I am fascinated by the idea that removing the bad things in life will somehow make better people.
like.... not selling alcohol in stores--only in approved state run locations.
the prohibition of some adult novelties
or the desire for some groups to ban adult films in a certain Church members hotel chain.
Good grief! When did being Mormon mean being mommy and daddy to the world?
I get it. We are a light unto the world, blah blah blah. --we, individuals, Christians are the light unto the world.
Satan sought to take away our freedom to choose. His plan was to remove all of the bad stuff too, and was rejected by our Father in Heaven for a more appropriate plan-- agency.
I can't help but feel that some persons in this church have the idea that we have the truth so we have to force everyone else to live our truth as well.
When will we allow our brothers and sisters of the world to be big boys and girls and choose for themselves what actions and behaviors they deem appropriate for themselves and their families?
There are obvious exclusions for murder, incest etc. And of course, when personal freedoms infringe on the rights and liberties of others but those examples are the extreme and not what I am talking about.
I believe that vice serves a purpose and however trite this will sound, without it we cannot value virtues.
I believe many need to fall away from the Lord. I believe that is part of the great plan. Often, lives must be destroyed, only to to be built up again. Stronger and perhaps different. Different from what we expected.
Trying to invoke morality by prohibition isn't the answer. There must be opposition in all things....and yet, we are trying to remove the opposition and in turn take away agency.
For the sake of all of our spiritual well being, choose YE this day for whom you will serve and let the next guy do likewise.
You're right. I have always wondered about this as well. Really, if people are going to do something that someone else thinks is wrong, then changing the convenience of said issue is rarely enough to stop the "wrong doer".
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting that you mention people falling away from the church and how lives sometimes have to be destroyed and rebuilt. It was the destruction of my life and the seeming absence of God (among other things) that made me decide to leave it. However, having been one who said she would never leave the church, far be it from me to say that I'll never come back.
Meanwhile, I wish we could let other people make their own decisions as well. People who want to watch adult films will probably take them with them if they know certain hotels don't provide them (or just change hotels), people who want to drink will simply make their own or go to the state approved store.
Just curious, but how do you feel this applies in the context of your own home? Would you let friends share a glass of bubbly, or watch something adult as long as they didn't do it in the presence of you or your daughter? I was just wondering because I've wondered how I would handle such a situation.
"It was the destruction of my life and the seeming absence of God (among other things) that made me decide to leave it. However, having been one who said she would never leave the church, far be it from me to say that I'll never come back."
ReplyDeletefirst, in no way am I suggesting that one has to be in the the church in order to be rebuilt. that's why I used the word "different" and "expected"
to answer you question, i would invite my non lds friends to have wine or vodka in my home. I did at my wedding. as far as the adult entertainment, perhaps popping a xxx dvd into the machine might be a bit much, but if they were lucky enough to catch something on our HBO, then by all meanss...go ahead.
I wouldn't allow smoking in my home due to the smell and health factors but would suggest they step outside. Reasonable, no?
where do I draw the line? dunno? perhaps you could find a doozy for me?
So, I had a big long blathering comment, but there was an error and it didn't post. In the mean time, I re-read your post and now I understand about the "different" and "expect" clause. Also, I agree with the applications of said issue to one's own home. As for a doozy, I can't think of one right now, but if I do, I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteamen to that, sister. great post. i struggled with all of those issues so much as a member, especially when that silly no-alcohol-sales-on-sunday thing was going on in cedar hills, where my in-laws live and where they were fighting very hard for that restriction and couldn't understand why some mormons might not agree. gag.
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