TBM. Also known as “True Blue Mormon” or “True Believing Mormon”.
This term is often seen in progressive Mormon circles to refer to active, stereotypical members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rarely is it ever used by those to whom it is meant to refer.
But I’ve been thinking about this recently, and I’m questioning its usage.
Why is a member of the LDS church only true believing if the follow right-wing talking points?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who comforts those who need comfort, who bears others’ burdens, or who mourns with others (Mosiah 18:8–9)?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who advocates for the use of the earth’s resources to be done without extortion or excess (D&C 59:20)?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who advocates for the redistribution of wealth (4 Ne. 1:3; Acts 2:44–45)?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who stands up for queer people, both within and without the church, despite there being nothing in LDS canon that says queerness is wrong?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who prays to Heavenly Mother?
Why don’t we call someone TBM who believes in a universal priesthood, especially given that Joseph Smith seemed to indicate that he was giving the Relief Society members the priesthood?
And so on.
The whole premise of “TBM” just further underscores the idea that there is only one way to be a Mormon, and it others (and pushes away) those who don’t fit into that mold, those who try to follow their faith as expressed in the scriptures.
