SiZ (Test): Faith

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...

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...

Taking A Stance Without Wearing Pants

As I was leaving my ward building Sunday December 9th, I announced to the bishop and others standing near me "remember that next Sunday is black tie Sunday", so don't act shocked when I stroll into church looking like I'm bout to go to the Christmas Ball with Jesus. I wasn't prepared for what was coming my way as a Sista in this church. On 12/12 a Wednesday facebook, twitter, and the social media highway was all a buzz about the up rising of Mormon Women. Everyone wanted to know who was wearing pants to church on Sunday? At first I thought it was a joke, it was not a joke, these Sista's were serious, they were actually gearing up to wear pants to church, on a Sunday. There was a whole facebook page dedicated to it, the news media was actually covering it, NPR reserved a whole 3 minutes to talk about it, WHAT?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhb6XpqRzaGXljyCgv5vzEvPSqk6aO4Z70p0nT0tB0ycaFN_UFGEMW5BQcqUtqXs_nCINf8EeLLU5cUQTMa9CfLanYEoAcAvSQPsocF4uoMphBFdTw9V8JfPU4HrOBE0rZAkO9hNc-g10SZ90Acqg5-fNwzAyli8JaXP6W4HmF-Y_4A7shMzcYtIpVrtWLFV4sepMk=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/576356_10152308265915231_624707034_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Sista Laurel and I have both at separate times in our lives worn pants to church we had no idea it was or could be seen as an act of defiance. We certainly had not worn pants in the past to be defiant. We wore pants because that's what we wanted to wear. When I wore my pants no one treated me in a negative manner. No one politely or impolitely for that matter asked me to leave the church because Mormon women don't wear pants. It was just business as usual, the opening prayer got said, the sacrament got passed, and responsibilities got handled. Some people looked at me strange, because it's not typical to see an LDS sister wearing pants to church but nothing rude was said directly to me, and I have yet to hear any reports that were bad. As I pondered the conversations that I'd participated in on facebook, twitter, and within my social circle. I started to feel somewhat fearful as to whether or not I would be judged by some of the women that I loved and respected if I chose not to wear pants to church on Sunday. In my real life, not my Sista Beehive life here in zion. I am very active in my community, I would consider myself a fighter for those who can't or don't know how to fight for themselves. I am one who speaks up, and these days when I speak up it's rarely for me or my children; Usually it's for someone else, someone who feels bullied in some way by  the system, or powers that be. I have even been invited to battles, and joined in only to find myself at the front of the line taking the blows until ultimately I am left alone in a fight I had not planned to participate in except  a friend tearfully asked for me to shoulder a burden, and I obliged.<br /><br />I don't know what a Mormon Feminist is, friends who claim to be have tried to describe the group to me but their description of themselves aren't even the same. So, I still don't really know not 100% what a Mormon Feminist is. For example, I know that I'm a woman, I know that I'm a Mormon, and I know that I'm African American/Black (both terms acceptable to me). I don't know that I am a Mormon Feminist, you understand what I'm saying? Although I've been told several times that I am, (of course I'm scratching my head on this one). As I read comments and had my own discussions it was clear that Mormon Feminist Women should stand together and they wanted all Mormon Women to stand with them they were asking for an act of solidarity. One of my running buddies asked "don't you want equality in the church? Don't you want to feel like you have a voice"? Now, clearly she is a running friend only and we don't attend church together because she would ask me completely different questions. She said "You can get all dressy any time, this Sunday is for Sista's, it's to say I'm here if you need me, I have your back, I got'cha, you know? Letting them know you will stand with them, that's all it's  about."    <b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">REAL TALK: </span></b> I can't do all that in a dress? Where were these Sista's from? I know what the start of a fight looks like when I see one, and this <b><i>is </i></b>the start of a fight. Where I'm from it's better to fight in a pretty dress then to get bet up in one!<br /><br />After contemplating the pants issue I decided to dress up for Jesus. Dressing up for church was what I was taught to do, so I skipped wearing the original boring semi-formal dress that I was going to wear for something with a little more pop. The way that we dress in our church has been an adjustment for me as well, while it's not my desire to wear pants I like dressing up a little more then we do in our faith (especially in Utah) the women tend to dress a bit more casual then what I was exposed to in my youth. Which isn't completely bad, it's just different and I had to learn to adjust to things here and to this culture. However there are times when I have a desire to <b>DRESS</b> and when the mood hits I break out my "Holiness" outfits. They call attention to themselves, people at church always want to know why I'm so dressed up and I tell them "I dressed up for you and Jesus", they smile, I smile, all is well in zion.<br /><br />I decided that I wasn't going to dress down, but as an act of solidarity I was going to dress up. I wore a sparkly black tea length dress (black for the tragedy that happened in Connecticut), a red belt and red pumps for the season (although Sista Laurel would claim it was for the UofU), a few purple braids & purple eye shadow (you can't tell in the photo) purple for women suffrage: And all my fabulous accessories. In my wonderful outfit, I was prepared to stand next to any Sista that stood in need of a friend. In my red pumps I was ready to stand strong and call out anybody who had a negative thing to say to my Sista who came in her best slacks to worship with us at OUR Fathers House. In the best black dress I could find in my closet Sunday I was prepared. I was unsure and I was afraid, but I was willing to stand with ALL those who stood in need of a Sista and I knew that at the end of whatever fight (should one jump off) there were going to be other RIGHTEOUS Brotha's and Sistas standing with me and my sista(s) who decided to venture into the house of the Lord hoping to glorify His name, in the clothing of their choice, in a space that was comfortable for ALL of God's children.<br /><br /><br />** The good news is we were able to have a conversation with some of our Feminist Mormon Sista's it was eye opening. We got more information about the<b><i> Pants To Church Event</i></b>. What we discovered is there is a place and space for everyone, we just have to be willing to come to the table to have the conversation. The conversation was started it isn't finished yet so we will just leave it at<b><i> to be continued...</i></b><br /><b>The Conversation can be heard here on SiZ Radio: <a href="http://m.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/12/17/who-wears-the-pants-in-mormon-culture">Mormon Women Talk About Wearing Pants To Church</a></b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are some of the Sistas that sat at our table:<br /><br /><a href="http://askmormongirl.com/">JoAnna Brooks </a> ~Ask A Mormon Girl<br /><a href="http://ablackmormongirl.blogspot.com/">Karyn Dudley</a> ~A Journal Black Mormon Girl<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WearPantsToChurchDay">Kristina Monson</a> ~ All Enlisted<br />La Shawn Schultz~A Sista In This Gospel<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />

Taking A Stance Without Wearing Pants

As I was leaving my ward building Sunday December 9th, I announced to the bishop and others standing near me "remember that next Sunday...

Woe is Me

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaU6QxL_kEuS9OWJDP92nkl3MZKW-7tilBftUG5Vn_G3l_U6U0doze-sQ8p9AdgoRVw1E7GZT6gM1iWC24AinDdMGuK1pxQfd9FTg3iiNReSa9-tERU5uCQgELMWYx54m_qI9mgsZj6s/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaU6QxL_kEuS9OWJDP92nkl3MZKW-7tilBftUG5Vn_G3l_U6U0doze-sQ8p9AdgoRVw1E7GZT6gM1iWC24AinDdMGuK1pxQfd9FTg3iiNReSa9-tERU5uCQgELMWYx54m_qI9mgsZj6s/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Do you know Job? Have you ever been so consumed with your problems and personal concerns that it seemed there was no immediate relief in sight? Well, these past few months I have been going through some growing pains, which I have spent more time laboring over and stressed about then I care to admit. I'm usually a pretty faithful and positive person. However when I'm going through those dark alleys of life, I can get a little paranoid and crazy. I was feeling judged and misunderstood by people I trusted. Family relationships that I thought were secure were being altered due to exaggerated stories and some out right lies. I had almost reached that point of insanity where I begin asking myself if God had turned on me, I wondered if He was out to get me. I was feeling a little like Job. I know it's a bit of an exaggeration (yes, it must run in the family).<br /><br />No, I didn't have seven thousand sheep burned because fire fell from Heaven. The Chaldeans didn't fall upon my three thousand camels. I don't even know what a Sabean looks like, so they sure didn't touch my asses or my oxen. I can't even imagine nor do I want to think about losing my entire family in a tornado or anything else. Nevertheless I was feeling like I was experiencing one trial after another with no safe haven or form of protection. While I was traveling down this road of self pity, feeling sorry for myself, I did what most of us were taught to do, I searched the scriptures for answers.<br /><br />Why, why, why did I do that? Have you ever read Job? OMG'ness, Job had it all! He was referred to as a just and perfect man. He was blessed with great riches, and was respected by everyone in the community.<br />God loved Job, He trusted Job, He knew Job. Now this is where the story takes on a unique shape. All this was taking place during a time when the sons of God would go and present themselves to God our Heavenly Father; you know I was a little shocked to read that Satan was among them. Yep, when the sons of God presented themselves Satan (our brother) was among them. Side note: Satan had a personal relationship with God even after he got the boot!! The thought of this was so deep, I have a whole blog dedicated to the topic. To make a long story short, Satan was given the green light to tempt and to try Job. He could touch all that Job had, yet he wasn't to touch Job.<br /><br />Job was a man who faced some terrible and depressing situations. His children were killed. His servants were killed. His livestock destroyed. All of this happened in one day. A messenger went to Job to tell him that the Sabeans took away the oxen and asses and killed all of his servants except the one delivering the message. While the servant was delivering the message, another servant came, to tell Job, that all of his sheep were burned. While he was still speaking another servant came with a message that the Chaldeans took all of Jobs camel and had killed his servants. As if that weren't enough, Job received another message that must have been devastating. Job was informed that there had been a tornado and everyone was killed -- the servants, all of his children (7 sons and 3 daughters), there was one surviver - a servant the one delivering the message. Job's response to the events that had happened that day was:<br /><br />Job 1: 21: Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." With everything that Job endured, he blessed the name of the Lord.<br /><br />As for my situation ... Yes! I did feel "salty" and ungrateful among other things. Just when I was ready to stop feeling sorry for myself, I allowed Satan access. But that was then. I'm going through my own trauma, not as severe; nonetheless, no less traumatic. I'm entitled to my feelings! Right? If you said Amen to that, you need to run to the nearest priesthood leader, pastor, reverend, somebody, anybody (more righteous then you) and get a good long blessing.<br /><br />Some of us would think that would have been it. God won (of course) Satan lost, the end. However, Satan wasn't done with our brotha Job. Not wanting to admit he had lost, Satan again went with the sons of God to present himself (still I'm shocked). The Lord's response was: Job 2:3-6<br /><br />3: "And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and bescheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."<br />4: "And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life."<br />5: "But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."<br />6: "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."<br /><br />What? Did the Lord really just give Satan permission to do whatever to Job, except kill him? I'm so happy this wasn't a movie! I would have been that annoying person talking back to the movie screen. Unbelievable! Why Lord, I really hope the Lord don't have that kind of faith in me.<br />Job was then struck with painful boils on his entire body. He said his brothas and friends were estranged from him. Family and friends had forgotten him. His servants wouldn't answer his calls. Children even despised him and talked about him. His breath was strange to his wife (I know what you are thinking, and I'm gonna pray for y'all ). Talk about a fall from grace. Job had lost everything and I’m sure he was tempted to completely give up and turn his back on God. His wife even told him to just curse God and die because he was in such a pitiful state. But Job didn’t do that. While he did go through a time of complaining and questioning, he never gave up on God. Wow, what to say? My life ain't so bad, actually my life is good and I am blessed. Even in his moments of self pity, he didn't really complain. I wish I could pretend that I wouldn't have been in a full on windmilling (you remember those fights you and your little sistas and brothas used to have back in the day) kind of fight -- with the Lord. I'm not even going to tempt the Lord and ask for the type of faith that Job had ... because that Brothas and Sistas would mean that I would have to go through something similar to what Job went through.<br /><br />I know that we all go through life's storms. I know that we are having the experiences that we are supposed to have. Who didn't want to be Job prior to him going through his version of the garden of Gethsemane? Who would have traded places with him when he was going through the refiner’s fire? Who stood with him during his moment of hell? We all want to have what Job had, yet we wouldn't have wanted to go through what Job went through.<br /><br />Yes, I'm clear! I'm not going through anything remotely close to what Job went through. I know that I was having a moment, now, it's over. My Sistas and friends stood with me during my trials (I probably shouldn't even call what I've experienced a trial or test). I know that I am loved! I know that God is real! I know that my relationship with Him is real! And, I know that He knows me. He knows me!! I know me. He knows me because I'm having the type of experiences that I can live with, and not those of Job. I know that He loves me because in my moment of insanity I was reminded that He had provided for me an umbrella, a shelter from the storm, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Part of Jesus' atoning love and sacrifice was that during moments of loneliness and hopelessness we would remember to turn to him. There aren't any quick fixes, but through him all things can be restored beyond what even we can imagine.<br /><br />Your Sista in the Gospel,<br />Sista Beehive<br /><a href="http://www.myfreecopyright.com/registered_mcn/BT8QW_3GY41_YKT8E" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected"><img alt="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" border="0" height="38" src="http://storage.myfreecopyright.com/mfc_protected.png" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" width="145" /></a>

Woe is Me

Do you know Job? Have you ever been so consumed with your problems and personal concerns that it seemed there was no immediate relief in sig...

Looking at Lent Through Mormon Eyes

The Cussing Mormon

Taking A Stance Without Wearing Pants

Woe is Me

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