DINAH: I remember when, at age 12, I spent Young Women’s activities cutting wedding dresses out of magazines and making lists of all the qualities I wanted in the man who would someday “take me to the temple.” As a child of the 90’s, my girlhood was filled with movies and stories of Happily Ever After. The princess always find their prince – and the Mormon girl always finds her Returned Missionary. In the movies, the heroine’s adventure would end (or begin?) with her wearing a big, beautiful dress during her big, beautiful wedding which, of course, took place in a big beautiful castle. That would be me. Someday my castle would be the Temple of the Lord.
Continue reading “A Memory on the 5th Anniversary of the LDS Policy Shift on Marriages and Sealings”
I Need a Mother God
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.
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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.
Continue reading “I’m Not Alone!”
Sisters Quorum 