It is hard to be Mormon sometimes. It's hard to deal with the peer pressure. I love being Mormon. I love the gospel, the scriptures, the social support and the good deeds that we do for each other. I love my relationship with God. I love the temple, General Conference, lds.org, did I mention the scriptures? I am so blessed by the priesthood, my patriarchal blessing, my testimony... I love being Mormon. I love the gospel.
I hate the judgment, criticism, perfectionism and gossip: that I have all the downsides of a small community even though I live in Los Angeles. If we really follow Jesus Christ, perhaps we could stop with the comparison. The down the nose looking... (I've prepared a list of those who need to pay attention to what I'm saying)
I can't tell the truth in my community. It's just not appropriate. But I can love. I can love me and I can love you. I can do my part to stop gossiping (it is fun for a few minutes). I can do my part to stop the judgment. I can do my part to accept people as they are, and myself as I am. And that's where I'll focus. I get to be a good person. And I get to practice being a good person, which isn't easy for me.
I get to have pink cookies in my heart and give them to those who support me...and to those who don't.
