Thanks for last month's activity in Phoenix. My daughter and I attended. It was a great event for me personally to be in a room where I felt "at home" with my thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. I am a faithful listener of ALSSI, and a faith filled member of our church. The two of you help me think through difficult situations that I have worried over for many years. I am 76, and at my age you know that I have served in almost every calling that our church offers a woman. My husband and I have seven children. I felt like I would never "be enough" even after I had given my all to my extended and immediate family, my church, and my community. My husband is very easy going, and I felt like it was my job to basically raise our children with the idea that we need to "qualify, earn, and fix" everyone and everything possible.
Fifty years ago, our oldest daughter drowned when she was two-years-old. I felt responsible since I was the adult there when it happened. I was only 26 at the time, and I struggled with my worth. About twenty years ago our youngest daughter took her name off of the membership records of our church. She has since come out queer. Thanks to her, she helped me begin a new mindset and feeling about who I am and the worth of my soul. Some of my children want their "young mother" back in their lives. The other half of my children have embraced their "newer mother" and their queer sister. As a result of this situation and others, we now have a divided family with strong opinions.
Susan and Cynthia, you have helped me navigate some of the messy things I have encountered over time. I appreciate your humble attitudes that you never have the answers. Thank you for having the discussions, bringing up new ideas, challenging some of my former thoughts, and bringing me to a more comfortable and peaceful place in my life.
Last week, I commented in Relief Society that less emphasis should be placed on saying, we "KNOW" and more on we, "BELIEVE". Crickets in the room.....it felt very lonely. The teacher just looked confused. I wanted to say believing is a gift of the spirit. The scriptures even say that. But, I decided I didn't have the energy to try that day.
I had Stake Conference on Sunday where the “visiting authority” said 1. If your personal revelation doesn’t align with the prophet, it’s not revelation. And 2. You cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ if you don’t believe in Joseph Smith. My jaw was on the ground! I’m still processing what comes over the pulpit. Appreciate you guys!!
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say I've spent my whole life processing what comes over the pulpit. Some things I've processed more successfully than others... —S.
Thanks for last month's activity in Phoenix. My daughter and I attended. It was a great event for me personally to be in a room where I felt "at home" with my thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. I am a faithful listener of ALSSI, and a faith filled member of our church. The two of you help me think through difficult situations that I have worried over for many years. I am 76, and at my age you know that I have served in almost every calling that our church offers a woman. My husband and I have seven children. I felt like I would never "be enough" even after I had given my all to my extended and immediate family, my church, and my community. My husband is very easy going, and I felt like it was my job to basically raise our children with the idea that we need to "qualify, earn, and fix" everyone and everything possible.
Fifty years ago, our oldest daughter drowned when she was two-years-old. I felt responsible since I was the adult there when it happened. I was only 26 at the time, and I struggled with my worth. About twenty years ago our youngest daughter took her name off of the membership records of our church. She has since come out queer. Thanks to her, she helped me begin a new mindset and feeling about who I am and the worth of my soul. Some of my children want their "young mother" back in their lives. The other half of my children have embraced their "newer mother" and their queer sister. As a result of this situation and others, we now have a divided family with strong opinions.
Susan and Cynthia, you have helped me navigate some of the messy things I have encountered over time. I appreciate your humble attitudes that you never have the answers. Thank you for having the discussions, bringing up new ideas, challenging some of my former thoughts, and bringing me to a more comfortable and peaceful place in my life.
--T
Last week, I commented in Relief Society that less emphasis should be placed on saying, we "KNOW" and more on we, "BELIEVE". Crickets in the room.....it felt very lonely. The teacher just looked confused. I wanted to say believing is a gift of the spirit. The scriptures even say that. But, I decided I didn't have the energy to try that day.
Yeah, it's hard to have enough energy sometimes. But huge kudos to you for saying it.
—S.
I had Stake Conference on Sunday where the “visiting authority” said 1. If your personal revelation doesn’t align with the prophet, it’s not revelation. And 2. You cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ if you don’t believe in Joseph Smith. My jaw was on the ground! I’m still processing what comes over the pulpit. Appreciate you guys!!
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say I've spent my whole life processing what comes over the pulpit. Some things I've processed more successfully than others... —S.