Blog Tag: diversity
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Jesus Doesn’t Want Us to Teach the “Ideal”
So many times, when I or others have expressed that a particular way that a message at church has been framed or presented is hurtful or irrelevant to a swath of the congregation, the response is something along the lines of "well, we have to teach the ideal." So basically, it comes across as a giant "You're not good enough. Church isn't for you. Church is for married people with 4.5 smiling blond children. Maybe you should go get married and make some babies and then church will be for you, too."
There are so many things wrong with this...
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We Don’t Know Who the Tares Are
One of the most commonly misunderstood and misapplied Biblical parables in the modern church is the parable of the wheat and the tares, found in Matthew 13:24-30. People who reference it often do so in such a way that they indicate that they're certain that they're the wheat and the people they're criticizing are surely the tares. I've heard it referenced on anything from how to vote to how to treat people who don't fit in at church to, most ridiculously recently, how or whether non-journalists should follow a journalistic style guide when discussing members of the church.
All of...
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Relief Society Lesson Plan: “With One Accord” by Reyna Aburto
I like this topic – I think there’s something very uplifting in the idea of people, in all their diversity, coming together to act for good in the world. This is the theme of Reyna Aburto’s talk, “With One Accord.”
Introduction
Start out the lesson with an easy question that relates to the theme of the talk.
What are your favorite examples of unity in the scriptures? Any scriptural stories of deep loyalty or friendship that you have found compelling or meaningful? Why?
Naomi and Ruth
Jonathan and David
Elizabeth and Mary
I'd personally mention Ruth and Naomi because that story of unity...
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The Parable of Mushrooms
I hated mushrooms…
When I was four and I wrote in my journal, “I lik all food excip mushroms.”
Family members would say, “But, they’re really good in this dish.” Or, “Maybe you’ll like them this year.”
Every year or so, I’d try them, and I’d gag, reaffirming my decision that I hated mushrooms.
But, then, about eight years ago, I decided to give mushrooms another try. My oldest kid had a lot of food allergies and after seeing all the foods that would make him sick, I decided it was silly that I was holding out on one food because of a...
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What we see
"Do you know why you’re so good at drawing this model?" asked my figure drawing 101 professor. "Because she looks like you."
The model was hired from the student body of my junior college. She was a petite, White, eighteen-year-old, like me.
Unconsciously drawing yourself is common among art students. They will painstakingly study the unique person posed directly in front of them, in plain sight, and then proceed to draw exactly what they see--themselves. And this happens all the time! It is perfectly normal.
This perspective problem can happen in other situations besides sketching. Instead of seeing others' concerns, challenges, hopes...
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Relief Society Lesson 4: Strengthening and Preserving the Family
By Amy Cartwright
Amy is a blogger for Young Mormon Feminists
My childhood was spent watching far too much television. While I would never admit this to my schoolmates, one of my favorite shows was none other than Barney and Friends. That’s right, I’m going to quote a purple dinosaur in this lesson. In one episode, the children are talking about different kinds of families—one child had a “traditional” family with a mom, dad, brothers and sisters, pets and the like, another had parents who were divorced, and one was raised by her grandmother. As the children sang about different kinds...
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Guest Post: Why We Need a Sotomayor in the General Relief...
by Bored in Vernal
(Our thanks to BIV for letting us crosspost this timely piece. You can also find this post on her personal blog, Hieing to Kolob.)
United States citizens have lately been regaled with the tale of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, a Latina from the South Bronx who got diabetes at age 8, lost her father at 9, and fought her way to Princeton with the encouragement of her strong-willed mother. Her future influence on the Supreme Court remains to be seen. But President Obama believes that Sotomayor's qualities and qualifications will add empathy to the...
What is Exponent II?
Exponent II provides Mormon feminist forums for women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum to share their diverse life experiences in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. Through these exchanges, we strive to create a community to better understand and support each other.
Exponent II was founded in 1974 by a group of Mormon women in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These women were inspired by the original periodical, “The Woman’s Exponent,” to create a forum “posed on the dual platforms of Mormonism and Feminism.”
For 50+ years, Exponent II has shared women’s voices in its quarterly magazine, and members of the community have convened at an annual retreat. Our reach has expanded as technology has advanced: the blog, founded in January 2006, has reached millions. As we look to the future, we are focused on growth and building a more inclusive community.
