Like I said, I don’t usually write this way or think this way about most things. But this was one heated comment from me, not an entire blog supposedly designed to convert people.

The rest of my comment was hypothetical, using this person’s blog as an example. Like saying, “Please don’t do this!”

I know that people blog for different reasons. Like I said, I had a blog that wasn’t really well suited for religion.

“Sheltered”? Ya, that could be a judgment. Or an observation. It’s not even meant to be a criticism, more a statement of fact. “Hyper-conservative”? Same idea. The criticism was with the point of view, not the description of “sheltered” and “hyper-conservative”. But ya, you could read some judgment in there.

Uh, and that isn’t a judgmental comment? Wow.

I think you are right about Elder Ballard’s idea about blogging about our lives, but bear in mind that not everyone is blogging to respond directly to Elder Ballard. Some people blog to sort out and record their thoughts and bounce them off of people who do believe the same way. Or just to sort out their thoughts. I think it’s a bit much to then assume that they are hyper-conservative and sheltered. Or doing it wrong.

Of course we ought to be sensitive, and to keep in mind that Elder Ballard said that no one likes to have religion shoved down their throats. But, I also think that there are different styles and personalities and approaches that will reach different people.

Fellow Mormon bloggers deserve some compassion, too, imo. Even if you think they are doing it wrong.

When I had a blog that was attached to my business I never blogged about religion in the slightest. I blogged about things that some people might think were inappropriate for attaching to a business but never politics or religion. I just didn’t think it was appropriate. And a part of me always felt guilty about that. I was in part afraid that some businesses I wanted to partner with wouldn’t do so with me if they knew I was Mormon.

I had known about the church encouraging us to blog and talk about the church online before the Ensign article came out. I read something in Church News (and like, I NEVER read Church News so it MUST be a “sign”!). Then when the Ensign came out I said, That’s it. I’m doing this.

I talk about the church quite a bit here and there on my new blog. It’s in my header that I’m LDS.

And I have very strong opinions about the right way and wrong way to do share the gospel through blogging. I’m not usually this opinionated but I’m adamant that I’m right when it comes to this. (Ha! Now you’re interested, right?)

I came across a blog that was started by an LDS woman just to share the gospel with people. She read that Ballard article and by golly, she was going to obey it.

The thing is, her blog was about NOTHING BUT HER BELIEFS. The whole blog REEKED of motive. Like, *I* even believe the same things as her and I couldn’t stand to read it. Because I am the only member in my family and I have many friends who are not LDS. I’m very sympathetic to their beliefs and it gets my defenses up when I read stuff from clearly sheltered, hyper-conservative Mormons who think that “judge not unrighteously” means that you CAN judge if you’re RIGHT about what you’re judging. Argh.

The only people who are going to read a blog like are people who already agree with her and people who want to argue about it. So, this does NOTHING to further Ballard’s goal.

To carry out Ballard’s goal, we should be blogging about everyday stuff and be who we are. I loved that I saw on Jane’s blog something like “hey, I didn’t say I was a GOOD Mormon”. Because people who aren’t LDS are going to read that and feel at ease. They’re going to understand that even though she’s not a Molly Mormon, she is still trying.

Think about how much more meaningful it is when someone says, “Argh. I have such a hard time with not swearing” or “Man, I would love a coffee right now” that they’re still active members of the church. Sure, some people are going to read that and say, “These poor people believe that they’re being bad. I don’t like all that guilt their church puts on them.” But if we keep that thought in mind and address it with our testimonies and the joy we feel in the gospel, it suggests that our testimonies are more important than what we WANT. It suggests that Hey, maybe THEY could be Mormon too. That maybe they could feel comfortable coming to church even if they smell like cigarette smoke. It suggests that maybe our doctrine is unforgiving (many non-members think this) but we as PEOPLE are forgiving. It suggests that we’re not going to judge them for not living exactly like us.

THESE are the people we WANT reading our blogs!

I write almost everything on my blog as if I’m writing it to my athiest friends. I show compassion for their beliefs. I say things like, Man, I know that’s hard to believe but I SO do. (I think the key is that I’m genuine. Not trying to sound more liberal than I am.)

I’m not trying to sound like an arrogant jerk, like I know what’s best. This topic is one of the few things I would ever write about so arrogantly, like I know I’m right. I’m NEVER like that. I try to always write in such a way as to be neutral or respectful and open-minded.

It’s just that I’ve been a non-Member. And I’ve seen lifers be inconsiderate idiots to non-Members. And I’m so frustrated with seeing this philosophy of Conversion-via-Example-of-Perfection. If we portray ourselves as perfect moms who never lose our tempers and doting wives who are patient all the time, and act like we pray eight times a day and only listen to hymns and Christian music and (you get the idea)… this MIGHT show other Christians how powerful our religion is. BUT. It will only discourage and alienate the agnostics and atheists who are increasing in numbers.

The fact that we continue to strive and participate in the church while struggling to become something better is testimony that the gospel has holding power. It shows promise. It’s intriguing.

Which brings me to another point: We shouldn’t give it all away. Allow some intrigue. Don’t try to explain everything.

As far as the YouTube testimonies, I think it’s awesome but not if it’s a recreation of what happens on Fast & Testimony Sundays. Check out Glenn Beck’s, if you haven’t already. It’s SO. VERY. AWESOME. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKtAPT9KEfM

I had one friend (whom I met blogging) tell me that I’m the funniest Mormon she knows. I think she must not know very many Mormons, and she’d never read Seriously So Blessed before I pointed her towards it, either.

I love the quote from Elder Ballard’s talk in D.C. that m&m cited above. There are many ways to share how the Gospel affects our lives without sounding preachy or homogenous.

Here’s the way I see it. By our words and actions, we all continually proclaim our own versions of the gospel, whether we mean to or not. Doesn’t matter if we blog or YouTube or not—we are every day publishing something . . . but is it peace? is it truth? is it light?

I love Elder Ballard’s direction. It challenges us to pay attention to our lives; measure our feelings and experiences against a holy standard; see connections, cause and effect; then articulate them to ourselves and others. We learn best when we share and when we teach. He’s really asking us to share ourselves. He’s asking us to recognize and own our stories, and to focus on the true, the worthy, the good. It’s like what President Eyring asked us to do last October—to prayerfully and meditatively recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives, and then find a personal way to record and share those blessings.

I think it’s an exciting challenge. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but still think it’s beautiful.

Thanks to m&m too for the other links.