Lately, there has been an influx of commenters with an interesting outlook on my blog. Yes, they are ALL faithful Mormons, and yes they are ALL offended. One compared me to Hitler. That was funny. Another called my blog “a nightmare.” That was amusing, too. Another one (shout out to my bud Wayne here) has repeatedly tried to proselyte his beliefs and religion on this blog, and yet denounced my doing the same thing at every turn. (Disclaimer: I am only sharing what I believe, as far as Mormonism. I don’t care to push my religious beliefs on anyone, and thus do not share them. This, of course, makes Wayne very suspicious of me. You’ll see that further down.)
I’ve had Mormon “object” lessons, scathing dismissals, and one woman who steadfastly refused to hear anything I said because her “testimony” told her it was true. “That is what a *testimony* is,” she said. Okay. Who needs common sense and reason?
I’ve heard from Mormon apologists, some nice (Jeff Lindsay), some not so nice (Stanley Barker). I’ve had readers threaten to burn my book, one reader who claimed to have shred my book and sent it to the dump (but only after she finished it, thank goodness), and a few people who told me I needed to “get back to Church.”
Along the way, I also have heard from thousands of people who read and liked the books, and related to them. Many of these people claimed I wrote their story. Many of them thanked me.
There are two sides to every story. Two viewpoints. In my case, living in the land of Zion, I am the Ain’t. You have your Mormon viewpoint. That viewpoint is spoken loud and clear, and from the rooftops every day, in almost every country. I hear it every day from the people who email me and write me.
There is no doubt what that viewpoint is. Then you have the opposing viewpoint. That one you get here on Trapped, and on other ex-Mo blogs. Both sides have the right to speak their mind.
I do not post lies here. I do not twist facts. When I quote stories or news items, I also source them and whenever possible include a link. In short, this stuff WRITES itself, and I just report it the way I see it. Just like the Mormons tell us about the world the way THEY see it. I’m sure they are not lying, either. They just see it a different way.
If you are looking for the pro-Mormon viewpoint, you’ve come to the wrong spot. I’m happy to point you in the right direction. First off, stop at Jeff Lindsay’s blog, Mormanity.
You are welcome here even if you don’t agree with my viewpoint, but know a few things:
**I am not a follower. My friend Wayne assumes because I have referenced Richard Packham’s Web site in the past, that I am his “follower.” I, quite obviously, by Wayne’s reasoning, must be an atheist. Interesting logic. I’ve referenced lots of other Web sites in the past, too, including the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune. Does that mean I am a Newspaperite? Or when I referenced the Mother Jones blog, does that mean I am a Motherite?
**Trapped by the Mormons is a very tongue-in-cheek title, inspired by the campy old silent movie. When I wrote my resignation letter, sent it in, got the official notice I was out, then found myself back in three years later, as two completely different people, well, I considered that the title fit. You can read the whole story here. I know that I am not “physically” trapped here. You don’t need to explain that to me. Neither do I need directions for leaving. I’ve lived here all my life. It’s my home. I have no intention of leaving.
**Bitter is not my middle name. While I willingly admit that ex-Mormons are some of the angriest people I know, that is a relatively NEW stage that most get past fairly quickly. Sure you are angry and bitter when you discover all the lies, cover-ups, and whitewashing that has been done by the Church claiming to be the ONLY TRUE CHURCH in the world. But after a while, you move on. I’m not only not bitter, I think this stuff is FUNNY! Much of it is freaking hilarious. I don’t much like bottom dwellers like Warren Jeffs, and am open about that, but I mess with him, too. You have to laugh, people. Stop taking yourself so seriously. Somehow, at least one person a week MISSES that basic true of Natalie-ism. My mantra is “get over yourself.” Think you’re the biggest fish in the pond? I take my wisdom from George Lucas and Star Wars. There is ALWAYS a bigger fish.
**The bottom line is I like Mormons, and I think there are many, many good Mormons. I do not, however, believe Mormonism to be true, and in fact, believe that the secretive nature of much of their doings, and the emphasis on patriarchy, is abusive and dangerous. It is a closed society, that does not welcome criticism. Everyone knows what happens when there is no system of critique and measure. Now THERE is where you might use a Hitler comparison.
So there you have it. Another bee in the bonnet of the Mormons. I guess it’s my job.
One of the mantras of writing is “Write what you know.” I know Mormons and Mormonism. I was raised Mormon, and have lived here all my life. In addition, I have extensively researched it, and I write about it, and am very careful to be factual and accurate. I’m sure I make mistakes. I’m human. I don’t write about Catholics, because although I know a few Catholics, I have never been one myself. I don’t write about other religions for the same reason, although if I see injustice in any religion, I will cite it.
And if you don’t want to read it? Just a click and it’s gone. Ain’t the Internet great?
