I think that what's going on with the church lately is exciting. It gives me something to chat about with pretty much anyone, and it's proof that we are really. In. The. Last. Days!! Christ is coming pretty soon. What's been prophesied in the scriptures is now a present day reality.
That said, I do have a lot of thoughts on the matter. Lets begin with this little tid-bit. My little brother once said about me, "Erika don't trust nothing but herself and the kids she burthed!" You gotta know Samuel. He's funny. He's hilarious. And he has a tendency to call a spade a spade! And he's right. I don't trust anyone. An-e-one. I trust myself and my logic and my kids. Because I know my kids very, VERY well. So I know basically what I can and can't count on with them. Angela could babysit a newborn, Jessi could pick out my outfits. Addi will laugh her way out of work. And this brings me to something I've been struggling with a lot for the past several years.
I've struggled with some of the things "people" in my church have said. Ie: Keeping the word of wisdom means no Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, etc. Keeping the sabbath means no buying gas or grochery shopping or playing sports or swimming on Sundays. You should attend all meetings (meaning non-Sunday stuff, ie conferences, firesides, in service, devotionals, etc.). You can't watch rated R movies. You need to stay out of debt. You need to be self sufficient. You need to start a family ASAP. You need to have lots and lots and lots of kids. (How do you do all those last 4 simultaneously?) You should stay in church attire on Sundays, it's better that way.
This list is endless. And I've struggled with it all.
Because, in my rebellious heart of hearts, I didn't hear these words exit the prophet's mouth with my own ears. I did hear them, but from "people." And I don't trust people. I trust myself. I drink Pepsi, because I like it. (Give me a break, I like water better and I'm not a huge fan of cokes, but if I'm going to have a coke, and I'm not pregnant or nursing, it's going to be a Dr. Pepper or Pepsi. My choice.) I have no problem putting gas in my car on Sunday or going out to eat for that matter, but we have chosen to not let our kids play sports on Sundays because I feel like Sunday's are FAMILY DAYS and if everyone is running around playing sports, we're not together as a family. My choice. I'm cool with my 3 hr block of church, but outside of that, I'll go to any meeting as long as I know my BFF is there and we can chat in the back about whatever we feel like. Usually it's something that makes me giggle. My choice. I watched R rated movies all the time. I liked them. Until I saw "The Jackal" with ... I think Bruce Willis? Can't remember. After I watched it I vowed never to watch another R rated movie again. It just ... wasn't necessary. MY CHOICE. We have not stayed out of debt, we are not self sufficient, we DID start a family ASAP and we have some children. I wouldn't say lots and lots, but I'd definitely take 8 more if I could. All of it, MY CHOICE. (OK, having children is more a blessing than a choice, but that is MY opinion.) The first thing that comes off me after church are my church clothes and I put on my comfy stuff. My choice.
I have struggled with the many "expectations" of being a "righteous Mormon" and kicked against most of them, because I just didn't like it. Once I had a guy I was dating tell me his dad didn't approve of us because "her dad isn't in the bishopric or stake presidency." And this boyfriend of mine totally bought in to what his dad preached. Never mind everything my dad went through to bring the Gospel to his family or what he does or continues to do to spread the Gospel. He wasn't a counselor in the bishopric, so don't date his daughter. I struggle with crap like that.
And I'm glad I "struggle." Because I want my kids to "struggle." I don't want them to be robots, doing what the masses are doing or what's expected of them. When it comes to the Gospel, I don't even want them to do what I do! It's their choice. ALL of it is their choice.
Except for what the prophet says.
He doesn't say much, just the basics, but what he says, I listen to. Why? Because I DO trust Heavenly Father and Jesus and I DO trust that They called a prophet and I DO trust that what the prophet says,it's what Christ tells him to say. Yes, he is simply a man. A man who is obviously NOT perfect cuz if he were perfect, he'd be translated, so SOMETHING is keeping him on Earth, but that said, if he tells me something, I am going to listen. Because bottom line, I don't always trust myself. Not always. And so when the prophet says, "Go to the temple as often as you can" I WILL go as often as I can. And that's where it's MY CHOICE!! Some may think I should go more than my once a year goal, but that's where my listening ears turn off. The prophet didn't say "go every week", he didn't say "go every month." He just said, "Go." And the REST is MY CHOICE.
Which brings me to this whole uprising thing. Actually, I don't know tooooo much about it, cept that some chick wants all the other chicks to be able to get the Priesthood. I sorta put her in the same pile with all the other "people". I don't trust her, either, and since the prophet didn't say "women, you can hold the priesthood" I'm going to go on thinking she's wrong.
Which brings me to a whole OTHER point. If, lets just imagine, at our next General Conference when the prophet speaks to us, and he says, lets just PRETEND, "Women of the church, modern revelation has it that you can all hold the Priesthood..." Guess who's NOT going after that one? No way do I want to add MORE to my plate! I won't touch being on the PTO with a 10 foot pole much less hold the Priesthood. I'm busy enough with my calling as a mother, taking care of the sweet, precious, gone all too quickly from my nest, children.
Today I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and yes, I'm going to throw scripture in this blog. First time EVER!
Mosiah 26:6. For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church.
I put that in there because we know in the end, the prophet was right. And I have complete and utter TRUST in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that They will NOT let the prophet they have called to lead their people astray. It's not the prophet's church. It's Christ's church. His church. His. Church. And He has promised us, me, that yes, there will be false prophets in the latter days, but His prophet will never lead the people astray. Because we are not the prophet's people, we're Christ's people.
And yes, this is just my opinion.
