Bloggernacle Back Bench: Mormons in this moment

Bloggers have been dissecting this media-proclaimed “Mormon Moment” since its inception. And I just must feature a few of these well-written faith treatises of sorts.

Bold statement: “Calling Yourself Mormon Is a Very Bold Statement," declares blogger Jessie Stay. Why? “It means you believe in modern-day revelation. It means you believe there are men today that speak to God, and God speaks to them. It means you follow them because they are normal men called of God, just like Moses, Abraham and Isaac of old. Many of them are humbled in this calling — they never asked of it. They never wanted it. Yet, God called them. And as a Mormon, you're willing to follow these laymen leading God's church just like people did in the times of Christ.” Wow. And then he concludes with this powerful assertion: “Either you're Mormon or you're not. Either you believe in modern-day revelation or you don't. It's the very core of Mormon beliefs. Saying so is a very bold, unpopular but deep-hearted message. Think about that the next time you hear someone say ‘I'm a Mormon.’ And if you're a Mormon, think about that the next time you tell someone you're a Mormon. Do you really believe what you're saying?”

For eternity: In "M is for Mormon," The NatureGirl professes: “OK, so, I'm a Mormon. For the most part, I live my life like most folks. I don't drink alcohol, coffee or tea, and I abstain from tobacco products as well. I do eat chocolate and far too much Mexican food. I don't shop on the Sabbath or watch R-rated movies on any day of the week. I do attend church every Sunday for three hours, sometimes more. I don't buy lottery tickets. I do use stupid fake swear words like 'fetch' even though I know it makes me sound silly. I do believe in abstinence before marriage and that families can be sealed together for eternity. I do have a huge crush on Colin Firth. My husband is aware of this.” Click to read the rest of her blog essay.

Real world: “(Y)ou seem to think that your world is the real world, and that the real world is something I'm impossibly distanced from. You say that missionaries, in particular, are immune to reality. ‘Mormons see the world,’ you say, ‘but they don't get it.’ And that's when I get mad.” This is an absolutely incredible answer to a New York Times letter about the Realness of the Mormon World, told with many beautiful examples of seeing real suffering and those who try to transcend it, even in small ways. And about how “We're kind, Ian Williams, but we're not blind. We know that life can ache, that people struggle and suffer as often as they find transcendence or joy. We believe in guidelines — or confines, call them what you will — not because we're running from the messiness of life, but because we know that life can be messy enough on its own and doesn't need our help to get there.” Just incredible. Please read.

Real world 2: This blogger also is irritated by these national articles on "Mormons in the Media": “Most of the time they seem like they are grasping to make some point they can’t defend. I get to the end of the article and feel like they are missing a punch line. They gather the most random of rumors or the peculiararities of the faith and place them out of context.” So she proceeds to dispel the more rampart of rumors in this well-done piece, ending with her testimony: “I am Mormon. I love my faith and the peace it has brought into my soul. I don’t claim to know everything. I know I’m grateful for the presence of the gospel and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life. I think I’m a stronger, kinder, better person because of its influence. If people have questions about the church I implore them to go to the source. Don’t go to the haters to ask about it. Go to members of the church, the church websites (www.lds.org or www.mormon.org) or pray about it. Find out for yourself from credible sources, not from people spreading myth or rumor.”

Now let me find other Mormon-y blogs from the Bloggernacle: