mormonforgetmenot

[mormonforgetmenot]

[mormonforgetmenot]

does anyone have an interpretation of 1 Nephi chapter 13 that's not "the violent colonization of america was god's will"? I truly don't believe that.

[mormonforgetmenot]

shoutout to mormon tumblr, gotta be the one space in my life where I am neither too religious to be queer nor too queer to be religious

[mormonforgetmenot]

[mormonforgetmenot]

it's filling in so nicely and people are leaving messages!

i'm putting a giant pride flag on byui campus on paint the world and people are helping me a bit and it's making me so emotional

[mormonforgetmenot]

why do you still identify as Mormon?

I think the best way to answer this question is to share what I wrote for the book Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide.

--------------------------

“Why do you stay?”

I get this question from queer people and from non-queer people, from active members and from those who’ve left.

It’s unusual to come across a queer individual who still attends The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially one who isn’t still in their 20’s. Most queer people leave the Church, and for good reason. So why do I stay?

I stay because these are my people.

I stay because this is where I learned to communicate with the Divine.

I stay because it makes things easier with my family.

I stay because it’s familiar.

I stay because of inertia.

I stay because there are queer kids who need someone.

I stay because I’m stubborn.

I stay because Jesus invited me to.

I stay because I will not be erased. My presence means the Church has no choice but to recognize queer people exist.

I stay because I feel like I make a difference.

When I was not out, I stayed as part of trying to pass as straight.

I stay because I want to increase understanding.

I stay because it gives me credibility with LDS parents of queer kids.

I stay because sometimes my soul is stirred at church.

I stay because humans have a need for religion as evidenced by the many religions we have created since time immemorial.

I stay because this is my church, too. I claim a seat for as long as I want to belong.

I stay for the meaning it makes in my life.

I stay because it helps me be better and do better.

I stay because I am unwilling to cede the space to bigots and retreat to only queer-friendly places. I do not believe segregation will ever improve things.

People seek religion because they have questions. I have many unanswered questions. But queer people generally find fewer answers than others. If I stick it out and am faithful all my life, what blessings are in store for me? What’s my place in heaven? Our church emphasizes families, so why am I expected to go without a family of my own? What’s old age going to be like if I don’t have children or a spouse? Fundamental questions and choices about faith and love and life aren’t limited only to LGBTQ+ people, but we’re faced with questions in a painful and ongoing way.

The choice to leave is always in front of me, it doesn’t go away. It can be exhausting. I certainly feel dissonance as a queer member. I have to swim upstream to stay in this church; sometimes it’s really tough. It would be easy for me to float away. Do I ever want to give up? Yes. I’ve considered leaving, but I’m not ready to go away yet.

[mormonforgetmenot]

i'm putting a giant pride flag on byui campus on paint the world and people are helping me a bit and it's making me so emotional

[mormonforgetmenot]

[mormonforgetmenot]

[mormonforgetmenot]

[mormonforgetmenot]

Did you know that Scotland the Brave wasn't the original tune for Praise to the Man? The original tune is called Star in the East. It was originally in a minor key -- a funeral dirge rather than the upbeat victory cry we know it as now.

I have listened to this for HOURS in the past couple of days. It's so hauntingly beautiful.

[mormonforgetmenot]

"God never gives you more than you can handle" is survivorship bias. People who got more than they could handle are dead.

[mormonforgetmenot]

obligatory post today

[mormonforgetmenot]

Queerstake!

John 16

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Anybody else relating a little too hard?

[mormonforgetmenot]

my boy name being joshua is so funny i really took taking upon myself the name of christ seriously

[mormonforgetmenot]

nothing has been more important to my being queer than when i went to my first pride parade, got seperated from my group, had a panic attack about it and was sitting on the side of the road holding a tiny genderfluid flag and freaking out. then this six foot five drag queen in four inch heels appeared from literally nowhere and sat down next to me. i, this scared-shitless trans bi kid at pride for the first time, very nervously told her she looked pretty and i told her my name and that i got lost and didn't feel like i should be at pride and she held my hand and said "oh, honey, everybody deserves to be here, especially you. pride is for everybody who's ever gotten lost, who's been scared of who they are or where they are. you think we never been scared before? pride's for you, honey, because you're scared. you don't have to be proud right now, but you're gonna be one day, honey, i'm sure of it."

i found my group soon after that and i never saw that queen again but to this day i am convinced i met an angel.

so yeah. pride is for you. pride is for all of us.