I write this to some of my liberal Mormon friends whom I admire and often seek to learn from, but who sometimes annoyed me to no end. I do so because I care about them and worry that they sometimes value their political and cultural views more than their religious beliefs. They read many books, seek to learn, and try to develop very profound principles. Unfortunately, many of those principles don't come from the scriptures, the prophets, or even what they learned growing up in church. They often come mostly from graduate school and from gentile intellectuals. There is nothing wrong with that unless those become the final arbitrators of what they deem as divine truth.
I write to those who don't like to wear white shirts because they make them feel like capitalists, or those who figure that pants are better than dresses (who gave you that idea?), or who sit in the back and act like nothing being said from the pulpit applies to them unless it has to do with being kind to the poor and the homeless; and to those who only get with the spirit--of anger--when someone is defending guns, capitalism, or American Exceptionalism. Its also meant for those who like to emphasize how they are different from the rest, think marrying outside the church is cool (it is not wrong, of course), love being the toast of the gentile media, or wonder out loud if the church is ever going to catch up with them. And particularly for those who think their brand of "liberalism, feminism, or humanism" is the real one, or they just invented it when they joined it.
Let me remind those wonderful souls that there are liberal mormons who wear white shirts and ties--and sometimes even suits--wear dresses (or whatever they deem respectful), read their lessons, are inspired by the teachings of the prophets, like to go to the temple, feel a part of the body of Christ and love their fellow members as much as the "progressive" intellectuals that they read. These liberal Mormons also give their last buck to the homeless on the corner, work in soup kitchens, march in solidarity with the oppressed, the immigrant, women, etc., and believe we are killing the environment. They abhor vulture capitalism and probably voted for the current officeholder in the White House.
These individuals don't see home teaching as a waste of time, or fret over the fact that their missionary sons and daughters might be teaching "Utah culture" instead of "real" doctrine. They might have misgivings about some of the views of their leaders but choose to learn the good that they might offer. They read the Ensign, get their kids the Friend, and listen to General Conference to learn something and not to see if the Brethren are following an ideological slant, or who the next Boyd K. Packard is going to be. And they even find something (maybe just a little) good in Packard, McConkie, and Joseph Fielding Smith's writing.
They read all about Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, Ezra Taft Benson, the battles over the priesthood, and all the things we do wrong to our sisters and our gay saints, and it tears their guts out, but they believe in the notion that we are imperfect people and will do rather stupid and hurtful things in the road to our salvation, but more important: that God will be the Judge. And they fret because they have skeletons in their own closet.
These liberal mormons have been general authorities, bishops, relief society presidents, stake presidents, primary presidents, YM/YW leaders, missionaries, sunday school teachers, or ordinary members, and people love them and see them as "examples of the word". And yet they would be the last ones to admit they are anything special.
They are sympathetic to and go out of their way to comfort people who feel marginalized and oppressed. And they often push back against the unkind culture of some wards, but they still believe and do so deeply. They see the scriptures--yes, those written by men with great faults--as inspired and they don't see a need to write a female, black or latino version of the book of mormon. If those actually existed out there--and were inspired--they'd be the first to read them, but they won't invent them. They see the struggle for equality as fundamental to a just society and a more perfect church but still see redemption as God's greatest gift.. They befriend those who disagree and even those who might disparage them. They might hate guns but don't see their owners simply as gun owners. They hate the arrogance of some in the church but stop short of being harsh because they see their own pride.
Finally, these liberal momons are not going to get tired of the church when it doesn't listen to them and leave. And in case you might not know some of their names (they don't all call themselves liberal, but they do share the values): Tom Alexander, Kathryn Daynes, Hugh Nibley, Cheiko Ogazaki, Alejandra Garcia, Merlin Jensen, Dora Gonzalez, Mary Richards, Carlos Zegarra, Richard & Claudia Bushman, Renato Ruz, Terryl & Fiona Givens, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich and (add your own). They exist in large numbers but don't always toot their horns as much as those out to make the church in their own image--conservative or liberal. More important, they accept that believing is sometimes a heavy burden for those who are different and progressive, but know that it is worth it because their values are best understood within the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Having said that, I want to emphasize that I love the other liberal mormons too, even some of those who act a bit too good for the church. I love their striving for a more just society and their fundamental goodness, but I wish more of them would show those qualities within the body of Christ and not stay aloff and hurt. They might just be surprised how much they can make a difference, and how some "adversaries" are nice people too who will love them even if they don't understand them. And if they don't, they are still God's children which makes it imperative that we love them.
I have been pushing against the grain in the church for decades and while there have been times that I've wanted to throw in the towel, I usually end up responding as did Peter when the Savior asked him if he too would leave, "where will I go?" In those moments I 've realized that my experiences within the church have been and continue to be the most important of my life. And the harsh ones have made me a better person. So continue to fight for a better church, one that is open to all, respects everyone within their diversity and is focused on the teachings of Christ, but remember that "a better church" it is not one that is made in our own image, or has our particular values, but rather one that the Lord would call His own.
Soon enough I will write to my conservative Mormon friends!
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