TW: Miscarriage
DINAH: I’d always been a bit of a weird child, if I’m being honest. I spent my childhood on a small ranch in the desert, in a small town, with no close neighbors. I spent much of my time outdoors, with my different assortment of animals, creating my own fun and very much living in my own world. I was supported in my weirdness, and was never stifled. My hair wild and my feet dirty, I was allowed to roam with my body and my mind. From my earliest memories came the whisperings of spirit. I formed my own sense of spirituality and connection. I would often sit outside with my eyes closed to the world, and feel nature and God glowing all around me. They were synonymous to me. Spirit was everywhere, and I absorbed it in many forms.
I’m Not Alone!
DINAH: The women were speaking. And there I was, sitting with tears in my eyes and fire in my heart as I read through responses to the LDS Church’s Instagram post that quoted Sis. Anette Dennis as saying, “There is no other religious organization in the world, that I know of, that has so broadly given power and authority to women.” The post that was heard around the world. The disgust I felt upon first reading the quote turned into a swelling of pride for this womanhood that I was a part of. We would be silent no longer. We would speak our minds, even if stating it publicly was terrifying. We were eloquent, we were informed, and we were beautifully making our point. I sat in disbelief, pouring through each new thought on the situation, and trying to keep up with each new comment. Numbering in the thousands, they were coming in quickly. I’m sure the surprise would have been evident across my face if anyone had been around to see it. But with the kids in school and the house to myself, I was allowed rare quiet time to process it all.
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The Grace in My Mother’s Love
MIRIAM: One thing about losing my mom is that she was like air and water to me. She had always been there in my life and, despite being a mother of many children, she never let me down when I needed her.
There’s another layer to it, though. She did so much invisibly that her absence now has been that much more of a shock.
Mom had the obvious responsibilities, like the shopping, meals, and housework. But what she also gave us was curiousity about the world, empathy for others and ourselves, and a voice always ready to sing. At church, she was a teacher and hymn conductor, but also she could really see people with an uncanny ability to understand and love them.
I grew up with an LDS mother who was always the helper but never the owner of the work. She kept the house together but Dad had the final word. She made beautiful programs and lessons happen at church, but priesthood leaders had to approve it all, in one way or another.
I wish I could have seen my mom come into her own more, be herself more without a thought to others, speak her opinions more, seek her own happiness more.
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The First Time I Realized My Body was Wrong for Morming: A Poem by Sachiko
READER POST: The first time I realized my body was wrong for Morming (abmormal?)
was when the t-shirts arrived for Girl’s Camp.
How beautiful upon the mountains was the cotton-poly
On the wise virgins who had saved all their body fat for their breasts,
The only curve that we were supposed to hint through the veil of Hanes.
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Cancelled: Resigned LDS Mother of Trans Child Forbidden from Singing in Christmas Service
READER POST: I come from pioneer Mormon heritage on both sides. I’m deeply Mormon. I graduated from early morning seminary where I watched many a vibrant sunrise while driving to the stake center. I graduated from the institute program in college, a program designed to take four years, but I finished in two (curtsy). I graduated from BYU in Provo, Utah. I was married to my husband in the temple of the Lord. I feel Mormon deeply in my soul. My oldest child (age 17) is transgender, and he is good and holy, and the binaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t work for him. After a few years of trying to make it work for me and working so hard to educate my leaders on how they can be more inclusive, and moving millimeters, I came to the realization that if it doesn’t work for him, it doesn’t work for me. We are a package deal.
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Interview with an LDS Survivor of Child Sex Abuse
TW: Child sex abuse
SISTERS QUORUM: On behalf of everyone at Sisters Quorum, let me begin by saying how much we appreciate you sharing what is a difficult, intensely personal story. SQ believes it’s vital that the experiences of LDS victims of sexual abuse be heard in an effort to improve the pastoral care within the LDS system and culture, as well as encourage accountability for perpetrators of crimes. Please know that we only want you to share what you feel safe sharing.
So let’s get started. In your own words, what is your story of sexual abuse?
Anonymous: My stepfather sexually abused my older sister and me for five years. My older sister ran away at age 13 and didn’t tell anyone about the abuse. She ended up going to live with my dad, and that’s when our stepfather started abusing me. I was six years old. My sister thought I was too young and he wouldn’t come after me, but he did.
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Labels: A Response to Pres. Nelson’s Social Media Post
READER POST: I’m encountering quite a bit of social media discussion right now about the labels people wear after Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared his thoughts about them on social media last Wednesday. As the mother of a teenage trans son, I’ve been processing my thoughts and feelings ever since. Before I share them, here’s what Pres. Nelson wrote:
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Be Careful Who You Shun in the Name of the Lord
ATHENA: As General Conference weekend spins up, I find myself dreading the fallout even more than I usually do. This past year has been a rough one for people on the margins of Mormondom, and I am one of those people. I tried for a very long time to maintain a position in the center, to belong to the in-crowd, until I just couldn’t anymore. The LDS church was hurting me in very specific ways, and because of that, I grew to understand how much pain church membership was causing other people for whom I cared deeply. I guess you could say my empathy chip finally activated.
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To Bind Up The Broken Hearts: An Open Letter to the Brethren on Heavenly Mother
READER POST: The first religious value I remember being taught was obedience. Obedience to authority, to the priesthood, to adults, to parents, and to God. I learned about a God who tested His children. A God who gave and took at His mysterious will, according to a metric that made no sense from my mortal perspective.
He gave Abraham and Sarah a son, and then asked them to give up their child’s life in sacrifice…a test that only ended when He was confident Abraham would obey. I learned about Mary consenting to be the handmaid of the Lord and that it was an honor to be chosen to do so. I learned about a God that gave multiple wives to powerful men, who in turn gave children to their husbands. I learned about a God who commanded Emma to support her husband as he took more wives, and that she would face condemnation if she didn’t comply. I learned that (for at least one woman) the promised blessing of giving herself to the Prophet in marriage was exaltation, but the punishment for her refusal, a fiery sword.
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LDS Women Testify of Heavenly Mother
SISTERS QUORUM: Every six months, as General Conference approaches, members of the LDS Church discuss their hopes about what will come from the pulpit. This go-round, however, LDS women are talking about their fears rather than their hopes. Leaks are coming from stake training meetings and other sources, suggesting this General Conference will be used to quash independent, spiritual pursuit of Heavenly Mother. When SQ asked LDS women to share their personal experiences with Heavenly Mother and their reactions to the possibility SLC will attempt to silence Her–and them–once again, twelve women gave us glimpses into their intimate, spiritual experiences. We were moved and think you will be, too.
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Sisters Quorum 