Ask Mormon Girl: “Unorthodox” Mormon? What do you mean?

Dear Ask Mormon Girl:

 

Just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your blog.  I think you do a nice job dealing with people’s difficult questions in a non-threatening, honest and clear way.

 

I had one question as I read some postings:  what is a “non-Orthodox” Mormon? Or, “unorthodox” depending on usage?

 

Is this a rejection of Mormon “cultural” behaviors; e.g., green jello, white shirts, clean shaven, Colas?  A political issue?  A rejection of some Church doctrines?  An attempt to weed out “practices” versus “doctrine?”  I’m sure it’s different for everyone and I hope it starts a broad discussion thread, but I’m trying to figure out how one can logically create a “Mormon” and “non-Orthodox” pairing.

 

rb

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Ask Mormon Girl: The Father’s Day Primary Program is making my gender issues flare up. Help?

Dear Ask Mormon Girl:

I’m the primary chorister. For Father’s Day, my very understanding Primary President really wants the kids to learn the song “A Young Man Prepared” because she believes that boys can show their dads they love them by preparing to receive the priesthood.  I thought it would be good to teach the boys this song, and the girls another.  But because of some logistical issues in our understaffed primary, she wants to teach the song to all the kids (I’m trying to imagine the look on my daughter’s face as she sings “Though a boy I may appear, yet a man I soon will be . . .”) or to have the boys sing alone and have the girls hold up signs cheering them on.  Gender is already a sensitive issue for me. I think girls already are made to feel just invisible in church meetings/hierarchy and teaching this song and having them either sit there quietly or hold up signs cheering the boys on, well . . . I just don’t think I can do it.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Am I overreacting?

Sincerely,

BHK

Ask Mormon Girl: Proselytizing makes me uncomfortable. What should I do?

Dear Ask Mormon Girl:

I feel the sense, as a liberal Mormon, and get the sense from my other liberal Mormon friends that Mormonism doesn’t need to be a “one true church” nor does it to be constantly promoted through the narrow “missionary approach” lens.  However, at the same time proselytizing seems to be such a crucial part of the institution and the Mormon experience that I have a hard time seeing Mormonism without it.  How is a liberal Mormon like me to react to the constant pressure within the LDS church to proselytize and “spread the word,” especially when I don’t feel deep conviction in promoting its packaged message?  Would Mormonism be better off as a non-proselytizing religion that is maintained as family tradition, such as Zoroastrianism?  Would it be worthwhile for liberal Mormons to play an active role either in promoting a progressive representation of Mormonism to outsiders or in swinging other Mormons to their side, or should they be more passive?  What is the best approach to take?

Sincerely,

Dan in Salt Lake

Ask Mormon Girl: It’s time to learn Mormon history. Where do I start?

Dear Ask Mormon Girl:

I grew up a crazy liberal kid in a Democratic household.  In college, I was a political science / women’s studies major and an activist.  My mentor was an ex-Mormon and often talked bitterly about the Church.  I joined the Church my senior year while she was on sabbatical.  I’ve never had the guts to tell her I joined the church; in fact, I avoid telling people from my pre-Mormon past that I’m LDS. Part of it has to do with my lack of knowledge of Mormon History and my inability to articulate my beliefs.  I took a course on Mormon History at Institute (before joining the Church) but of course it was totally watered-down and sugar-coated. I want to learn as much as I can about our history, ALL of it. Could you recommend some books? I want to be as informed as possible. I want the good and the bad. It’s been almost five years since I joined the church; I feel like my faith is now mature enough to handle everything.  I tried doing some research on my own but it’s hard to find good sources.

Sincerely,

RS in SoCal

Ask Mormon Girl: How do Mormons feel about contraception?

Dear Ask Mormon Girl:

Having grown up Catholic, I was taught contraception goes against God’s plan. If I ever get married I’ll probably use Natural Family Planning, but I’m curious:  what are the LDS Church’s views on contraception? Are they totally against condoms and the pill or do they leave that up to the members to decide what’s best for their families?

Just Curious,

NRP

Last week at the supermarket checkout, I looked up from stacking a carton of eggs and a package of Dora the Explorer Pull-ups on the conveyor belt to see that Time Magazine was celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Birth Control Pill. What swell timing you have, NRP!  (Good thing, too:  you’ll probably need swell timing to make that Natural Family Planning work for you.)

Now, for the official LDS Church stance on birth control, I’d recommend you go directly to the official LDS church website or to this helpful article at the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.