I got a chuckle out of a friend's post on her blog about overhearing a conversation about Mormons. The other person wasn't making the most pleasant of comments about my religion, but I understand that people have opinions and I'm totally OK with them not agreeing with me. But one thing my friend said made me pause. "And I get so tired of (at times) trying to explain that, really, I'm quite
normal." My first instinct was to say, I am too! Too many times lately, with having a candidate for president who is Mormon in the press, I have heard people say the strangest things about my religion!
So let me set the record straight: I am my husband's only wife. This isn't because he hasn't had a chance to get more. It is because he will only have one wife. I do not drink coffee or tea. I didn't before I became a member of my church and I certainly have no desire to drink it now. I don't drink alcohol. Many people think I gave this up when I became Mormon, but in reality, I gave up drinking shortly after my 21st birthday. I was looking at going to a college that was run by Mormon business men and women who asked it's student to abstain from alcohol. I decided I would give it a try and see how it went. Never drank again. Didn't go to the college either. Church is more than just a 1 hour commitment on my Sunday mornings. I don't just mean that I spend 3 hours each Sunday at church, but that it also has meant a change in my lifestyle. I try to reflect Christ in everything I do. I will say that I am not perfect though. I also have a job at church I do without pay, and many times without thanks. And I'm totally cool with that!
My church is not an equal opportunity church. By that, I mean that it does not give out privileges and rights to anyone and everyone who thinks they want them. I am all for treating people equally, but that does not mean that as a woman, I should automatically be given the priesthood from God. Honestly, I am perfectly happy to let the men have that blessing/burden. God did not say that a woman should hold the priesthood. He hasn't revealed this to anyone with the proper authority here on earth so I should be content that he knows better than I do, has a different job for me, and be happy about it. Why should I take on this feel of resentment and anger about something that doesn't fit me? If I saw a coat I liked at Sears that was one million dollars, so I knew I couldn't afford it, tried it on anyways, and saw it didn't look that good on me, should I get mad at Sears when I wasn't going to buy it to begin with? Oh wait! Look over there! I found a sweet deal on another coat for a steal of a price that makes my curves look awesome! God has something else for me, as a woman, to do.
Just because you are able to physically be present inside a temple building does not mean that you meet the requirements to be there. Just because I can bounce a basketball a little bit does not mean I should be playing as a starter in the men's Final Four! Do you get mad that you can't go into the men's locker room when you are a woman? I certainly don't. And you don't hear people parading around saying how angry that makes them. Maybe the fact that makes people so angry is that someone has standards and has stuck to them, not lowering them so more people can come in. Grow up people! Stop acting like a 3-year old having a temper tantrum because your mommy didn't buy you the candy you wanted at the grocery store!
I *AM* normal. I am a wife. I am a mom of 4 awesome kids. I am a full-time college student. I will some day be a teacher, probably for kindergarten. I like to read. I love to bowl and ride horses. I hate to exercise. I like steak, potatoes, and corn with biscuits. I hate broccoli and cauliflower. I like to play certain video games, like Dr. Mario and Epic Mickey. I really hate the game Sequence though. Unless the Dallas Cowboys are playing in it, I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. I love to bake. I love to playfully tease my family and even poke fun at myself sometimes. I am realistic, structured, and funny. Yet I have my dreams, spontaneity, serious moments. But then again, don't we all? I am normal.
