Did You Know Mormons Are People Too?

I usually am the picture of calm and annoying optimism because, hey, what could go wrong anyway?  And besides that, if I keep my breathing shallow, my pants aren’t too uncomfortable yet.  But what’s going on?  The Mormons are taking it in the neck for no apparent reason these days.  

There are times when you can get a little critical of us.  We are a little cautious of outsiders, particularly when it comes to our children.  We also flinch at salty, blasphemous and vulgar language.  It’s just built into the package.  And sometimes it seems a little thin-skinned, but be patient.  We’re actually pretty decent people.

Sometimes we get a little critical of ourselves, in fact.  Mormon Mean Time is ten minutes after the hour, for example.  You should have heard us go after flowered dresses a few years ago and and the word “freak” can really set us off.  We can be narrow and small-minded.  Work with us.  

But this is ridiculous.  The other night on Cold Case, there was a story about a serial killer from Provo, Utah who got his killing start when a girl he had a crush on undressed him and showed his garments while at a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Not only was it really disrespectful of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but of Christ in general and further to that, the Facts Checking Department really fell down on its work.  Doesn't what hurts some of us, hurt us all.

Then yesterday there was an item published that indicated that the Mormons were behind the failure of the Maine Same Sex Initiative, but the guy in the picture was wearing a blue shirt, which the Mormon missionaries do not wear and there was only one guy, which is not how Mormon missionaries work.  

Then today on Twitter comes this: http://www.getreligion.org/?p=20859

I'm aware that this item is pro-LDS, but I'm just kind of mad that it has to even be published.  That's all.  People can express their opinions.  This is a free country.  But I think fairness is what I'm calling for here.  


Believe it or not, we want misery and placelessness for no one.  What we want is family and inclusion for everyone.  We don't want to dictate what another believes but we don't want mandates for what we believe either.  But please, don't let anyone accuse us of doing or saying things we did not do or say and do not let anyone portray us as something we are not.  And further, try to defend us when you see it might be needed and we will try to defend you when we see the see the same.  We will all be better for it.  

Burning Candles at Both Ends - A Good Thing or Not?

I was looking through a musty old poetry book and discovered this familiar piece by Edna St. Vincent Millay:

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends —
It gives a lovely light!

Then comes a second from her which is a little less well-known:

SAFE upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!

My question is, why are these two poems called “First Fig” and “Second Fig”? And, the second poem is more than obviously a swipe at the Bible. Maybe the first is too.

I do know that in some quarters, the fig is thought to be the “Forbidden Fruit”. That would seem likely because the fig is very Mediterranean. It more than occurs that the first fig could have referred to sexuality (which many of you would rather I not refer to at all), since many misinformed interpret the Forbidden Fruit to refer to sexual sin between Adam and Eve. That would then make the second fig, avarice perhaps?

Since these poems were written during the “Roaring Twenties”, it’s likely they did refer to the excesses of those days. But I’m going to climb into my little comfort zone and prefer the first, at least, to mean to live life to its fullest. What can be wrong with that? God certainly made our world a beautiful place and gave us one life to live. Doesn’t he want us to love our lives as fully and beautifully as we can? Creating as much light as we can can't be all bad. Just thinking.