tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25338341630065377412011-12-24T15:18:05.590-08:00A place to examine and challenge what it means to be Mormon <i>and</i> GayPablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-70241146567035875092011-12-23T11:15:00.000-08:002011-12-23T11:15:02.510-08:00

Happy Holidays to all my readers and anyone else who may stop this way from time to time. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, whether as Christians in your own way or as people who celebrate it as a cultural holiday in your own way. I hope that all of you who celebrate other holidays this time of year find joy and meaning in those holidays as well.  This is a time of year for personal and

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-39090339285607532002011-11-11T11:07:00.001-08:002011-11-11T11:16:09.969-08:00

One aspect of most online groups with Mormon themes that discourages and frustrates me is the continued use of the language of certitude we are taught as Mormons. Mormons “know” everything rather than think it or believe it or hope for it or have an opinion about it. Mormons tend to overuse and misuse the word “know” and sometimes phrase statements with absoluteness in ways that put up barriers

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-60044308956252917842011-11-07T13:22:00.000-08:002011-11-07T13:24:34.671-08:00

Dr. A. Dean Byrd, of NARTH and Evergreen International fame, has garnered a bit of attention recently in some corners of online Mormondom for a 2009 book he co-authored titled “Encouraging Heterosexuality: Helping Children Develop a Traditional Sexual Orientation.” Here is a sampling of some of the statements by Byrd and his co-author, Douglas A. Abbott, in this book marketed toward LDS parents:

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-29904426599216315662011-10-21T10:40:00.000-07:002011-10-21T10:40:08.274-07:00

A significant number of gay people from Mormon backgrounds are uncomfortable with many aspects of Gay Pride events. Although Pride events typically occur during the summer months, they are not infrequently discussed throughout the year. This post was prompted by an online discussion thread in which most commenters expressed discomfort and dislike toward various aspects of Pride, wondered whether

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-26180470267750168822011-10-17T16:14:00.000-07:002011-10-17T16:14:16.030-07:00

The following is an open letter to anyone considering reading the recently published book, “Voices of Hope: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Same-Gender Attraction – An Anthology of Gospel Teachings and Personal Essays” edited by the gay Mormon and mixed-orientation married Ty Mansfield, who is a practicing family therapist and doctoral student in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Tech

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-65734020281021507012011-10-05T16:16:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:24:52.546-07:00

On a Facebook group I belong to, there was a recent discussion about a statement published as a “Ward Teachers’ Message” in the Deseret News, Church Section, p. 5, May 26, 1945. This has been discussed for decades. It should be discussed, not because of the original publication, but the phenomenon in Mormonism from whence it sprang and its effect on the human mind and heart. The statement is a

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-81936229298762851972011-09-03T14:44:00.000-07:002011-09-03T15:56:09.661-07:00

There has been quite a flurry of discussion in the online Mormon echo chamber about what some see as a significant development in the LDS church: the calling of an openly gay man as a ward executive secretary in a San Francisco ward. Some have called it a "Mormon Moment." These "moments" happen from time to time. They are often overblown. The winds eventually die down, often just in time for

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-76091922529993574752011-08-16T16:11:00.000-07:002011-08-17T17:48:08.879-07:00

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is no longer my Obi-Wan Kenobi. For a long time Dieter Uchtdorf was, from my perspective, the only hope for any kind of positive shift away from the dehumanizing corporation theology of the LDS church. My hopes have been dashed before. But this is more significant because he was

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-56084102264318531572011-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:002011-07-25T16:06:30.026-07:00

In the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, Boxing Day is celebrated the day or two after Christmas Day. It's primarily a day for shopping, very much like the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. In the UK, the tradition often includes actual boxes which contain gifts. On this day after Pioneer Day, a uniquely Mormon holiday meant to commemorate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-69523696449198567182011-07-23T20:42:00.000-07:002011-07-23T23:29:14.279-07:00

You may have heard or read about Ruth Sheldon, the town clerk of Granby, New York who resigned rather than issue marriage licenses to gay couples now that New York has expanded the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. If you haven't heard about Ms. Sheldon, click here for the story. You can also read about Laura Fotusky, the town clerk of Barker, New York, who also resigned for the

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-24766830656902911252011-06-27T14:55:00.000-07:002011-06-27T14:55:06.801-07:00

Much has been said and written about the impact of New York enacting marriage equality. A chorus of commentators has described New York's move as completely changing the legal, political and social landscape regarding legal recognition of gay marriage. That may strike some as overstatement. But it isn't. It's right on the mark. Legally, marriage equality in New York provides another model for

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-5746271423987876912011-06-24T12:21:00.000-07:002011-06-24T20:27:29.048-07:00

As the by-no-means-settled issue of gay marriage fights its way through the labyrinth of New York state politics (I'll leave it to you, dear reader, to decide who among the power players is the Minotaur of said labyrinth), I'd like to discuss the traditional definition of marriage. UPDATE: Upon Governor Andrew Cuomo's signing the bill approved by the New York Assembly and Senate, marriage

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-27297822292191554762011-06-17T11:11:00.000-07:002011-06-17T11:11:59.868-07:00

I am a Mormon by heritage, but I am not a Mormonist. Even though I am no longer actively participating in the LDS church, I am sad and troubled by how the faith that once held so much meaning for me has been co-opted and bastardized in the name of short-sighted political gain and used to divide the very families it purports to exalt. Maybe it's always been so and I've noticed only because the

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-8428675700201564992011-06-10T11:28:00.000-07:002011-06-10T11:28:44.427-07:00

The debate over whether "reparative/change therapy" is valid or harmful usually focuses on whether it's POSSIBLE to change. That's the wrong focus. For it is also possible that there is a teapot orbiting the sun somewhere between Mars and Jupiter. Whether some aspect of "reparative therapy" effectively treats depression or other issues is a sideshow. The core part of this therapy model is about

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-7222486982355657632011-05-29T22:54:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:54:56.374-07:00

In Mormon circles and elsewhere, opponents of gay marriage are continuing to claim that some high-profile folk in their ranks are being bullied and intimidated.  The most recent examples they offer are Peter Vidmar, the accomplished Olympic athlete and LDS church member (who just days ago resigned his position of chef de mission for the U.S. Olympic Committee), and Paul Clement, the former

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-58801333869418489932011-05-27T15:37:00.000-07:002011-05-28T09:14:40.556-07:00

Just some light humor as we start the long weekend. The only requirement is you say this out loud (either to yourself or to a friend with a good sense of humor) in a raspy voice somewhere between Lionel Barrymore and Ronald Reagan with your fingers tented maniacally in front of you just below your chin. Then, release the hounds!Mr. Burns: So, Smithers, what are you doing this weekend. Something

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-12678724386590523122011-05-21T14:56:00.000-07:002011-05-21T14:56:42.448-07:00

The question of identity is a perplexing one, especially among gay Mormons. Discussions of labels (gay, SSA, SGA), the viability of mixed-orientation marriage, the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, and other topics surrounding the issue of sexual identity and orientation can be difficult and sometimes inflammatory. Those discussions can also be enlightening. For me, two of the most troublesome

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-28355587221214929092011-05-18T10:48:00.000-07:002011-05-18T13:40:38.173-07:00

Sometimes, a book that may contain positive, helpful and uplifting information is overshadowed by other information it contains that is dehumanizing, destructive and even deadly. The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball is such a book. Many people have written about this book. In case you're wondering, I side with who view it mostly as something that is usually left in the street behind a

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-27098507737393547322011-05-09T14:55:00.000-07:002011-05-09T17:04:07.871-07:00

I try not to criticize other bloggers in public or in my own posts. People have a right to post what they want on their own blogs. A variety of perspectives, opinions and life experience is a good and important thing. As bloggers, we all need the freedom to blog in ways that work for us at whatever stage of life we may be. Anyone who has read anything I've written here will know I have some

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-33336753984816958792011-04-13T07:45:00.000-07:002011-04-13T14:37:45.185-07:00

If the trends in mainstream Mormonism don't change soon, LDS folk may become fully embroiled in what is happening in other parts of Christendom. A group of self-described Christians who proudly claim to be social conservative culture warriors fighting the very concept of gay identity gathered a few days ago at that bastion of thoughtfulness and scholarly achievement, Liberty University. They call

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-42405857490640971932011-03-30T07:00:00.000-07:002011-03-30T09:36:07.145-07:00

Dear General Authorities and General Officers of the LDS Church,The 181st Annual General Conference is coming up this weekend, April 2-3, 2011. Yay for you guys! I know most of you aren’t too keen on following recommendations from, you know, us lesser mortals. But I know some of you are still putting the finishing touches on your talks, so I made a little list of suggestions for your kind

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-57673376397327616682011-03-14T12:43:00.000-07:002011-03-14T14:19:52.832-07:00

"Lie" is a strong word. To me, it involves an intentional act. The intent may be malicious. It may stem from a desire to protect ourselves or others or to avoid difficult emotions. There are lies we tell others. There are lies we tell ourselves. And there are lies that we like others to tell us. I've been pondering that last category lately. If I'm being honest, my doubts about the "truthfulness

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-54071121039000488902011-03-03T18:13:00.000-08:002011-03-03T18:13:28.404-08:00

Here’s a bit of somewhat old news I just noticed in my internet wanderings. On February 4, 2011, a member of the legal community received an award for positive contributions to the law and made the following statement to the group presenting the award:  “Rather than seeing law as an instrument of domination, it is our mission to use it as an enabling power to help men and women achieve greater

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-28451945838591070072011-02-24T19:39:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:49:13.490-08:00

I've gone back and forth about whether to write on Dallin Oaks' speech to an audience at Chapman University School of Law. I'm a bit late, but I've decided to enter the fray. Many others have written excellent posts responding to Oaks and have corrected the record in the wake of a staggering number of misrepresentations in that speech. They have my thanks, as do many of those who commented. In

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-56451065917189383972011-02-15T15:44:00.000-08:002011-02-15T15:44:12.117-08:00

My friend Invictus Pilgrim recently posted about his experience of dealing with the fallout from the actions of a gossipy member of his ward. He posed the question of what prompts people to act like Dementors, feeding off the challenges of others. I posted a comment which is the genesis of this post. (Full disclosure: I'm a hopeless Harry Potter fan. I see many analogies to life in the compelling

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-11606726910860458642011-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:16:57.612-08:00

One of the more poignant aspects of reframing what my Mormon heritage means to me has been coming to terms with the fact that I don't truly have a place at the table of mainstream Mormonism as my complete self. There's no going back to being the limited version of myself. There's no going back to conforming to the narrow range of acceptability in modern Mormondom. I just have to find my way

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-8467803245428565642011-01-26T12:11:00.000-08:002011-01-26T12:11:41.811-08:00

To all my friends in Moho Bloggerland: I'm still here. I have a few draft posts I never seem to get around to finalizing because I'm such a blasted perfectionist about what I publish. (Not that I operate under any delusion that my writing is all that amazing). I've also been in one of my periods of introspection and retreating into myself, and simply reading the blogs of other people rather

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-67658240172953300872010-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:002010-12-24T10:00:02.782-08:00

To every one of my fellow MoHo (and non-MoHo) bloggers, friends, family and readers: May the selfless giving and grateful receiving of this brief season extend throughout the coming year and beyond. Most of all, may you find peace, joy, acceptance, fellowship, goodwill, enlightenment and love. -Pablo

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-18800725645052459952010-12-17T01:25:00.000-08:002010-12-20T10:16:48.303-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has visited and checked up on me despite how quiet my blog has been the past few weeks. I can't believe it's been two months since I've published a blog post. This isn't exactly a holiday-themed post, but the holidays have gotten the thinking about my place in the world as families and friends gather this time of year. Growing up in the church, I was always told how the "

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-59196277716039548722010-10-17T15:02:00.000-07:002010-10-17T15:02:44.644-07:00

There is a fable by Æsop that tells of an argument between the Sun and the Wind. While arguing over which of them is most powerful, the Sun and the Wind see a man walking along the road below them. The Wind challenges the Sun to see which of them can get the man to take off his cloak. While the Sun hides behind a cloud, the Wind goes first, blowing powerful gusts to force the coat off of the man.

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-16659510874881917292010-10-06T13:03:00.000-07:002010-10-06T13:03:30.304-07:00

I've been trying to put Boyd K. Packer's Oct 3, 2010 general conference talk into some context. I've reflected on a few things in Mormon history and American history (those being to of the most significant parts of my heritage and experience) that might help me do so. I've also read several responses of others out there in the Mohosphere. In my last post, I suggested there were two main options

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-44066514894115873262010-10-03T16:49:00.000-07:002010-10-04T09:58:36.641-07:00

I didn't think I would watch much, if any, of general conference this time around. But, like a moth to a flame, I watched Boyd K. Packer's talk. About halfway into it, a phrase came to my mind once recalled by Dr. Robert Oppenheimer upon seeing the first atomic bomb detonation: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."This is not hyperbole. This really is about life and death. It's about

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-5307561659614512722010-10-01T16:48:00.000-07:002010-10-02T21:15:43.777-07:00

Reflecting on what I think was a productive and challenging discussion generated by my last post, here is a follow-up, but on a more personal level.There are many people whose devotion to the church leads them realize how much the church works for them on a personal level, how much it means to them, how truly it resonates in their soul. It is hard for these people to understand how this same

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-32263164143280605502010-09-20T20:17:00.000-07:002010-09-20T20:39:29.665-07:00

If you thought my last post was too sharp, you might want to pass on this one. If you liked it... This is the right place, drive on. (Oh, and this is a long post. But it’s my blog, so there you go.)Dallin Oaks, one of the twelve apostles of the church, gave a speech on Constitution Day (Sep 17) about, ostensibly, the Constitution. It was more than that though. It also addressed "judicial activism

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-87814031625727365142010-09-14T00:32:00.000-07:002010-09-14T00:32:42.259-07:00

At the risk of stepping into a big mess, or creating one, I'm offering up this start-of-the-season post.I believe it is vital to have dialogue between people of different viewpoints, even when that is painful. Sometimes, conversations, blog posts, comments and the like stray into vilification and retribution. Kind of a "I'm hurting, so I'll hurt you" dynamic. I've experienced this first-hand.For

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-49007446148749533702010-08-12T11:00:00.000-07:002010-08-12T23:25:56.699-07:00

Most Mohos have had the demoralizing, often bitter, experience of being told that they are broken, deficient, unworthy, sick, corrupted, and all manner of evil speaking that could be directed to a person. Whether intentional, reckless or thoughtless, these words and actions dehumanize people. Leaders and members of the church who say these kinds of things, whether direct or subtle, chip away at

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-3004215372634211892010-08-04T22:55:00.000-07:002010-08-04T22:55:18.727-07:00

“America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight.” So spoke the fictional President Andrew Shepherd in the film the American President. Those words seem especially fitting today following the ruling by Judge Vaughn R. Walker in the Prop 8 case more formally known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Just like any time when society awakes (or is roused from a

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-4771276889541154672010-07-31T14:36:00.000-07:002010-07-31T14:38:32.020-07:00

As I've been on this journey of reconsidering what it means for me to be a Mormon, and what life has in store now that I feel good about the fact that I'm gay, I've tried to avoid that extreme position of throwing the baby out with the bath water. For a gay Mormon, that can be a daunting prospect.It seems that every gay Mormon faces two choices. Option One: Stay anxiously engaged in the church

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-19413899660035600722010-07-26T09:10:00.000-07:002010-07-26T09:10:02.676-07:00

With appreciation for all the excellent and wise feedback, I've decided to stick with just one blog. It's hard to argue with a consensus. And it feels right to keep things in one place. Thanks again everyone.

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-16017150716853587272010-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:002010-07-25T14:30:46.160-07:00

After commenting on Daniel's blog, I figured I'd turn my comments into a post of my own.There is an intriguing story behind the creation of that quintessentially Mormon item: the CTR ring. Thinking back on the story as I heard it, I remembered, wrongly, that there had been a debate over two competing phrases: "Choose the Right" and "Choose the Good."Turns out, this is the relevant part of the

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-1749551563602565702010-07-21T07:10:00.000-07:002010-07-21T22:47:09.047-07:00

Many people have posted their feelings and thoughts about the tragic death of Todd Ransom yesterday. I especially appreciate Rob's post yesterday, which inspired me to post the following. Many others have written deeply touching words too, but Rob's words were stirring. I'm not sure what I can add, but in tribute to Todd and countless others whose lives were cut short or clouded by despair, I am

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-36033343001933283542010-07-20T23:50:00.000-07:002010-07-20T23:50:17.331-07:00

I found this the other day and loved it:Priest: "Have you made your peace with God?"Voltaire (on his deathbed): "I didn't know we were at war."I'm at peace with God. I am not at peace with the church. But I'm not exactly at war with it either. There are many things I hate about it. There are some things about it that I think are good. I'm not grinding any axes against the church or institutional

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-4979785891817665192010-07-18T21:03:00.000-07:002010-07-18T21:03:54.303-07:00

When I first started this blog, I figured I would write mostly about my thoughts and feelings of my life as a Mormon -- from born-in-the-church to true believer to disenchanted to disaffected to hopeful agnostic, and everywhere in between. A lot of my feelings about the church are intertwined with my experience being a Gay Mormon. But lately, my posts about Moho life in particular have been more

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-6460414614866679912010-07-17T18:47:00.000-07:002010-07-17T18:47:08.354-07:00

I’m felling more upbeat today. No vast changes, but my outlook is less cloudy. Here in Portland, we call those “sun breaks.” Hooray for euphemisms! Some people might say we get enough breaks from the sun here, but hey, I grew up in Arizona, so I have a sun surplus. In addition to talking with a couple of friends yesterday and attending part of a Moho gathering, writing a comment on Chris and

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-81415915561996176102010-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:002010-07-16T18:17:52.005-07:00

I'd venture a guess that every Moho has felt an almost unbearable loneliness. I'm talking depths-of-despair loneliness. It seems to be a common theme. It involves fear, self-isolation, reliance on impossible promises and well-built facades. For me, it keeps coming back, despite the fact that I have some really amazing and supportive people in my life who I appreciate and love and who I know

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-26798990942940356002010-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:002010-07-16T18:18:36.903-07:00

Twenty-four hours on and no more hits from ldschurch.org. Glad they stopped by. And now we both move on. Happy Friday everyone.

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-50632788792430097732010-07-15T09:23:00.000-07:002010-07-15T19:12:50.401-07:00

On the same day as my post about the the Prop 8 film "8: The Mormon Proposition" I had a single, one-page, brief hit from the ldschurch.org domain (which is the web domain for church officialdom). Thanks Sitemeter! I don't take conspiracy theories very seriously and I don't by any stretch think I'm important enough to be noticed by the powers that be in SLC, but it was a bit creepy. A

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-55627968739254681272010-07-14T11:38:00.000-07:002010-07-14T17:32:47.667-07:00

I've been connected to the Moho community in Portland for a long time now, but I didn't become a Moho blogger until recently. I was afraid that I'd get drawn too deep into the mohosphere, spend too much time reading the many good blogs out there and neglect other things. It's easy to do, especially for me. It happened when I first found the New Order Mormon message board. It was so good to find a

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-24371933505609230982010-07-12T19:13:00.000-07:002010-07-13T14:49:49.373-07:00

So much for the hiatus ending soon. But now, after FAR too long a break, I'm back to blogging. This long post will more than make up for the lack of writing the past few weeks.A while back, I watched the film "8: The Mormon Proposition" with a group of close friends. This was when it was first released nation-wide. I guessed that it would stir up a lot of complicated emotions inside me. It did.

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-19041951400799477712010-06-19T16:51:00.000-07:002010-07-12T19:48:27.702-07:00

The last few weeks have been crazy, leading to an unanticipated hiatus. I'll be back to blogging soon. I watched the film "8: The Mormon Proposition" last night. As you might guess, I'll be posting about it. So check back for that and other posts soon.

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-48339394367781345802010-05-28T13:32:00.000-07:002010-05-28T13:39:41.412-07:00

Reina tagged me yesterday, so here I am with my 10 Favorite Things list. Please note that I am not a fan of snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. But when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, these are some of the things I try to simply remember (in no particular order, though I did save the best for last):  1. Ocean waves on a beach. This is one of those primal

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-58399418432603558542010-05-26T17:41:00.000-07:002010-05-28T13:35:13.710-07:00

A quick prologue: I've been pretty down the past couple of days because of some personal circumstances (which I may blog about later). Even though I have some truly amazing friends and family who love me and support me, I'm feeling really alone--mostly because I have some decisions confronting me that I alone can make. Fortunately, I haven't relied on my old stand-by method of retreating into

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-56521575526668391532010-05-21T17:07:00.000-07:002010-05-22T15:02:45.272-07:00

Word has come down from on high that Deseret Book will no longer be printing or carrying Bruce R. McConkie's book Mormon Doctrine. My search on the Deseret Book website using the search term "mormon doctrine" gave me 13 results, none of them the book Mormon Doctrine. It appears that indeed it has been exiled, but not repudiated. The Bloggernacle will provide you with more facts, rumors and

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-73193567003237359372010-05-20T09:55:00.000-07:002010-05-20T09:58:30.991-07:00

Note: This post is expanded from a comment I left recently on Reina's blog. She's awesome, by the way. I'm a very cautious person. Probably too cautious. I told a friend of mine that recently, and he immediately agreed. I take a long time to make decisions. I'm a researcher and a questioner. I know how to make decisions and reach conclusions, and I can make them quickly. But when it comes to

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-22227782661112424932010-05-13T12:18:00.000-07:002010-05-13T19:09:31.495-07:00

Thanks to my friend Jon, I found a posting by Gay Saint that is a re-post of an old advice column piece by Cary Tennis at Salon.com. I can't find the original piece on Salon.com, so I haven't read the letter that inspired Tennis' response. But the response is amazing. Every parent should read it. As you read it, imagine the impact for good in the lives of kids wondering about their sexual

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-79583860865567705522010-05-11T22:30:00.000-07:002010-05-13T13:00:56.376-07:00

It seems that people from many different cultures like comparing things in life to farming and gardening. I tend to like those analogies more than the ones dealing with money, which seem to pervade American culture and language, as well as much of Christianity. I prefer to think in terms of planting, growing and harvesting than investment, "buying into" something and being redeemed like an empty

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-59129144059371070182010-04-30T14:31:00.000-07:002010-04-30T17:14:42.282-07:00

Two Sundays ago, I heard a husband and wife speak in a sacrament meeting I attended. They looked and sounded like pleasant, down-to-earth people. They definitely didn't come out of central casting for a church video (thankfully). She spoke of some trials her family had faced the past few years. She spoke in general terms, but with a very meaningful, personal tone. The husband did likewise, for

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-38290107950602497742010-04-28T13:59:00.000-07:002010-04-30T13:09:08.357-07:00

What is a choice?Choice is a politically-loaded word (Witness this brilliance by Samantha Bee from The Daily Show at the Republican National Convention in 2008). Choice in Mormon circles is usually called "agency" or the older form "free agency." But the word "choice" is used in the LDS church's Young Women Theme. For more about this, and other things pink, take a look here--if you dare.There are

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-18169366930488309402010-04-24T11:31:00.000-07:002010-04-24T14:58:23.190-07:00

There have been many groups that have come from the original organization established by Joseph Smith. The largest is the LDS church based in Salt Lake City, Utah--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That's the church I grew up in. (I'm from Arizona, which is part of the so-called "Mormon Corridor.") The next largest group is the Community of Christ, which changed its name a few

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-1813370195728687262010-04-23T20:59:00.001-07:002010-04-24T12:23:49.238-07:00

This post doesn't have much to do with my Mormon background. But it's an update since it's been a while since I posted anything. The past several days, I've found myself falling back into a not-so-wonderful pattern of retreating into myself. It's been something of a coping strategy during my life. I don't like how I feel when I do this, but it's familiar. I've done it less often the past three

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-31935531330572056832010-04-09T14:59:00.000-07:002010-04-09T16:28:28.727-07:00

Although I am a heretic (and maybe even an unofficial apostate) when it comes to the church, I still consider myself a spiritually-minded person. I think my sense of spirituality and my perspective regarding my place in the universe have become deeper due to grappling with my disaffection. I may not share my ancestors' beliefs, but I appreciate their devotion to what they saw was the best way to

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-45270235205569350932010-04-05T19:16:00.000-07:002010-04-06T00:07:28.354-07:00

When I was growing up, I was a sensitive kid. I'd still consider myself a sensitive person as an adult. I consider sensitivity, thoughtfulness and compassion to be strengths. I wouldn't trade those characteristics for anything. I'm also self-critical, and have plenty of flaws. (See what I mean?) But because of how sensitivity is perceived, I've learned to build up walls and develop defensive

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2533834163006537741.post-38224032278190549362010-04-04T00:42:00.000-07:002010-04-05T15:24:09.188-07:00

My name is Pablo. I'm a Mormon. I'm an eighth-generation Mormon to be exact. I don't say that to brag. I say that to give you a bit of context. Being Mormon is a very funny thing--especially when it's in practically in your blood. It's the legacy I've inherited. It's an inseparable part of who I am. It has brought me happiness. It has been a burden. It's complicated. I know I'm not the only one

Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15390721012768975275noreply@blogger.com4