very big on NOT being judgemental of anyone, and I really took it to heart. In reading the scriptures, one of the main points I extracted was that it was God's place to judge us...and it would be in His way, at His time, which is still a mystery to us. WE are expected to love everyone as a child of God. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't protect our family against people who are trying to harm us, but it does mean that we need to respect other people's choices, even if they differ from our own.

Holding this principle as a guide basically allowed me to see that a lot of the Mormon Church is cultural in nature. I think that there are many ways to worship God. It is your choice how you do it. If you choose to worship God through Mormonism, then great! If you choose Catholicism, Judaism, etc. that's great, too! I have never bought the whole "our Church is the only true Church" concept.

But that's what's great about being an individual and thinking on your own. You can take the good things out of religion and leave the bad. I don't think there is anything wrong with this. View the ordinances of the temple as symbolic and cultural, just like a Catholic mass.

5. Would you say that wards have a different makeup given their geographical location, and that in some places, SLC doesn't have as much of a pull as perhaps they would like to?

In answer to this question, I definitely concur that geography has a lot to do with how people react in different wards. Growing up in California, our views were a lot more liberal, and we we had a lot more freedom with introducing different types of music, etc. I've noticed the same thing in NC, where I am located now. My husband and I lived in Utah for four years when the girls were small, and HATED it. We lived in Orem, and some of the most un-Christian people I have ever met were in the Ward I attended. Our next door neighbors were Catholics. We became very close friends with them. They shared horror stories with us regarding how they were discriminated against when it came to renting a house! It was rediculous. I could go into much more detail here, but it was a pretty painful time for me, so let's just suffice it to say that living in Utah was a definite negative experience for me.

6. What do you think of TBMs? How do you think that exmos, non-Mormons and less fundamentalist Mormons should approach them?

I think that you have to treat everyone as an individual. You can't really lump all TBM's in one category any more than you can lump all ex-Mo's, etc. into one category. I have several TBM's who I am very good friends with. I do find that I am a little more guarded in what I say around them because, unfortunately, our Church tends to be a Church of gossip, and I don't really need my personal business getting back to the bishop, etc.

I basically just try to treat everyone the way I want to be treated. That's the way I've always lived my life.

GIMR wrote:Sure babes!

I'm doing a final project, myself. And I might have to take on an extra part of the other one I was involved in for my other class, as we've lost our scribe, and one person seemed to have been kidnapped in week two!

*sigh*

Oh well, I have to grow up someday. Damn, why today?

Doesn't it suck when real life steps in? Right now, our whole family has been suffering from a terrible upper respiratory virus. Somehow, I'm at work. I'm trying to keep a distance from my students so I don't give them this mess.

Good luck with your project! :)

Also....who says you HAVE to grow up? ;) I haven't yet! LOL :)

liz3564 wrote:

GIMR wrote:Sure babes!

I'm doing a final project, myself. And I might have to take on an extra part of the other one I was involved in for my other class, as we've lost our scribe, and one person seemed to have been kidnapped in week two!

*sigh*

Oh well, I have to grow up someday. Damn, why today?

Doesn't it suck when real life steps in? Right now, our whole family has been suffering from a terrible upper respiratory virus. Somehow, I'm at work. I'm trying to keep a distance from my students so I don't give them this mess.

Good luck with your project! :)

Also....who says you HAVE to grow up? ;) I haven't yet! LOL :)

Aren't you on Christmas break yet? My youngest son is out already. He had finals last week.

I think Christmas break was invented so everyone could stay home and recover from all the sickness sharing recycled air rains down on us.

Aren't you on Christmas break yet? My youngest son is out already. He had finals last week.

I think Christmas break was invented so everyone could stay home and recover from all the sickness sharing recycled air rains down on us.

LOL! Agreed!

Wednesday is our last day before break.

:)

Liz,

Your views are refreshing! "Meeting" folks like yourself has convinced me that there is indeed hope for the future of the church through you. I'll get back to our interview later! :D