mythologicalmormon - Tumblr blog

[mythologicalmormon]

I JUST HAD WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL MOMENT OF MY LIFE!!!!

My mom once told me that spiritual stuff gives dopamine, and HOLY COW SHE WAS RIGHT!!!!

Let me know if anyone wants to hear it, I'd be so down!!

[mythologicalmormon]

“Love your opps” - Jesus in a line of an essay question I’m writing

[mythologicalmormon]

Sunday doodles 9/22/24

Nothing fancy today, I partied too hard on Jovial Visitation Eve.

[mythologicalmormon]

Despite *technically* living half my life with three hour church, I still sometimes think of three hour church as a myth

I have been at church for five hours and I still have one and a half more

[mythologicalmormon]

wrote a proposal for the responsibilities of a ward LGBT+ specialist that I'm presenting to my bishop today 😬 like to pray reblog to fast

[mythologicalmormon]

I’m staying with my grandparents this weekend and she had to go to primary programs in three separate wards and then ON TOP OF THAT I had a stake meeting at four

I have been at church for five hours and I still have one and a half more

[mythologicalmormon]

Hi! I’ve been learning more about Mormonism lately, and I know that Mormon progressives like you definitely exist. However, I’ve been finding it really difficult to understand how people can reconcile their faith with the verse 2 Nephi 5:21 without believing in white supremacy. I understand there are theories about it being metaphorical, but I’ve been having trouble understanding them. If you could offer me some insight, I would truly appreciate it! Thank you in advance.

Thanks for your question! I am unfortunately painfully white, so I may not be the most experienced of people to answer this lol. I'll give it a shot though!

A big tenet of our faith is finding trustworthy sources for questions we have. One of my favorite sources on this topic is a video my dad sat all of our family down and made us watch when we were young*: a talk given by a Black religious scholar called "Blacks In The Scriptures: Skin Color & Curses". It's 45 minutes long, but if this is something you're serious about learning about, you should watch it. You can even 2x speed it if you'd like. You can find it here.

A common archaeological theory is that the Lamanites married, had children with, and culturally assimilated into more of the indigenous population, leading to darker skin. Another idea is that the Lamanites used body paint or decorations that darkened their skin, which would explain the darker skin but not the curse aspect.

Even if the "curse of blackness" is literally about race -- which I doubt it is -- it doesn't mean that, in our gospel, dark skin equals evil.** As the Nephites grew in power and resources, they became prideful and stopped believing. The Lamanites did begin to believe and even became more righteous than the Nephites at one point. As a religion, we also believe that man cannot be punished for the sins of their fathers, called generational sin [see Article of Faith 2]. Those blessed with melanin are no better or worse than any white folk -- all souls are alike and equally capable of exaltation.

[When you look, we have far more scriptures about all people and races being equal than we do about curses of black skin.]

I will be the first to admit that our religion has not had... the best relationship with race. On an episode of Brothaz in the Foyer, they shared this idea that "[Even] outside of church... any organization that's over 100 years old is gonna have some type of history around racism or prejudice." [Side note: that video is also an incredible resource! I would recommend watching it. The Brothaz share their perspectives and experiences regarding race in their religion, and I think it's a helpful resource even if you're not struggling with this concept. It's good to branch out and hear experiences from minority groups in the Church.]

To be entirely honest, I don't entirely understand 2 Nephi 5:21 myself. There are many parts of my faith that don't quite make sense to me, with my earthly mind. Expecting that every member of the Church has to understand and be an expert on every part of our religion is like expecting that every person who loves dinosaurs has a perfect explanation on whether or not there is evidence for a feathered Tyrannosaurus Rex. Not understanding a "curse of blackness" doesn't undermine the idea that I believe in a God who sent a Savior who died for my sins and wants me to return to him. Just because I don't know if T. Rex had feathers doesn't mean I don't believe that dinosaurs existed, you get me?

Anyways, I know I didn't quite answer your question, but hopefully the sources I shared with you can help you come to a conclusion about this [I don't feel experienced enough on this topic to share my own opinions lol, I'll leave it to the theologians of color to explain] And, I might mention, although it's very forward of me to say so, that you could pray about this issue. You don't have to, of course, but it's always an option to anyone struggling with anything ever. Who knows -- you might learn something! :}

Thank you for your ask!

*I grew up in a STAUNCHLY anti-racist household -- went to Juneteenth celebrations, attended protests, met and served friends of color, etc. -- so making the 7 year old learn about Hebrew idioms about race was not too weird for us

** The doctrine, at least, does not say anything about white supremacy. That doesn't mean that members can't misinterpret gospel doctrine and be horribly racist. I have heard of encounters with many a racist Mormon, and my heart aches for all those who have been prejudiced against at the hand of racist Church members.

[mythologicalmormon]

I have been at church for five hours and I still have one and a half more

[mythologicalmormon]

it's 2 am so maybe i'm waxing a little irrational or sentimental but like i love traditions so much. i love how people just do things. and not just because it makes sense or has any direct effect on their life, but because it's a thing they can do.

i mean obviously some traditions can be harmful and bad and can cause trauma [foot binding comes to mind] but like. i'm getting really emotional about the little things. when people celebrate holidays and cook foods on specific dates, or meet with family and sing songs, or even just wear an heirloom piece of jewelry. the person who wrote the song you sang on the playground as a child has long since grown up, the only memory of them existing through a series of children who taught each other. created and took part in their own traditions.

we really cannot exist in a vacuum. we are collages, knitted and intertwined pieces of all that came before us. we only know what we have been taught or what we have experienced. and sometimes, pieces of the puzzle of our lives involve putting the star on the Christmas tree. sometimes they involve dancing and singing in traditional clothing. sometimes they involve a tiny prayer mat, made for a cat so that it can mimic the humans. and sometimes they involve funeral potatoes and basketball court wedding receptions and Family Home Evening.

we truly can find so much solace in just participating in those little things that weave our lives into those of our ancestors. not because it makes sense or has any direct effect on our lives, but because we can.

[mythologicalmormon]

[mythologicalmormon]

my dad just dropped this in the group chat

[mythologicalmormon]

pov: you’re Joseph Smith 200 years ago

[mythologicalmormon]

ITS JOVIAL VISITATION‼️‼️

JOVIAL VISITATION EVERYONE

[mythologicalmormon]

Today is the only day you can reblog this.

[mythologicalmormon]

I know, I always hate it when I miss my sacrificial turn :/

Human Sacrifice reports in Mormon LDS Temple – Exposing Satanism and Witchcraft

https://www.exposingsatanism.org/human-sacrifice-reports-in-mormon-lds-temple/

[mythologicalmormon]

Dammit, my ward just has a mutual activity to figure out our next sacrifice. Now what are we supposed to do with the virgin we stored in the mother's room for the next temple trip?

Human Sacrifice reports in Mormon LDS Temple – Exposing Satanism and Witchcraft

https://www.exposingsatanism.org/human-sacrifice-reports-in-mormon-lds-temple/

[mythologicalmormon]

Samuel the Lamanite, proving since 6 B.C. that walls don't work