Category: Youth

New YW Class Names and the Patriarchal Grip

On By lisatorcassodowningIn authority, Feminism, Mormon Feminism, YouthLeave a comment

NO ONE ASKS THE GIRLS. Therein lies the problem.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced earlier this week that it will return to having class names for the female youth groups. The previous names–Beehives for ages 11-13; MIA Maids for 14-15; Laurels for 16-17–had become antiquated (plus teen girls seemed to universally hate them) and so they were retired in 2019. Still, the tradition of having class names was missed. The powers that be at Church HQ have restored the tradition but with the alternate names Builders of Faith (11-13 year olds), Messengers of Hope (14-15 year olds), and Gatherers of Light (16-17 year olds). Colliquial usage will surely shorten the class names to Builders, Messengers, and Gatherers. Sigh. Nothing antiquated here…

And there’s nothing that says, “We didn’t poll the teenager girls for preferences” quite like the names Builders, Messengers, and Gatherers.

Continue reading “New YW Class Names and the Patriarchal Grip” →

Dear Amy, Here’s Why This LDS Supports LGBTQIA People

On By lisatorcassodowningIn LGBTQIA, Youth16 Comments

TW: death by suicide

At the March 2023 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dallin Oaks, read aloud an excerpt taken from a letter written by Amy, an LDS teenager. For your ease, I offer the excerpt, followed by my own, brief response to her: 

“I feel like I sometimes get inconsistent and confusing messages from the Church. In my day-to-day life, I see members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on social media act as if they aren’t part of this gospel. … I feel like I am the only young woman in my ward who sees the things I see wrong with the world. … I truly don’t understand why so many youth in our church don’t see any problem with people changing their gender every other day, dating people who are the same sex or identify as no gender. …

Continue reading “Dear Amy, Here’s Why This LDS Supports LGBTQIA People” →

To LDS Mothers on Children Leaving the Fold

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Children, Epistles to the Saints, Inclusion, LGBTQIA, Mormon Feminism, Priesthood, Youth11 Comments

I’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE LDS MOTHERS who are watching young adults leave the LDS Church and are wondering if your own children will leave or if you’re doing enough to keep them in. Maybe you’re wondering what those other parents did wrong that caused their family schism. Maybe your child has already left, as all three of mine have. Maybe you’re blaming yourself. Please know you shouldn’t. 

My oldest removed his name from the records of the Church a decade ago and my other two stopped participating before the age of 20. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my motherly performance, to weigh what I taught my children against the reality of what the Church is. I taught my kids the good news of Jesus Christ, to love God and their neighbors, to possess a generosity of spirit. I did what you’re doing.

And then I brought them to church. There they were taught the same things I was teaching at home. But they were also taught the opposite. They were taught by example that women aren’t of the same value as men and our voices aren’t as important. They were taught God offers cishet people blessings He denies others. They were taught that love says one thing but does another. I know many of you will throw up walls against what I’ve just said. Those walls won’t make my message any less crucial to hear.

Continue reading “To LDS Mothers on Children Leaving the Fold” →

The Struggle for LDS Unity

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Epistles to the Saints, Excommunication, Feminism, homosexuality, Inclusion, Youth9 Comments

A recent Sacrament meeting in my ward focused on developing unity. Unity is a topic that often occupies my thoughts because, when I look around my ward, what I notice are the faces I no longer see. Unity isn’t what’s happening in today’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Division is increasing. The orthodox stay. The heterodox leave. As an openly heterodox member, I’m getting more and more lonely in the crowd. Continue reading “The Struggle for LDS Unity” →

Numbers Tell the Story

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Epistles to the Saints, homosexuality, Inclusion, LGBT, Outreach, Youth92 Comments

rainbow darkOn November 5, 2015 the policy change to LDS Handbook 1 regarding homosexual members became known to the public. Since then, in the US, 34 LDS LGBT young people between the ages of 14 and 20 have committed suicide. The numbers are being tallied by Wendy and Thomas Montgomery, leaders in the Mama Dragons and Dragon Dads support groups for LDS LGBT families. That’s 1 suicide every 60 hours, or every 2 ½ days. That number does not include a count of suicide attempts, nor of suicides by any closeted LGBT young people. Twenty-eight of these suicides occured in Utah, a state that averages 37 youth suicides in a 12 month period. Thirty-four in 84 days is a stunning statistic. It’s horrifying. And gut-wrenching. It is also telling. It tells us we adults are not sucessfully supporting our LGBT youth.  Continue reading “Numbers Tell the Story” →

Hold the Door Open or Lose our Kids: A Concern for the Post-Policy Church

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Bridges, Children, homosexuality, LGBT, Outreach, Youth5 Comments

Open church doorWe’ve had nearly two months of discussion about the recent policy change regarding same-gender, committed couples and their children. The “wheat and tares” analogies are flying, with each side sure it is the wheat and the other, the tares. Just like in politics. That can never be a good thing within a religion. So, for a moment, I’d like to put aside arguments about the policy and talk about our kids. Not our gay kids. Not our straight kids. Not the kids of same-gender couples. Not the kids of traditional Mormon marriages, of mixed orientation marriages, or of divorce. But all of our LDS kids, regardless of orientation or circumstance. Let’s talk about what happens to them in the aftermath of the policy change because what happens to them affects us all. Continue reading “Hold the Door Open or Lose our Kids: A Concern for the Post-Policy Church” →

Dear Bishop: With Love, Mormon Women

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Bridges, Epistles to the Saints, Feminism, Inclusion, The Things We say, Uncategorized, Youth57 Comments

Ward_Council_mtgRECENTLY A FRIEND, whose husband seems always to be in one or the other position of local leadership within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed that she tries to help her husband understand how women in the church feel and, essentially, wondered what I would tell him, or other local leaders, if I could. Easiest writing challenge ever. So while I am just one woman and cannot be said to represent all LDS women–not even those of a more feministy persuasion–here’s my Top 10 list of things I’d like to say to bishops and stake presidents about how women in the church “feel.” The list is in no particular order. Continue reading “Dear Bishop: With Love, Mormon Women” →

The Boys are Fine

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Epistles to the Saints, Feminism, The Things We say, Youth15 Comments

Sometimes I think we Mormons aren’t aware of how differently we think from other groups. This can lead to communication problems with “outsiders,” but it can also keep us talking only to ourselves and ingrain ideas in our collective mindset that go unchallenged. When ideas aren’t challenged, they can become distorted and wind up doing us harm. Take for instance, our mindset about boys and, in particular, the Boy Scouts, the sacred cow of Mormon youth programs. Continue reading “The Boys are Fine” →