Comments on: Why are there no safe spaces to question our faith?

By: Carolyn M Moorman

Carolyn M Moorman — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 03:03:44 +0000

We all have our perspective or the lens through which we view the world and it is that lens that makes some issues more important to us. Nearly 20 years ago I went through a crisis that took me away from the church. I was given counsel by a Bishop who though well meaning was not correct. I lost my way because of the pain i felt due to that counsel. I now work counselling people who are dealing with the pain caused by spouses and parents and children with addiction issues and how it impacts them.
The first presidency has created a manual for us to use which addresses these painful issues. The family proclamation is doctrine and when people fail living it then pain of their family members needs to be dealt with. Thus they have created this manual.
Kim, I have read your postings on fb and i feel your pain and i can see your perspective. Mine, however on this matter is not one of exclusion but rather one of respect for the relationship between parent and child.
If parents are living a lifestyle where the child is also in the home, how can a child be baptized without showing disapproval of what the parents are doing?
I feel like this is a cautionary policy to support respect between parent and minor child.
When I was baptized in 1973, I was married and had to get my husbands consent since it would undermine our marriage which it did in spite of the consent and thus we were divorced later due in large part to the different lifestyle choices. I thought it was beyond stupid and a violation of my right to be baptized but now i realize that it showed respect to our marriage and my ex husbands position of leader in our home.
I hope time will assist you in accepting this policy… God Bless you and yours.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 03:05:30 +0000

In reply to Clueless in Seattle. I agree with you. Testimony is so nuanced, complex, and individual. I gave up long ago saying things like “the Book of Mormon is true” and replacing them with more realistic things like “I believe the Book or Mormon contains God’s words”. It feels more authentic and meaningful that way. I haven’t read the Givens’ book, but they spoke at a stake fireside recently here.

By: Clueless in Seattle

Clueless in Seattle — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 17:57:51 +0000

I don’t have any answers to your questions. Human nature being what it is these issues will likely plague us forever. There may be some danger in focusing exclusively on doubts but ignoring them might be as harmful. For those with faith crisis’ it would be nice if Sunday services did more to build the faith of those in crisis.

I will say, that part of the puzzle is the way Latter-Day Saints talk about testimony. A premium is placed on testimony and certainty and we often talk about testimony as an all or nothing entity. You either have one or you don’t.

Reality is far more complex with multiple facets of faith ranging from absolute certainty, dispassionate acceptance, faith, hope, skepticism, doubt, to disbelief.

Perhaps a more nuanced discussion about belief and doubt would help. I have heard good things about Terryl and Fiona Givens book, The Crucible of Doubt.