#"Historical LDS practices in the 19th century"

[mindfulldsliving]

Understanding Heber C. Kimball's Teachings on Polygamy

Michelle Grim, representing Life After Ministries, has been outspoken about her criticisms of polygamy, using statements from early Church leaders and scriptural references to strengthen her arguments. Her interpretations challenge key teachings documented in the Journal of Discourses and question the prophetic authority tied to figures like Heber C. Kimball. While her perspectives resonate with…

[murph-the-lurph]

Just FYI, I do not have a degree in any of this, I am not a professional, these are all just my opinions, I am up for friendly discussion, but will not tolerate anything I don't want to (ie not courteous) :)

America is so deeply religious and divided because of historical whiteness and white supremacy

As someone who is white, I feel this deep chasm from a lack of belonging/community (it's called white longing, plenty of other people who are smarter than me have talked about it before)

Before the later periods of immigration (late 19th-early 20th, mid-20th onward), most immigrants were Chinese, Irish, English, and German. We're going to remove anybody arriving on the west coast (ie Chinese immigrants) from the equation for the moment, just focusing on the Irish and Germans. The English are also removed as they are W(white) A(nglo) S(axon) P(rotestant) and not subjected to much, if any discrimination

The Irish were less "white" (for context, the idea of whiteness often fluctuates based on who is immigrating and from where, it's very transitory) than Germans, as WASPy Americans considered them less "anglo." They looked different, likely smelled different (due to diet), and were Catholic. To survive, they assimilated, all of them. Germans and Irish alike.

For "white" people (which exists as a social construct obviously, but the idea of whiteness is transient, Protestant Anglo-Saxons believed they were the only white people before this, it's in quotes to acknowledge that "whiteness" as a definite hard thing is not possible in a historical context over a broad period of time) to maintain a majority, minorities that weren't as different were pushed to assimilate and leave behind their culture (languages/traditions/clothes/food). Hence why some white Americans are shocked to hear that the Irish weren't considered white (in the late 19th and early 20th century), and also why older Italian Americans have strong feelings about Colombus Day being abolished in favor of Indigenous Peoples' Day. But, as immigrants became more and more diverse, more and more minorities were stripped of their ethnic identities (in a meaningful sense, my hometown is very "German" but that's mostly just code for crotchety, racist white people, we don't meaningful practice or engage with our culture) to maintain that majority. This is where white supremacy comes in.

I am German and English (and a little bit of everything else tbh, kind of super mutt of European heritage). I remember hearing about my great-great aunt, and how she didn't speak German at all. It stopped with her parents. Everyone of European ancestry (whose family showed up on the Western side of the pond a while ago) has a story like that.

This is (likely) the root of cultural appropriation. That deep disconnect from a culture and community (which also coincidentally leads to such deep feelings about sports teams, at least I think :) ) breeds a wanting for it, a soul-deep craving. Obviously, it's not okay to appropriate other cultures, this is just an interesting hypothesis (which again, was come up with by people way smarter than moi)

In my opinion, this also causes Americans (and probably other people who have been stripped of their culture due to white supremacy and colonization, but I am just speaking from my experience) to be so deeply religious. The Catholic church or LDS gives people a sense of belonging; they are part of something bigger than themselves and are surrounded by people like them. Humans are social animals (google the very old cave grave of a baby or the relative longevity of equally prehistoric people with physical disabilities, found to be provided for and supported to ripe "old" age) and it makes sense that they need other people. America is so deeply religious because its people were stripped of their culture by the shoring up of historical whiteness (and the ensuing white supremacy).

If you are a white American feeling that hole, trying to fill it with sports teams and fictional vampire/werewolf rivalries, try instead connecting to your roots. My mother and sister (having learned German and the former having lived there) have found peace in it.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my ted talk :)