Economic Lockstep

In case you had not noticed, the economy sucks. I'm feeling whiny. Since I've never been a dispensationalist, I find no joy in noting that we are barely keeping our heads above water from sinking into a full bore economic depression. I find it tedious.

So far I've refused to participate in the recession, but there are times I definitely think, "Somethings gotta give."

Proposition 8: Personhood Redux

For FHE last week we read and deconstructed section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I commend it to you. A declaration that is beautiful but sad in retrospect. And, an interesting counterpoint to where we find ourselves today in the gay marriage debate. Then we were talking explicitly the slavery issue, but avoiding the marriage issue. Today we are talking marriage but often not the other more hidden issues that are intertwined with the church's legal right to speak out and what it perceives to be its moral duty . . . . at least at this juncture.

In terms of Proposition 8, the church (i.e. corporation of the president) did what it had to do to preserve its rights and voice. And it's legally protected in doing so. Time to stop headbanging folks. Ever hear of silence as consent or silence as ratification?

As is the case in Coke wars, there is always some Pharisee out there ready to beat the caffeinated Pepsi guy over the head with a full plastic diet caffeine free coke bottle. But that's beside the point. And someone's going to point out that caffeine really isn't the problem, that it's the sugar that will rot your teeth that you need to worry about. Oh and don't forget the theory that it is the carbonation slowly riddling your bones with micro tunnels that is the real culprit. And, just think what giving up one soft drink a day could do for the environment and the downtrodden. Just be sure to recycle, Ok?

We had a recent reversal by the U.S. Supremes regarding corporations as persons who make political campaign contributions and said persons right to make campaign contributions. I'll leave it to the brilliant legal minds to further explore the consequences of that in terms of the activities of the LDS church in matters moral now that one decision allows more engagement by corporations financially in politicking.

Did I enjoy the "Proposition 8 debacle?" No, it's the reason, I'm even blogging, I was so internally conflicted. Conflict, that's the key word here. There is conflict. Things that don't match up, cannot be meshed, a vast divide that seems unbridgeable and more that cannot be resolved. I ask is there anything in life, ever, in the scriptures, or elsewhere that is one hundred percent black and white? If you answer this question yes, I fear that you will unnecessarily bloody not only your poor noggin but that of others as well.

Zenna Henderson: Ingathering the Complete People Stories

I am currently reading this book and I highly recommend it to the MOHO blogging community.

For a review click here.

S. E. X.

As a young married couple, a bishop gave us some unsolicited advice which I thought was silly at the time. He suggested that we pray over our sexual relations, that they would be satisfying and enhancing of our relationship. Being young and arrogant, I told him that we didn't need any help in that department. In retrospect, I realize how very little I knew about sex and life in general.

It WAS good advice and over the years I have had cause to remember and on occasion take questions to Heavenly Father, study the scriptures, and had silent moments of prayer on the issue. All to an ever increasing understanding of physical intimacy in marriage. It waxes and it wanes, yet practice does make perfect. However, the vicissitudes of life also play a role and many, many factors affect our abilities and interest levels at any given time.

There have been a number of posts in the MOHO blogosphere of late that have provoked this line of thinking for me and I only wish that it was appropriate for me to say more, but it's not. And just to underline the point here, I'm not talking about guilt or repentance, I'm talking about taking your most tender yet sexual desires to the Lord and asking him how best to exercise those in your relationship with your beloved in whatever circumstance you then find yourself in.

Sloganzilla-Men Are Pigs

So, as I was pondering political feminism, I was reminded of the lovely and implicitly sexual slogan of the seventies, "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." I remember this well. I also recall "Men are Pigs." "Pigs" seems to have considerably more staying power than "fish" and has been co-opted by men as well, and believe it or not, gay guys seem to have embraced the term. As I was perusing available internet content, the infamous 2009 New York Times article on Gay Marriage that contained a very stereotypical "men are pigs" quote came up in the search results as did more that one blog on GayPatriot.org discussing the rarity of actually fully committed gay marriage because "men are pigs."

I find both slogans grating and disappointing. I also think more highly of men than that. And women. We need each other. I hope for a future with less promiscuity, better relationships and less stereotyping.

Sexual Orientation is a Choice-Political Feminism

So you wonder why large numbers of LDS people believe that sexual orientation is a choice? Look no further than political feminism and separatist feminism for your answer. Political feminism argued that women should choose lesbianism as a way of combating the patriarchy. Chief among the proponents of separatist feminism was Sonia Johnson, the mormon ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) advocate who later went onto a very colorful life in feminist and lesbian extremes outside the mainstream culture. She was the most famous LDS LGBT person of her time.

Keep Austin and Mormondom Weird

Here are a few ideas I might explore in the next few weeks:

The purpose of Polygamy was to keep Mormonism Weird.

Spritual Matriarchy and presiding in the Mormon Home.

Sex abuse litigation against the LDS church (I'm absolutely for it as long as its not frivolous).

The Palin family as a case for arranged marriage in the church or, "if he brings a boy home, I hope it's a nice mormon boy from a nice mormon family."

Gay or Straight for the Cause? Can sexual identity be based on socio/political/religious ideology?

Sexual Pragmatism as risk management, reward or punishment?



Enjoy the links. And long live the city of Austin and may its weirdness forever wave.