The Mormons

I liked the PBS documentary. Overall. There were parts where I felt the representation was unfair, and furthered stereotypes, but there were also many beautiful scenes that got at some of the complexities and paradoxes of our rich history and faith. I also just finished watching Doug Fabrizio's Utah NOW program discussing the film. There are two delicious surprises that all this has uncovered for me. First, I have a very strong interest in mormon/utah history. (Another inheritance from Jim.) I have a huge appetite to read and learn much more of this history---from all perspectives. And, fortunately, I have plenty of time for this pursuit now that I am no longer in graduate school! The second surprise for me is how much spiritual affinity I feel toward the faith of my childhood. Enough time has gone by that I can approach the whole thing from a calmer and less guilt-ridden or bitter place. And from this place I can start to recognize an intricate, beautiful theology that came from an incredibly complicated history. A theology that I still love. It's exciting to suddenly realize that I can appreciate Mormonism's theology, honor its myths, even believe fully in many of its tenets, and yet I'm not required to believe anything that's unacceptable to my conscience. Much of the analysis of the documentary focused on how outsiders vs. insiders understand Mormonism and one way that I'm lucky is that I'm free to firmly embrace both of those orientations. I can appreciate and believe in many things. I can honor the faith and sacrifices of my ancestors. And yet I can also look in, from outside the fold, and not suffer the choking pressures of conformity or the weight of spiritually damaging doctrines. I can have my mormon cake and eat it too. yum.