I have a confession, I'm not that political. Lately there has been a lot of political chatter. Politics, religion and politicals, Mormonism and religion, Mormonism and politics. Thanks a lot Mitt Romney. I try not to get involved in that discussion, but it is kind of hard. Especially since I am a Mormon and the Mormon church has this new campaign "I'm so and so and I am a Mormon". Where normal people and famous people who are Mormon can go online and enthusiastically share their beliefs in attempt to make us (Mormons) appear more normal. How is that working out I wonder?
As crazy right wing Christians and atheists and everyone in between love to point out, Mormons aren't that normal. That is a sentiment I can get behind. We are a little unique in our religious beliefs and down right quirky in our social customs. We tend to take ourselves too seriously and sometimes blur the lines between righteous and self-righteous. We do believe in Jesus Christ, the technical name of our religion is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Kind of a mouthful, so I don't mind if you just call me mormon. I know lot of Mormons who spend a lot of time defending our Christianity. They get into heated debates and toss around scriptures and historical references to things like the Nicean creed. I don't really understand the debate. Obviously, we believe in who we believe in. Not obvious, why we spend so much time getting so worked up about proving it.
The other day I was on the phone with this guy in Montana who wanted to rent our house up there. He was pleasant, excited and interested and then right as we ended the conversation he threw out "by the way, your not Mormon are you?". Uummm, yes it just so happens I am and it was kind of hard to stifle my inner chuckle. He got all gruff and serious and was all "never mind, it won't work out". To which I replied "would it help if I wished I were hindu". And then he hung up on me. I guess he's had a bad experience with a jerky Mormon. I know a few of those myself, sometimes I even am one. Almost every Mormon I know is imperfect in some way or another. Same with every Catholic, Jew, Protestant, Muslim, ect ect. It's true, almost everyone I know is imperfect...... and beautiful. Maybe made most beautiful by their flaws, or at the very least by their differences.
If I count up all the differences and the similarities between my religion and other religions and put them in a pile, I don't know which pile would be bigger. The older I get the less I think it matters. The less I want to pay attention to the differences pile. This might be a little un-Mormon of me. Mormons are typically a little hard nosed about towing the line and keeping the rules. You know, the getting into heaven rules. I am not that great at keeping rules. That's what makes me wish I was Hindu. I might need to come back a few times before I get it right. I like how we believe in immortality, but who really knows what heaven ( or hell depending wink wink) is really like. I know this life, I love it. I can't get enough of this crazy, messy, imperfect life or this fantastically beautiful breathtaking world. I would like to experience as much of it as I can for as long as possible. Even if it is as a cat.
P.S. : Don't worry about the rude Mormon hater too much. I had his address on his application and got karmic retribution by sending him a Book of Mormon in the mail.
PPS: if you are interested in learning more about the Mormon religion from a more credible source you should visit Lds.org
