Mormon Moment Series

Times change, it is a fact of life.  The election is over, Obama won, and Romney didn't really give us much of a clue what he will be doing next. That doesn't mean that the Mormon Moment series is going away, it is just transforming.  I asked a few of you who are not LDS, but who are frequent readers about whether I should end the series, and just separate the My Mormon Perspective into a couple of categories.  Jackee seems to have expressed the thoughts of most of you when she says:

“No matter who wins the election, the increase in women serving missions for your church and the knowledge lots of people have about Mormons, that they didn’t have before, means people will want to know what the Mormon church and Mormon people think about issues. Since you use the handbook for your church to help us non-Mormons understand how Mormons think and act, both the robot Mormons in Utah and other Mormons that do think and have broader views that are still based on Mormon thinking and doctrine. I like reading the links to Mormon blogs that you include as links from your posts and reading Mormons who disagree among themselves. Before I started reading your series I didn’t know that there was that much variety in the ways Mormons put their beliefs into action.”

So, encouraged by Jackee, and several others, I will keep the Mormon Moment Series, but with a "new explanation.

New Explanation:
There was a lot of talk about the "Mormon Moment" during the 2012 Presidential election in the United States, because Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for president, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Members of the church are commonly referred to as either LDS, or Mormons. 

While there is less intense scrutiny of all things Mormon from the press, now that the election is over, there are still many people who are just learning that Mormons exist, and want to know more about who LDS members are, what the doctrine of the church teaches, and what it means to be a Mormon.  When people start learning about Mormons, they usually don't know that they eventually will want to learn to distinguish between the "LDS doctrine" and the "Mormon culture."

The Mormon Moment Series will continue to look at issues related to Mormons and current events and literature that deals with Mormon culture and/or doctrine.  What the Bloggernaccle (a short way to say the prominent LDS individual and group blogs written by and/or for Mormons, or those who have been Mormon) is buzzing about at a certain time may be addressed in some posts, but the goal will always be to explain the issues in a way that a non-LDS audience can understand. 

I will also continue to take current issues, that I feel have an LDS angle which is unique, (or in some cases not unique even though some people might not agree) and share the sources within LDS canon and organizational literature, along with current published writings, blog posts, speeches, movies, television or other entertainment media.  I will also continue to take questions and answer them privately if they are of a sensitive nature, or there are other resources that I feel have adequately addressed the question.  Periodically I will post the basic questions and the sources I share, in a round-up style post.  Please feel free to email me at findingmywaysoftly @gmail.com

I look forward to continuing the series, and invite other bloggers/authors to submit guest posts which share thoughts or experiences that relate to basic issues and tenets of the LDS faith.

Here are the links to all of the Mormon Moment Series Posts.  As new posts go up, the links will be added here:

Mormon Moment Series - Part One - Mormon Mind Control?

Mormon Moment Series - Part Two - Ayn Rand and Quirks in Mormon Culture

Mormon Moment Series - Part Three - Modesty, Perfection and Secrets

Mormon Moment Series - Part Four -Why can't we seem to say what we mean?

Mormon Moment Series - Part Five -Fasting For Followers!

Mormon Moment Series - Part Six - Who is a Mormon?

Mormon Moment Series - Part Seven - Come Follow Me: New Curriculum

Mormon Moment Series - Part Eight: Mormon Policies on Politics and Conscience

Mormon Moment Series - Part Nine - Political Bumper Stickers

Mormon Moment Series: Part Ten - What I Want My Kids to Know

Mormon Moment Series - Part Eleven - The LDS Canon and Intellectual Discussions - Section 1

Mormon Moment Series - Part Twelve - Answering, Doctrine and Culture: How Do You Tell The difference? -1

Mormon Moment Series: Part Thirteen: The Ying and Yang of Freedom of Speech: Part 1

Mormon Moment Series: Part Fourteen: The Yin and Yang of Freedom of Speech: Part 2

Mormon Moment Series Continues

Mormon Moment Series - Part Fifteen - Post-Election Thoughts about Missionary Work and Mitt Romney

Mormon Moment Series - Part Sixteen - Where To Draw The Line: Where Gay and Sexually Assaulted Advocacy Support Groups Find Common Ground



Mormony Extras!!

But for the Grace of God....
This post is about a teen suicide attempt and some of the actions that led to it. The language is not vulgar, but it is specific. Please read only if, it is emotionally safe for you.

Laugh With Me: Gay Trees and Gadianton Robbers: Election 2012
My interaction with a ward member who assumed I was a Republican, and the hilarity that ensued.

When Did I Serve You? Remember?
Sharing the story of service and love that started with a home made card, who dividends came back years later.  Or, why I believe that small acts of service are as inspired as the largest gesture.

My Mormon Perspective: The Parable of the Tree With a Bald Spot
I invite you to see me as a tree. The upper parts, the leaves, branches and trunk are the parts that others see, and easily recognize. Some branches are twisted and gnarled. There are some areas devoid of leaves, and they are very noticeable.  See how the rest of the parable relates to me, and see if you can find a little truth for yourself in this parable.



Original Explanation:

What this series is about:

If you are Mormon, you are probably sick of hearing about the Mormon Moment. There are so many people who are suddenly interested in Mormon culture, and there are lots of Mormon bloggers that are cashing in and sharing their stories. Some of the stories end up being kind of silly, but if you are simply trying to get people to read about what is important to you, the Mormon Moment is one way to draw people in.

I do not want people to think that I don't respect the bloggers whose posts I am sharing. All of them are good bloggers, and most of them write about Mormon topics all of the time. I have no doubt that they would have shared these thoughts and stories at some point, but as one friend told me the other day, "in the race to the election, bloggers are pushing hard to attract new readers before the Mormon Moment is gone." So, to help you, I sifted through hundreds of posts to share the ones that I still remember. (This group of posts are nowhere near a complete view of Mormon bloggers. All of the bloggers are either Mormons, post-Mormons, or write about Mormon issues, even when it isn't election time.)