Wednesday
Feb062013
Lately
Wednesday, February 6, 2013 I'm struggling with how many (and which) personal anecdotes to share on my blog, hence the gap between posts. I'll figure it out, though. In the meantime...
Here is a piece that I wrote for a local online newspaper -- The American Fork Citizen.
My Immune System Survived a Direct Hit
And a piece for LDS Living.
I appeared on a local television show, Studio 5, in a segment titled, Breaking the Mormon Code. The piece is 12 minutes long, and the live discussion begins after three minutes (although I encourage you to watch the pre-recorded sound bites if this is a topic that interests you).
Thank you for continuing to check in. :)
categories: Religion, Television, Writing tags: Mormon Culture, Studio 5, to Mormons, to Mormons with love, writing
Religion, Television, Writing tags: Mormon Culture, Studio 5, to Mormons, to Mormons with love, writing 
Reader Comments (8)
Love the posts and will try again to watch the video; it wouldn't load earlier when I attempted to view it!
It's a balancing act between too much and too little, isn't it. Esp as the kids get older! Great job on the articles and the interview!
Chrisy, I so appreciated your article about Mormon Lingo. It's so true! I am a life-long member of the LDS Church. After traveling abroad and working in the tour industry it became painfully evident how members speak "Mornonese" without even giving it a thought. A few years ago I was taking visitors from out of state on a tour of the LDS Conference Center in SLC. Our elderly gentleman guide was talking about the "First Presidency" & "General Authorities", where they sit at conferences, etc. without any explanation of who they were. After the tour my friends asked several questions of me, mostly about terms about which they had no clue. I have long been aware that many of us have our heads in the sand and assume that others think and understand the same as we do. I have made great effort NOT to assume that and to be inclusive of all and to try to see things from the perspective of others.
Thanks for the great article! My business is "Wake Up Your Life!", helping people to wake up to what is around them, part of that being, to be aware of others!
The fact that you are white (Oh, no race, we cannot discuss that in Utah) was of vital importance to your ease in fitting in. Try being a dark man with his traditional indigenous long hair. I have Mormon neighbors who have never said hello to me, who have never smiled at me in the 8 years that I have lived in West Jordan. The kicker-I am LDS.
I stopped going to church 5 years ago. I would rather go to a klan meeting than to go to another ward meeting.
As a non-lds woman I have lived here almost 20 years (moved from California). We had neighbors come over and introduce themselves and ask if we were interested in learning about the lds church. We told them no, we have our own church. They put our name in anyway and we were bombarded by relief society members, missionaries and others at our door. Finally I told those neighbors to take our name off their list. They wouldn't even wave at us after that. At work I have had so many things that have really bothered me. I work in the medical field and we have to ask what religion the patients are. One man said, LDS there is no other religions. I have had people ask who my bishop is...it just goes on and on. People call my place of employment and ask for Brother Jones or Sister Jones... Once a supervisor gave me a book of mormon.. I told him I didn't want it and he pretty much forced me to keep it. So frustrating... I just wish they (LDS) would know...YES THERE ARE OTHER RELIGIONS!!! After all these years I am a lot more okay with their total lack of kindness. I think there are a lot of nice lds (like any other religion) but they need to be aware of the fact that they are not the only ones here.
Hello,
I've spent my morning reading your blog and am saving some posts for later... Your writing is delightful!
I've come to your blog after getting an email from LDS Living, informing me of your article about Mormon Lingo.
I'm a convert and had to learn all of the lingo too, and then moved to the US and had to learn the English version too.
Not being in Utah but in the Eastern US, I don't see that many mormons outside of church but noticed that they have their own Utah-culture and see us as outsiders or not-so-real mormons.
Your blog is very interesting and I love your sense of humor and your writing style. I will be back for some more. It's my new guilty pleasure!
Keep up the great work.
You are just brilliant! Thanks for helping us understand our own culture better!
Chrisy i am so thankful for the news piece i just read about your experiences here in Utah, it sure has made me reflect alot because i grew up with people of other faiths and didnt have any mormon friends till i left jackson hole wy, now i live in utah and there is a difference for sure, i just want lds people to relax and be nothing but friends to those of other faiths, no strings attached! On the other hand i want people to not have to feel like they have to hide beer or coffee just because and lds person comes around, if your friends then you except each other for who they are and that provides a comfort for both sides. these things take time though, so it takes effort for people to just be themselves and accepting, most of all loving everyone as you would want to be loved, thanks for this chrisy