Mormon Breastfeeding Frenzy

<b>Do Mormon girls, the future breast-feeders of tomorrow, want to see their Young Women leaders' breasts?</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_42lKxhyphenhyphenV-QeRIymrnUu5QohGItNbcxz7WpJmzJnviUdODkPkUk1x8EHpvRT4_5NWtsBOURXEcqfvVsmM_lePKrfRusvIwVwfoLJLQwz6BgO2imrRgsdEEGntPkfqbmOuPNg5pxdpPDo/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_42lKxhyphenhyphenV-QeRIymrnUu5QohGItNbcxz7WpJmzJnviUdODkPkUk1x8EHpvRT4_5NWtsBOURXEcqfvVsmM_lePKrfRusvIwVwfoLJLQwz6BgO2imrRgsdEEGntPkfqbmOuPNg5pxdpPDo/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mormons are stereotyped as being baby-making-machines, so when our non-LDS friends started saying, "I thought y'all were all about kids, kids and some mo' kids at your church, why are y'all trippin' about women breastfeeding then?" Y'all know we had to find out what they were talking about. Last Saturday, <a href="http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2013/02/call-to-action-lose-your-temple-recommend-for-feeding-baby/" target="_blank">Feminist Mormon Housewives</a> posted a story about a woman they say was released from her calling as Young Women leader and is in jeopardy of losing her temple recommend for breastfeeding uncovered. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although the woman has asked to remain anonymous the story has garnered media attention and folks everywhere are weighing in on the breasts of the LDS. The FMH post doesn't give us many specifics and since her identity is being kept private it is hard to find out all the facts. What we gather is that that a complaint was made due to her breastfeeding uncovered during Young Women class in front of LDS girls and other leaders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Based on our church going experiences trippin' over breastfeeding is not the norm in the LDS community. We've seen it go down on the regular both covered and uncovered. Now the debate over public breastfeeding, uncovered breastfeeding, how old is too old to breastfeed and if Americans are too uptight about breastfeeding...don't even try to front like that is particular to Mormonism. Just last May, Time Magazine was asking women, "<a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20120521,00.html" target="_blank">Are you Mom enough?</a>" and yeah Mormons were discussing it, but so was everybody else.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We think that sharing unique and even unpleasant Mormon experiences of our sisters in the Gospel is a good thing and necessary. Asking for support from people within your faith, that is great. Debating your breasts, somebody else's breasts, ya mama's breasts, well carry right on. The media acting like there is some church instituted anti-breastfeeding contingency running a muck in the LDS church, ain't nobody got time for that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We Sistas have heard plenty about what adult men and women have to say on the subject so we thought; let's hear it for the girls in the <a href="https://www.lds.org/callings/young-women?lang=eng" target="_blank">LDS Young Women</a> program. YW would be similar to girl's youth group in other churches. It is made up of young ladies ages 12 to 17. Over the last few days we took the opportunity to speak to some Young Women and ask their thoughts on uncovered breastfeeding by a leader in front of them during their classes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYwvKHo_H9RUpecWEKsRlIHslPR0cBVcndGv3N1hfsZCAh-kIdl4fmd0BWu-6rF2QAD5itjprzYgvYqWfebmnIo2umPM4KFJmASe5M5DRsqqhDDxFldwEo0FDhoqNfd0eaywE3BTtuuc/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYwvKHo_H9RUpecWEKsRlIHslPR0cBVcndGv3N1hfsZCAh-kIdl4fmd0BWu-6rF2QAD5itjprzYgvYqWfebmnIo2umPM4KFJmASe5M5DRsqqhDDxFldwEo0FDhoqNfd0eaywE3BTtuuc/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At first each of the girls said that they would not want their Young Women leaders to breastfeed uncovered in front of them. All of the girls said that they had seen a women breastfeeding before and the majority said that they planned on breastfeeding when they became mothers. The girls asked questions such as; Why not feed in the mother's lounge? Why not feed covered? We discussed that some women prefer not to leave their meetings and that some mother's say their babies' dislike being covered while eating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we talked more some of the girls said that if the baby's head was uncovered, but they couldn't see any of the leader's breast that they would be more comfortable with uncovered breastfeeding. For each of the girls that we spoke with there was no aversion to the act of breastfeeding, but they each did not want to see the naked breast of their leader. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When asked how they felt about the rights of breastfeeding mothers, one girl responded, "I want mom's to have rights, but don't women's rights go for young women too? It's our class, I think we should get a say too."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We agree, y'all do have a say! So we want to hear from other young women too, what are your thoughts girls? Do you feel differently than the girls we spoke with? Adults tell us what the young women you've been talking to are saying on the subject.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Be Blessed and Highly Favored,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel</div>

Mormon Breastfeeding Frenzy

Do Mormon girls, the future breast-feeders of tomorrow, want to see their Young Women leaders' breasts? Mormons are stereotyped as being...

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Faith & Fashion - Jason Dunnigan + Race & Religion - Dr. Darron Smith

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/02/25/faith-fashion-race-religion-w-dr-darron-smith" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyWjhhOVq0NJaOcMoowVGVToLy3Vkjmmnwp__9BesSs24X7H69UO5Y2HExGnaTMRMi1IYkmprgCfyULOeFaMok7wnuJrlJmubrebP1bZ_BQMJmcYA8ak5jNeum7_sOjqdUfM6fJf0tVY/s1600/Jason+Dunningan+and+Darron+Smith.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyWjhhOVq0NJaOcMoowVGVToLy3Vkjmmnwp__9BesSs24X7H69UO5Y2HExGnaTMRMi1IYkmprgCfyULOeFaMok7wnuJrlJmubrebP1bZ_BQMJmcYA8ak5jNeum7_sOjqdUfM6fJf0tVY/s1600/Jason+Dunningan+and+Darron+Smith.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Jason Dunnigan</b> has spent years in the fashion industry. He's not only obsessed with clothing and what he wears, but what everyone else is wearing too. His fashion philosophy is that you can shop where everyone else is shopping, but not be wearing what everyone else is wearing. It's all about how you wear it and what you put it with. Jason says, "I love to mix and match colors and patterns and really enjoy making people look and say wow!" He's a true believer that one can be fashionable and still maintain the standards of their faith. Jason served and LDS mission in Fresno, California and graduated from Westminster College with a degree in Communications. He works as a Stylist and Social Media Expert. Be sure to connect with Jason and his fashion sense on <a href="http://pinterest.com/fatkid/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</div><b><br /></b><b>Dr. Darron T. Smith</b> is a professor and frequent political and cultural commentator for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darron-t-smith-phd/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a> and Your Black World on various issues of inequality in the form of racism, classism and other systems of U.S. based oppression. He has also contributed to various forums from Religion Dispatches and ESPN's Outside the Lines to The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed sections. Dr. Smith’s research spans a wide myriad of topics on including healthcare disparities, Religious studies, Race & Sports, Transracial Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on healthcare workforce discrimination involving African American physician assistants. He is the co-author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Parents-Black-Children-Experiencing/dp/1442207620" target="_blank">White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption</a> as well as the co-editor of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mormon-Newell-G-Bringhurst/dp/0252073568/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361674988&sr=1-1&keywords=black+and+mormon" target="_blank">Black and Mormon</a> and The Impact of Social Factors on Health: A Critical Reader for the Physician Assistant. His current book, The Truth About the Honor Code: When Race, Religion & Sports Collide, is scheduled for release in 2013. You can learn more about Dr. Smith at <a href="http://www.darronsmith.com/">www.darronsmith.com</a>.

Faith & Fashion - Jason Dunnigan + Race & Religion - Dr. Darron Smith

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

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Looking at Lent Through Mormon Eyes

<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Why do the Sistas look like they walked head first into lit cigarettes?</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Slow your roll, lets start with some warm up questions then we'll get to that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVuW8VJTWpGiQ1m5rdz8nfoJ3V-t896HqOGT3jaMlJfqalBIHCZePPZ3tgGsgjSUFZxwPbyDxO5DUOP5uddUkLbDvv-0c-ONj6hyJBigJ-ugpm9_YLS6dqzweFGl-j5xtdKrf-JceSpw/s1600/Ash+Wednesday+Collage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVuW8VJTWpGiQ1m5rdz8nfoJ3V-t896HqOGT3jaMlJfqalBIHCZePPZ3tgGsgjSUFZxwPbyDxO5DUOP5uddUkLbDvv-0c-ONj6hyJBigJ-ugpm9_YLS6dqzweFGl-j5xtdKrf-JceSpw/s400/Ash+Wednesday+Collage4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you tuned into <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/02/11/back-by-request-marvin-perkins-catholic-mom-lisa-hendey" target="_blank">SiZ Radio a couple of Sundays ago</a> then you know that the Sistas are observing Lent this year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What is Lent Anyway?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">Lent is a Christian observance devoting the 40 days leading to Easter to fasting, prayer and alms.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Do All Christians Observe Lent?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">No. Some denominations that typically observe lent are Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and Catholics. Among Christian faiths that do not usually observe Lent are Pentecostals, Baptists, Evangelicals and Mormons.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Why Don't Mormons Observe Lent?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're the Sistas not the missionaries, ask the people at <a href="http://mormon.org/">Mormon.org</a>. Just kidding. Many of the practices of Lent are regular aspects of LDS faith, such as prayer, fasting, repentance and service, which is what peaked our interest in observing the Lenten season.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Does Everyone Observe Lent the Same Way?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Are you kidding? You can't even get people to hang toilet paper the same way! You'll find differences among faiths and individuals in how Lent is observed. In our quest to learn of Lent we reached out to Lisa Hendey from <a href="http://catholicmom.com/">CatholicMom.com</a> who schooled us on Lent from her perspective as a Roman Catholic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pQE5fy4Pm4k3VSf_pf18DlXpnLeutGIp1wwRmW0oDYkcypGg-MiA28H8w9SAdOY91aqOnYV3BEJWI7CIKFaWJ9TOPjeOyv8PIJasswI3-tgfbs0QtODqXbntazSsWw4nqbE1kWatPiw/s1600/Scripture+Lent4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pQE5fy4Pm4k3VSf_pf18DlXpnLeutGIp1wwRmW0oDYkcypGg-MiA28H8w9SAdOY91aqOnYV3BEJWI7CIKFaWJ9TOPjeOyv8PIJasswI3-tgfbs0QtODqXbntazSsWw4nqbE1kWatPiw/s1600/Scripture+Lent4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How are the Mormon Sistas observing Lent?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Lenten Calendar</b>: We began the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday and will end on Easter Sunday.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Food Fasting</b>: Abstaining from meat, except for fish on all Lenten Fridays for Sista Beehive. Sista Laurel already eats this way 365 days a year. (As with our <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/10/30-days-of-wow-word-of-wisdom.html" target="_blank">30 Days of WoW</a> it seems Sista Beehive does a lil' mo' sacrificing.) In addition we will observe our LDS practice of <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=586a2f2324d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD" target="_blank">Fast Sunday</a>; fasting for two consecutive meals, accompanied by prayer and offerings on the 1st Sunday of each month.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Personal Fasting</b>: During the entire Lenten season Sista Beehive is abstaining from soda. Sista Laurel is abstaining from TV and online videos.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Spiritual Food</b>: Our daily scripture study and prayer continue and we have added <i>Daily Reflections for Lent</i>, which consists of scripture passages, a message and a thought for meditation for each day of Lent.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Almsgiving and Service:</b> Sista Beehive is focusing on serving her family and Sista Laurel is focusing on her visiting teaching service. We will also participate in our LDS practice of Fast Offering; giving to help those in need.</li></ol><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What is the Purpose of Lent?</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">We are observing Lent as an opportunity to strengthen our personal relationships with Christ through fasting, prayer, service and scripture study. One of the things that Lisa at <a href="http://atholicmom.com/">CatholicMom.com</a> suggested we do to prepare for Lent was read <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6?lang=eng" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a>. We'll give y'all the Sistas abridged version: When we are praying, fasting and serving we shouldn't be trippin'. Don't call <i>People Magazine</i> to alert the paparazzi so the whole world can be like; look at her, she's at Starbucks with her scriptures, she must be hip and also super spiritual. Or look at him with his face all screwed up; either he smells something real funky or that's his I'm so famished from fasting face. We're paraphrasing for Jesus here, but what he wants is for us to be sincere. Keep it real.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWCoBq__ksGE406OHarbgaXsAUxZsGyAlyB2ZpPxCNzhqxsGIHZKx3eND_i4zW9MgT1YBQwMcDapsWDQZDlD96YkatusvRkl-th9sRVS9Gz1WGtElkP_pmle7KJbGHG2AqKPBVVRoEp0/s1600/Lord's+Prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWCoBq__ksGE406OHarbgaXsAUxZsGyAlyB2ZpPxCNzhqxsGIHZKx3eND_i4zW9MgT1YBQwMcDapsWDQZDlD96YkatusvRkl-th9sRVS9Gz1WGtElkP_pmle7KJbGHG2AqKPBVVRoEp0/s1600/Lord's+Prayer.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>So are y'all ever going to to tell us what's on your foreheads?</b><br />On Ash Wednesday we attended Catholic Mass, we've both been to Mass many times, but had never attended an Ash Wednesday service. Both of the services we attended were beautiful and the receiving of the ashes took place. The ashes are from the burning of palm leaves and symbolize human mortality and our need of repentance as we look toward the resurrection. We wore our ashes not with pride, but with humility as we each personally reflected on where we are on our path to the Father and asked for his guidance as we focus on correcting any deviations from the straight and narrow in our lives.<br /><br /><b>How did you like Mass, were the Catholics nice to the Mormons?</b><br />We both felt very welcomed by our Catholic brothers and sisters. We participated in most of the service; standing and kneeling when appropriate and the receiving of the ashes. We did not however take communion. Our first reason is that we had both attended LDS churches on Sunday where we both partook of the <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sacrament?lang=eng" target="_blank">sacrament</a> in remembrance of Christ's atoning sacrifice and renewal of our baptismal covenants. Secondly, while the receiving of the ashes is what Catholics call <i>sacramental </i>and open to Catholics and non-Catholics, communion or Eucharist is considered a <i>sacrament </i> and should for the most part be taken by those who have gone through particular steps in the Catholic faith in preparation to do so.<br /><br /><b>What were the differences between Catholic Mass and a Mormon church service?</b><br />One of the things that we enjoy when attending Mass and some services of other faiths is that there is a portion of the service where you greet your neighbors in the congregation. Another difference was that both of the Masses we attended served communion wine from a communal cup, we are both big fans of the individual cups. Although we know some folks who prefer the Catholic way of filling them with <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2009/10/deacons-drank-wine.html" target="_blank">wine instead of water</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbSZSupdojezwOJHTnDVjDJyRJ2yt3Q4hfEC_dL4TyHuWcE6kNvFct8LzjUfHq5T-tut2zm4d1F7_5Nm975mK031DuIXDSicsvHgrWCSTz5_GS4rKC2kaNWqLVMJRMXtAi0xdGlqrMpE/s1600/Communion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbSZSupdojezwOJHTnDVjDJyRJ2yt3Q4hfEC_dL4TyHuWcE6kNvFct8LzjUfHq5T-tut2zm4d1F7_5Nm975mK031DuIXDSicsvHgrWCSTz5_GS4rKC2kaNWqLVMJRMXtAi0xdGlqrMpE/s1600/Communion.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Have the Sistas learned anything new since beginning Lent?</b><br />Yes, that there's one Wednesday a year when black people are alright with being <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_ashy_skin" target="_blank">ashy</a>!<br /><br />Do you observe Lent or have you done so in the past? What is your favorite thing about visiting churches of faiths other than your own? Yay or nay to communal sacrament cups?<br /><br />Peace Be Unto You,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel</div>

Looking at Lent Through Mormon Eyes

Why do the Sistas look like they walked head first into lit cigarettes?   Slow your roll, lets start with some warm up questions then we...

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Darius Gray & Margaret Young + Danielle Miller w/ Let Women Pray

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/02/18/darius-gray-margaret-young-let-women-pray" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pk3qG2_LRGZQLp5WsL3PHelYWQFYriO5q6RVodqfaf-uzt3FKd8aG5P6bSus2zu7Ds4C4U5RRHYkRBj-Q7Zv-DVvXIaOCVsBTOZMeefutBjGZrb2-tgzyBREdtrVr0INOuDnCde-kOE/s1600/Darius+-+Margaret+&+Let+Women+Pray.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pk3qG2_LRGZQLp5WsL3PHelYWQFYriO5q6RVodqfaf-uzt3FKd8aG5P6bSus2zu7Ds4C4U5RRHYkRBj-Q7Zv-DVvXIaOCVsBTOZMeefutBjGZrb2-tgzyBREdtrVr0INOuDnCde-kOE/s1600/Darius+-+Margaret+&+Let+Women+Pray.png" /></a></div><b>Darius Gray & Margaret Young</b> are co-authors and producers. Their first joint work was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Promises-Book-One-EXPANDED/dp/0984360387/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361151316&sr=1-17&keywords=one+more+river+to+cross" target="_blank">Standing on the Promises</a> a book trilogy about early Black Mormons. Their documentary <a href="http://blackmormonfilm.com/" target="_blank">Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons</a> has been featured at film festivals throughout the country as well as The Documentary Channel. They are currently working on a film titled <a href="http://heartofafricafilm.com/" target="_blank">Heart of Africa</a>. Margaret Young resides in Provo, Utah with her husband Bruce, they have 4 children. Darius Gray resides in Salt Lake City, with his wife Leslie and their son.<br /><br /><b>Danielle Mooney</b> is an active Latter-day Saint living in Boston with her husband. She is a student at Wellesley College and will graduate this spring with a degree in French cultural studies. She is an All Enlisted admin and one of the co-founders of the Mormon Feminist Action Board--groups that advocate for equality in the LDS church. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LetWomenPray" target="_blank">Let Women Pray</a> was a project born out of a question asked by one woman's four year old daughter about when a woman would offer a prayer in General Conference. For further details visit <a href="http://letwomenpray.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.letwomenpray.blogspot.com. </a>

Darius Gray & Margaret Young + Danielle Miller w/ Let Women Pray

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

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Jesus is Your Valentine

We each have a <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">LOVE</span></b> story. It's written in the bible and it tells of God's love for us. He loves us so much that he sent us each a MAN. A man who is there to wipe our tears and silence our fears even after suffering on the cross for our sins.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RxI0mRZ5Ei9jeGplm9twld3l2kiYMiuXN-acHDd3WzOFSrOb3rM9ipeR-8PsHRU439U5j9ToI1EergHSD9KZiHChlGbK58Qwei8eA3exjTfuVE0Y9aaMRIRakZ5dkqXf15GlbnLPaXE/s1600/SiZValentine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RxI0mRZ5Ei9jeGplm9twld3l2kiYMiuXN-acHDd3WzOFSrOb3rM9ipeR-8PsHRU439U5j9ToI1EergHSD9KZiHChlGbK58Qwei8eA3exjTfuVE0Y9aaMRIRakZ5dkqXf15GlbnLPaXE/s1600/SiZValentine.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Valentine's Day!</div>Thank you Jesus,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Jesus is Your Valentine

We each have a LOVE story. It's written in the bible and it tells of God's love for us. He loves us so much that he sent us each a ...

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Pinterest to the Valentine's Day Rescue

If you've got some last minute Valentines cards to do, but don't have a lot of time and are not interested in spending a lot of money, the Sistas got ya back. We needed some quick easy Valentines card ideas so we did what every God-fearing Christian woman does...we browsed <a href="http://pinterest.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPFDs-nUGA1w8isUjfbDNavX2CSO9krQai4YhRE0Ko6OVFm55PiIz1nVphHhlMSU4lwpJw2K1TjndsyU96myWHJjsAo8A9ZNJU3awTYRqb1x8Bdp6ubRduBo-8QxRYwEoKKAHZ_1voeQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPFDs-nUGA1w8isUjfbDNavX2CSO9krQai4YhRE0Ko6OVFm55PiIz1nVphHhlMSU4lwpJw2K1TjndsyU96myWHJjsAo8A9ZNJU3awTYRqb1x8Bdp6ubRduBo-8QxRYwEoKKAHZ_1voeQ/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Mostly our Pinterest attempts look like this:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpBfCCTxxXUwFxnM9-DGafsmAYJIeq9jrLQxCCiNPEHVD0s3dkhZhDK6hyphenhyphenWQ3WVC9AlBAb6tD-npshbgjpIDBcCV1avNPUsOa9yGpsqNFQCbXS1_YJ7O77qYodY2xLYl40XEn23Cceto/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpBfCCTxxXUwFxnM9-DGafsmAYJIeq9jrLQxCCiNPEHVD0s3dkhZhDK6hyphenhyphenWQ3WVC9AlBAb6tD-npshbgjpIDBcCV1avNPUsOa9yGpsqNFQCbXS1_YJ7O77qYodY2xLYl40XEn23Cceto/s400/2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>But not this time! Y'all believe us when we say this is as easy a pie (why do people say that anyway, pie is not that easy.) The longest part of this project is waiting for the 1-hour photos to be ready and getting your subject to smile (instead of playing in the water).<br /><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">1. Snap a quick pic of the person extending their hand.</span><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">2. Embellish the pic using any software you choose. (We used Photoshop, but something as simple as a phone app will do.)</span><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">3. Send pic to 1-hour photo printer of your choice. (Costco, Walmart, Walgreens, etc...) We printed 4x6s.</span><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">4. While waiting for prints pick up lollipops, do a little shopping or run some errands.</span><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">5. Cut slits in the photos near the top and bottom of the extended hand with an exacto knife.</span><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">6. Slip lollipop stick through the slits.</span><br /><br />Seriously y'all we were able to figure this one out by just looking at the photos on Pinterest! To make 30 cards it cost us $5 in prints and $3 in suckers. The project took under 2 hours including drive time and the kiddo loved it! This was a self esteem boost that left us feeling all crafty and Mormonish! Eat your heart out Martha Stewart!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA4uPRPNc-gSxle-2VVQJguU3a5TyVKgMrA6za7DGqXUSruga2fyHlrhyYs-aFKeB7Yapw4RP7lur5KYN6CsUmcD4ugmkbbhDas5tToEgiNcvT8wxnXLiPSENU8ifjUl9vfhIQ4Plx9E/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA4uPRPNc-gSxle-2VVQJguU3a5TyVKgMrA6za7DGqXUSruga2fyHlrhyYs-aFKeB7Yapw4RP7lur5KYN6CsUmcD4ugmkbbhDas5tToEgiNcvT8wxnXLiPSENU8ifjUl9vfhIQ4Plx9E/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />God is Love,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Pinterest to the Valentine's Day Rescue

If you've got some last minute Valentines cards to do, but don't have a lot of time and are not interested in spending a lot of mone...

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Build Your Blog Conference!

This Saturday, February 16, 2013, the Sistas will be hanging out at the <a href="http://buildyourblogconference.com/" target="_blank">Build Your Blog Conference 2013</a> in Salt Lake City, Utah and we would love to see you there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourblogconference.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZaU6asL8VnnURswW_vJHFwGT6YIAZYrqBWM9gABtkC9_uNHHwDvE2cdWybmEpiHInyAhb2xfxKOzXsjxuFn8-hO5InyLySUh7eOsJM2WyQgu0yDKmvnXm-GxEI636HcrY4whRihZ5bo/s1600/BYB+Conference.jpg" title="" /></a></div>We Sistas are excited to meet the ladies putting on this bloggers conference, the 6 Sisters of <a href="http://sixsistersstuff.com/">SixSistersStuff.com</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl3942cOUrQaIfSlPmSeKznyeVSVVYoJCI-WRPSZtowUgV1CyYW9Bz8fwjw8Gl9hglUIjh_W9q75fi8PLXqJaDC6T_hspFRfBx65DCiMxsX-eraMHyvwf4AdliRHmNogVUSp2PYbMgaU/s1600/thesisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl3942cOUrQaIfSlPmSeKznyeVSVVYoJCI-WRPSZtowUgV1CyYW9Bz8fwjw8Gl9hglUIjh_W9q75fi8PLXqJaDC6T_hspFRfBx65DCiMxsX-eraMHyvwf4AdliRHmNogVUSp2PYbMgaU/s1600/thesisters.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There will be great <a href="http://www.buildyourblogconference.com/p/speakers.html" target="_blank">speakers</a> including some of the Dating Divas who we had on an <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/11/siz-radio-mormon-daddy-style-dating.html" target="_blank">episode of SiZ Radio.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrelH6o3FlA2jv872JTfHUSytBNY1ArNXuV2XFd7fsOa94w0ioxc4kP93MNDxwhopNq5ZL9KYqZj1n2olRmucEJy-viEPPcgB-NGmVJrt4bZz8cGLFCx607WHAB8j57iKZwF6hQZ2CAY/s1600/The+Dating+Divas+Pic+-+Blog+Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrelH6o3FlA2jv872JTfHUSytBNY1ArNXuV2XFd7fsOa94w0ioxc4kP93MNDxwhopNq5ZL9KYqZj1n2olRmucEJy-viEPPcgB-NGmVJrt4bZz8cGLFCx607WHAB8j57iKZwF6hQZ2CAY/s1600/The+Dating+Divas+Pic+-+Blog+Conference.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Come hang out with us as we all <a href="http://www.buildyourblogconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">learn how to build our blogs</a> and if you can't make it, we'll be live tweeting the conference, giving updates on sistasinzion.com and Facebook so let us know what you your blog building needs are in the comments and we'll get the info for ya!<br /><br />Hallelujah Holla Back,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Build Your Blog Conference!

This Saturday, February 16, 2013, the Sistas will be hanging out at the Build Your Blog Conference 2013  in Salt Lake City, Utah and we woul...

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Marvin Perkins is Back for a Q&A by Popular Demand + Catholic Mom Lisa Hendey Teaches Mormons How to Observe Lent

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/02/11/back-by-request-marvin-perkins-catholic-mom-lisa-hendey" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy-vXuzOXI0KiLZxIbDdUh8uAjKmMfAAv74ZGZpxA-K0ZtyB1xBfQD6qG138zmfqpwO24XHCNsVoKkiVN3bWAY3bvgt7G7wEnxwLpFxJHszSh_IIjq_sE7oIk9irkkAADvSNhpWNz_Do/s1600/Marvin+Perkins+%2526+Lisa+Hendey.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy-vXuzOXI0KiLZxIbDdUh8uAjKmMfAAv74ZGZpxA-K0ZtyB1xBfQD6qG138zmfqpwO24XHCNsVoKkiVN3bWAY3bvgt7G7wEnxwLpFxJHszSh_IIjq_sE7oIk9irkkAADvSNhpWNz_Do/s1600/Marvin+Perkins+%2526+Lisa+Hendey.png" /></a></div><b>Marvin Perkins</b> joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his late teens. As an African-American he has sought to positively change perceptions about African-American Latter-day Saints. Along with Darius Gray, Perkins produced the <a href="http://blacksinthescriptures.com/" target="_blank">Blacks in the Scriptures</a> DVD series. In June 2008, CNN aired an interview with Perkins in which he was able to vocally explain his faith and the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Marvin resides in Los Angeles, California with his lovely wife and children.<br /><br /><b>Lisa Hendey</b> is the founder and editor of <a href="http://catholicmom.com/" target="_blank">CatholicMom.com</a> and the author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body and Soul and The Handbook for Catholic Moms. Lisa writes for several online and print publications, is a board member and producer for KNXT-TV, and hosts the award-winning <a href="http://catholicmom.com/catholic-moments-podcast/" target="_blank">Catholic Moments Podcast</a>. She enjoys speaking around the country on a variety of topics including faith, family life, social media and the New Evangelization. Lisa was selected to attend the first-ever Vatican Bloggers Meeting, the “Bishops and Bloggers” meeting and the Catholic Press Association tour of Israel as a guest of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Lisa lives in Fresno, CA with her husband Greg and sons Eric and Adam.

Marvin Perkins is Back for a Q&A by Popular Demand + Catholic Mom Lisa Hendey Teaches Mormons How to Observe Lent

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

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The Cussing Mormon

<div style="text-align: center;"><b>A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION UPDATE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso1JBZTIh6X3zGlYBJfDpb_rN-bs_IKthCi1OjHh4gTh5thK-kSyfpvOpWOJHS9ssreGD2E0X3dkyGVbnhSOaUgZP_D_r4eM_SmmTk33SHCfbXJ4WB8ex9_vXYibzWdMJ9Ym6EGpZiqY/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso1JBZTIh6X3zGlYBJfDpb_rN-bs_IKthCi1OjHh4gTh5thK-kSyfpvOpWOJHS9ssreGD2E0X3dkyGVbnhSOaUgZP_D_r4eM_SmmTk33SHCfbXJ4WB8ex9_vXYibzWdMJ9Ym6EGpZiqY/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">No, I'm not talking about <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2011/04/j-golden-kimball-very-funny-mormon.html" target="_blank">J. Golden Kimball</a> when I speak of "The Cussing Mormon" I am talking about...me. Just to be on the up and up let me go ahead and state that I don't mean "Mormon cussing" like; oh my heck, gosh dang it, or fetch. I'm talking full on shameful swearing like a sailor. For just in case my Mama is reading this, let me go on the record as saying this hot mouth of mine is not something I picked up at home. I think between my parents combined I have probably heard three swear words (I won't say which parent tips the scale).</div></div><br />Since I'm confessing I'll start at the beginning of my swearing-saga. I said my first swear word in 7th grade. Our teacher left the classroom and this girl (who is now a grown woman and has since sent me a friend request on Facebook) began telling me how nappy she thought my hair was and how I needed a perm. FYI: When white people are talking about perms they usually mean making their hair curly, while when black people refer to perms we mean making our hair straight. Most of the black girls at my school had perms/relaxers. A relaxer is a permanent chemical solution that straightens or relaxes the curl of naturally curly hair. Anyway my parents chose to keep my kinky coif intact and some of my classmates including the aforementioned girl thought that this was a reason for ridicule.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15YaCqKi2lTFRBU-Rjs04Zu3EJXOqUCOfSiupAYgkqfsohK0oi0ktS1bB4Qa4dGI-u9jRV-zW0_Q8uy4U5MU9rppQwaV4gj4ONksLweO63hlMeQ676b006gJvzqvhI_Q-n1a4lPPKd80/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15YaCqKi2lTFRBU-Rjs04Zu3EJXOqUCOfSiupAYgkqfsohK0oi0ktS1bB4Qa4dGI-u9jRV-zW0_Q8uy4U5MU9rppQwaV4gj4ONksLweO63hlMeQ676b006gJvzqvhI_Q-n1a4lPPKd80/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxed Hair</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoac9K5YYmmnmgOK2JDxSHP_4YpKsj8IDaDEAe1kgR3eiycoD9F_x6m4FnK6UkyUHRrkps3bV_aMcELSsTPxMiSgLELw6snfV_iIj35oZ5HYSmf-4b-L3evnfjQvTHpEFX15iIPnt4Srs/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoac9K5YYmmnmgOK2JDxSHP_4YpKsj8IDaDEAe1kgR3eiycoD9F_x6m4FnK6UkyUHRrkps3bV_aMcELSsTPxMiSgLELw6snfV_iIj35oZ5HYSmf-4b-L3evnfjQvTHpEFX15iIPnt4Srs/s200/6.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unrelaxed Hair</td></tr></tbody></table>So here I am minding my own business and this chick starts yelling at me across the classroom about my hair. So I told her to get up out of my head, cause instead of worrying about my happy-nappy behind what she should be focusing on was that tired-tacky-ponytail-extension on the top of hers, and that she might be laughing now cause I got some kinks in my kitchen, but that she wouldn't be laughing anymore once I came over there and pulled that [INSERT POOR VOCABULARY HERE] off her head. Of course that is precisely when the teacher decided to walk back into the classroom. Long story short I got suspended for three days which was nothing compared to the punishment my folks doled out at home and I was too scared to swear for over a decade!<br /><br />Then as a grown woman with grown people's trials and tribulations, Pandora's box was reopened and well...I found colorful language a hard habit to break. If you tuned into our <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/01/07/its-a-new-year--sistas-in-zion-radio" target="_blank">New Year's episode</a> of Sistas in Zion Radio you know that I made it a new year's resolution to stop swearing. I wish I could say that this is my first go at it, but *sigh* it is not. I've been trying for a while now and what actually made me want to stop being profane in the membrane is this experience which I am sooo embarrassed to be sharing with y'all, but will because at my swearers anonymous meetings they say sharing is caring, and a big part of recovery. So here goes.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLLo3e3_ajI63P-9tIZtlar50AIWH4jUk6AQTccJwG-8DzEYTQVuxJh4hV4kBYULm_xF9i4h6rL_oE0C3_BrI_NnRxX1ZfT9M2yEnIkZdAVmgIObV3horT67y-7d6pAraC3JcK90KrYA/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLLo3e3_ajI63P-9tIZtlar50AIWH4jUk6AQTccJwG-8DzEYTQVuxJh4hV4kBYULm_xF9i4h6rL_oE0C3_BrI_NnRxX1ZfT9M2yEnIkZdAVmgIObV3horT67y-7d6pAraC3JcK90KrYA/s1600/7.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A child of God</td></tr></tbody></table>In my life I have faced what I would consider some very cuss-worthy trials and a few years ago when I was enduring several of these tribulations I happened to be on a flight. Now know this, except for the time in 7th grade and the experience I'm about to share, my swearing has been to myself or in front of close friends or family (oh, the perks of being in my inner circle.) I'm not in the habit of cussing people out, but if you were on this flight you sure wouldn't know that.<br /><br />A flight attendant thought I had an electronic device turned on and I didn't, but kept coming to my seat to ask me turn the already-switched-off item off. After having my device checked several times and  plenty of snide comments I had enough and I went off. Now when I say off I mean off, I think I called this woman everything, but a child of God. She was snapping, I was snapping and she eventually told me she would have the police waiting for me when I got off the flight.<br /><br />This all happened within the first 10 minutes of a 3 hour flight, so I went to sleep, she went about her business and we didn't say a word to each other for the next 2 hours and 50 minutes. After the plane landed as I made my way to the exit a woman put her hand on my shoulder and stopped me. She said, "excuse me are you Mormon?" My mouth fell open, I started hyperventilating and wishing I had paid attention when the flight attendant was telling us how to apply the oxygen mask and open the emergency exits. As my very loud swear-filled exchange with the flight attendant replayed in my mind I said, "Actually I'm Catholic." Just kidding, I didn't say that. Don't worry my Catholic friends I wouldn't make another religion claim me or my bad behavior. To my utmost despair, I replied, "Yes."<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas6yhu7pp37ZcEJA8R5tv6D8ujKbMe_hb2GspuJuUoCxM9SmDRCClcxq6EuhXUFwlahZIMuhPizNQ_A0aJ9aKlw_jc0r8-RzRetwbTCzsCtvSmmVKTR-TNaGG2ZVYqhz_X687kVab6gU/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas6yhu7pp37ZcEJA8R5tv6D8ujKbMe_hb2GspuJuUoCxM9SmDRCClcxq6EuhXUFwlahZIMuhPizNQ_A0aJ9aKlw_jc0r8-RzRetwbTCzsCtvSmmVKTR-TNaGG2ZVYqhz_X687kVab6gU/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Am I a Mormon?</td></tr></tbody></table>I just stood there waiting for her to tell me how I was the worse Mormon she had ever met or how she was taking the missionary discussions and now because of my cuss-fest she was going to stop, but instead she pointed to her husband and said, "We are too." As my very un-Christ-like conduct flashed before my eyes again, I thought,  Jesus take the wheel! I'm serious y'all, I really was frantically praying in my head. In that moment I felt so ashamed of myself, but thankfully our God is an AWESOME God and he answered his desperate child's plea for help.<br /><br />It turned out the woman and her husband had been visiting Utah for the first time and when they saw another black person get on the plane in SLC they wondered if maybe I was LDS too, as chance would have it we were all heading home to the same city and knew some of the same LDS folks there too. Now this is the part where God testifies to me that he is real...they didn't even hear my profanity-laced tongue lashing. I kept waiting for them to saying something about it and they never did, they just kept making pleasant conversation. We said nice to meet you and good bye and headed off in our separate directions. Then I hear, "M'am can we talk to you." At this point not only had Jesus taken the wheel, but I think he was also doing the talking. I had a pleasant conversation with the officers after which they apologized for my unpleasant flight experience...po po say what?!?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjKtSDBAxrL_J_0FV2-mprk2bLpsIUQHulNWFYSaArE0UkF3hol62dlr38txeyPVr3op8VFyOvnbhGmaRpUyx99zsLytXdoA4WH8Fi-k4yo6v2EcmLX-ijXcFH3OgGMXMcdnsNjhkJzU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjKtSDBAxrL_J_0FV2-mprk2bLpsIUQHulNWFYSaArE0UkF3hol62dlr38txeyPVr3op8VFyOvnbhGmaRpUyx99zsLytXdoA4WH8Fi-k4yo6v2EcmLX-ijXcFH3OgGMXMcdnsNjhkJzU/s200/1.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confession</td></tr></tbody></table>Immediately I decided that I wanted to clean up my language, because clearly private habits could obviously become public habits and I never wanted to be in a situation again where my conduct made me ashamed to say that I was a Christian. Feeling fully chastened I told my very awesome Bishop about my flight experience and he, mostly because he has a great sense of humor, suggested that for penance I share my story with the Young Women by teaching a lesson on "being a witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places." Which I did and yes, the Bishop decided to "visit" our class that day and yes he was loving every minute of my discomfort.<br /><br />So that's how I ended up on this journey of how to be a cuss free me. I've gotten everything from encouragement; my nieces, nephews and siblings counting how many days (or more often hours) I can go without swearing, to people asking me if I really think I'm going to go to hell for swearing. To that I say this, I don't know what God's speech barometer is set at. I don't know which words are "ok" and which one's will send you to hell in a hand basket. I just know this; nothing about my foul language brought me closer to Christ, no swear word I've ever used portrays that I am a child of God and that I believe that you are a child of God too and I will never forget that sickening feeling I felt when that woman asked me "are you Mormon?" For me, being a WITNESS of GOD at ALL times and in ALL things and in ALL places, means bye, bye Miss Potty-Mouth.<br /><br /> So this year I again added stop swearing to my list of new year resolutions. We asked <a href="http://blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">SiZ Radio</a> listeners to call and write in with tips for keeping resolutions this year. A tip that we received on that episode and has shaped the entire way I am approaching my resolutions this year came from Sista <a href="http://saintkimberlee.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kimberlee St. Clair</a>. She said to take your resolutions in small doses such as a week at a time and then reward yourself for keeping your resolution for that small period of time. Her advice really stuck with me and so as I thought about my goals for this year I decided that what I really wanted to form were good habits. There's this myth out there that it takes 21 days to form a habit, whether it's true or not 21 days seemed like a good dose for me and my goals. I have all my resolutions written down and I work on one for 21 days, if I make it then I start the next one, if not I spend some more time on that goal.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaskZpuXHx7vW1AZbiqDR5BeQNiYa6hr48n2cbMdCwxKE-G2vNx2PSKUS_J-au-jpI0PNMKxZWA71aHVT2l7P9PU3bN2wf_wJ-Ov1ePvy88ajfgXouhIS_LlNAETHxebvJfFxiM-fOzs/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaskZpuXHx7vW1AZbiqDR5BeQNiYa6hr48n2cbMdCwxKE-G2vNx2PSKUS_J-au-jpI0PNMKxZWA71aHVT2l7P9PU3bN2wf_wJ-Ov1ePvy88ajfgXouhIS_LlNAETHxebvJfFxiM-fOzs/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Beginnings!</td></tr></tbody></table>On January 1st I implemented my first goal which was no swearing. At first I really had to remind myself of my goal and sometimes I had to bite my tongue and choose to say nothing at all because I didn't have anything nice to say, but now it's getting a little easier. In addition, the Man upstairs has been giving me an extra boost as I've added the goals I'm working on to my daily prayers, fasted and upped my temple attendance. And praise the Lord, I've made it 35 days swear-free so far, which is a far cry from last year's roughly 30 minutes after ringing in the New Year.<br /><br />For me, focusing on one thing at a time has been FANTASTIC, I wish I would have gotten this tip sooner! On January 21st I reached my 21 day milestone of not swearing and I rewarded myself with some alone time with a good book! Then on January 22nd I started my second goal, which is a health and exercise goal, I'm now doing that and still keeping up on not cussing people out. It's only been a little over 30 days since the new year began, but I have to say it feels great to not have failed half of my goals already. In the past that's how I've felt, I would start out with a million resolutions and feel like I didn't accomplished any of them. So now I've only started two of them, but so far I've experienced success by focusing on my resolutions in small doses and only adding another to my plate when I've made substantial progress on the ones before me. So thanks <a href="http://www.norahroseoriginals.com/" target="_blank">Kimberlee</a>, and brothas and sistas I know I've got 330 more days to go, but I'm feeling pretty good right now, so feel free to cut me off in traffic!<br /><br />How are your New Year's Resolutions going? Any tips for putting the kibosh on cussing?<br /><br />Jesus Loves Me This I Know,<br />Sista Laurel

The Cussing Mormon

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION UPDATE No, I'm not talking about J. Golden Kimball when I speak of "The Cussing Mormon" I am talk...

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Deseret News' "Ask Angela" author Angela Trusty + Musana Jewelry and Kyambadde Christina are Empowering Ugandan Women

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/02/04/deseret-news-ask-angela-musana-jewelry" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime!<br /><br />Angela Trusty of Desert News' "Ask Angela"column is here. Plus live from Uganda, Kyambadde Christina of Musana Jewelry, empowering Ugandan women through employment & education.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjq9Jz5LgDK2qnsRv-Syvz58GsN69MoROhilSRZ_CGQG3jlSRWgYKI5iGojqj4lgtl6D0xZXdoUHZGGD21bKyFKsW7eg8dDc6aKbjjmg6StsPnM675OnTv1cydhEO15zU_Yprt2MaryM/s1600/DSC_1629d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjq9Jz5LgDK2qnsRv-Syvz58GsN69MoROhilSRZ_CGQG3jlSRWgYKI5iGojqj4lgtl6D0xZXdoUHZGGD21bKyFKsW7eg8dDc6aKbjjmg6StsPnM675OnTv1cydhEO15zU_Yprt2MaryM/s320/DSC_1629d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/askangelaslc" target="_blank">Angela Trusty</a></b> is originally from Baltimore Maryland, and  moved to Salt Lake City after finishing school at Dartmouth College and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square. She is now the author and creator of the <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/author/23002/Angela-Trusty.html" target="_blank">Deseret News</a> advice column for young adults called "<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/author/23002/Angela-Trusty.html" target="_blank">Ask Angela</a>".<br /><br />Angela enjoys live theater, ABC's Scandal, and could happily watch the movie Remember the Titans any day of the week! To submit a question for her column or to say hey email her at <a href="mailto:askangela.dn@gmail.com" target="_blank">askangela.dn@gmail.com</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXo38N0eJyM-rODBcrklmSF7uKMW76FF7JXgfxHSMk6qx3SvzzL5SIMTC7rtX64juHRHhJIafxMcGt04Gt5QqCCpynpLm9-AwB7j0BQP8V0Bw-pxTv91_9Q-QxuD3MzeFdZebHq_hyphenhyphen44/s1600/Tina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXo38N0eJyM-rODBcrklmSF7uKMW76FF7JXgfxHSMk6qx3SvzzL5SIMTC7rtX64juHRHhJIafxMcGt04Gt5QqCCpynpLm9-AwB7j0BQP8V0Bw-pxTv91_9Q-QxuD3MzeFdZebHq_hyphenhyphen44/s320/Tina.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Kyambadde Christina (Tina)</b>, is married to Kyambadde Fredrick, the Bishop of the Mukono Ward in Uganda, and is the mother of two wonderful boys, ages 2 and 4. She graduated from Uganda Christian University where she studied Business Administration. Tina, now works with <a href="http://musanajewelry.org/" target="_blank">Musana Jewelry</a> as their general manager. In her free time, she loves teaching, music, and socializing with friends and family.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Musana-Jewelry/327280791407?fref=ts" target="_blank">Musana Jewelry</a> connects women around the world through a social business that employs, trains and empowers Ugandan women to break the cycle of poverty and secure greater prosperity for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Deseret News' "Ask Angela" author Angela Trusty + Musana Jewelry and Kyambadde Christina are Empowering Ugandan Women

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

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Book Giveaway from Cedar Fort Publishing - Benotripia: The Rescue

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">What were you doing at 7 years old?</span></b> Mckenzie Wagner isn't tryna hurt our feelings, but at age 7 she was busy publishing her first book. You go girl! <a href="http://cedarfort.com/default.html" target="_blank">Cedar Fort Publishing</a> is giving one blessed Sistas in Zion reader a free copy of Mckenzie's second book, <a href="http://cedarfort.com/#%7Bselector%3A%22.ldsba-body%22%2Cmodule%3A%22/ldsba/productDetail.module%22%2Cparameters%3A%7Bproduct%3A%2220071973%22%7D%7D" target="_blank">Benotripia: The Rescue</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SHlXzcczTCeTtLmW5CFQpebo3-VE8O3vaxafIvCPyn-KSk6Kmq0CwzWPuMdY0e-FSghOG34uxju7k_7Sr-txsj2bzEqb8SiriY7HIrgJgskexCjX5olGsuKKjupzkSsqHMFmftwR53Q/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SHlXzcczTCeTtLmW5CFQpebo3-VE8O3vaxafIvCPyn-KSk6Kmq0CwzWPuMdY0e-FSghOG34uxju7k_7Sr-txsj2bzEqb8SiriY7HIrgJgskexCjX5olGsuKKjupzkSsqHMFmftwR53Q/s400/2.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>Below are the instructions to enter the give-o-give-away (Shout out to the Little Stream) and a little bit about Mckenzie Wagner, a preteen that is doing more with her life than thinking about boys and texting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqJXE3x0cswJa98StKvNsxA0cGnUBpc3jv3Nq8_p4MFFpdP34OaUT93myuceLVQy6MnjQU_B7_wp7xrhEPWVRLAl8XtvrdL1u54SugYZDobXfyPxqlTmlcCCrer_LUbT0BQFuIsVl-Mc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqJXE3x0cswJa98StKvNsxA0cGnUBpc3jv3Nq8_p4MFFpdP34OaUT93myuceLVQy6MnjQU_B7_wp7xrhEPWVRLAl8XtvrdL1u54SugYZDobXfyPxqlTmlcCCrer_LUbT0BQFuIsVl-Mc/s200/2.jpg" width="171" /></a><br />If you tuned in to Sistas in Zion Radio this past Sunday then you know all about this bubbly girl, no worries if you missed it we've got it right <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/01/28/choose-the-write--authors-mckenzie-wagner-tristi-pinkston" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Mckenzie loves fantasy, action and adventure, and how does she find the time to be a preteen authoress? Well, she doesn't watch much tv (we told you she was a unique teeny bopper). Here's a little about Benotripia:<br /><br />When her mother---the ruler of Benotripia---goes missing, Roseabelle knows she'll need the help of her best friends and their combined powers to survive the perilous journey ahead of her, rescue her mother, and save Benotripia!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGgmjliuqOuRdQE1Jpdt-cPvhHqfeqaAL-mizdMlp38_43kjZQJKFl-ZUJNer2TuF_Cywl2RGXxwjGc5Uwbu0IMO2RM-8yJa_0s9zrlzByFrsznCJwHq8kP0N_IMCTlLEQWl0V5dxDAM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGgmjliuqOuRdQE1Jpdt-cPvhHqfeqaAL-mizdMlp38_43kjZQJKFl-ZUJNer2TuF_Cywl2RGXxwjGc5Uwbu0IMO2RM-8yJa_0s9zrlzByFrsznCJwHq8kP0N_IMCTlLEQWl0V5dxDAM/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>GIVEAWAY TIME! (It's like Hammer time, but without special pants.)</b></span></div><br />To enter you MUST like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks" target="_blank">Cedar Fort on Facebook</a> and then Hallelujah Holla Back at us in the comments of this post and tell us what you were doing at age 7. (It's ok if you weren't publishing a book, we can't all be Mckenzie.)<br /><br />For additional chances to win:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" target="_blank">Subscribe to SiZ</a>, then Hallelujah Holla Back on this post and let us know.</li><li><a href="http://facebook.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">Like SiZ on Facebook</a>, then Hallelujah Holla Back on this post and let us know.</li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/sistasinzion.com" target="_blank">Follow SiZ on Twitter</a>, then Hallelujah Holla Back on this post and let us know.</li></ul><div><span style="background-color: white;">To enter leave a separate comment for each of the above you choose to do. Each comment will count for one entry. Giveaway will be open until 02/07/2013 at 11:59 pm MST. Winner will be chosen at random. You must have a US mailing address to enter.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div>Glory to God,</div><div>Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel</div>

Book Giveaway from Cedar Fort Publishing - Benotripia: The Rescue

What were you doing at 7 years old?  Mckenzie Wagner isn't tryna hurt our feelings, but at age 7 she was busy publishing her first book....

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