Nasty, Polygamist, Cultist Freaks

Okay. So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I've realized that in high school, I fit in just fine because most everyone around me was Mormon. Now I go to a college that is pretty opposite from home. When I first showed up, my roommate was upset and all I heard for about 10 minutes was eff eff eff EFFFFF haha so little plebe Megan looked at her with wide eyes thinking WHAT?! I didn't realize how much of a bubble I was in back home. Now, two years later, I'm used to the real world and I realize that I've been trying to fit in  to this new culture, but now I know that's not going to happen. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'm a Mormon.

We've all heard the "no body's perfect" speech and the "everyone makes mistakes" talk. Well it's true. We all make mistakes every day, and recently I made one that offended a couple people. After all of the apologizing, one of those people later voiced that Mormons are "nasty, polygamist, cultist freaks." I made a mistake and this person has every right to be upset. But I'm sorry that she associates my mistake with my religion because being LDS is the best thing about my life.

As far as nasty, I shower every day, wear deodorant  and brush my teeth at least twice a day. My church does not tolerate polygamy and we haven't for about 150 years now. I don't know where the cult idea came from, but I'll tell you that I believe in God, the Eternal Father, and his son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. I believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly, and I also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. As for the freak part, we are different, sure, but I wouldn't say it's a bad thing.

People ask me all of the time "You don't drink right?" No I don't, and I can still have a blast on a Saturday night. Or "Wait, how do you survive at this place without coffee?" I stay awake by other means, mainly doodling. Or "You go to church for 3 hours every week?!" Yes I do, and I love every minute of it.

I'm not saying my lifestyle is better than anyone else's, but it makes me happy.

Going to church for 3 hours every Sunday and then hanging out with some of the best people I know. That makes me happy. Going to Family Home Evening every Monday night makes me happy. Going to study and learn about the scriptures every Tuesday night. Writing to all my friends who are serving missions. Wearing a swimsuit that covers my stomach. Using insults like lamehead or dumb bum instead of curse words. All of this is who I am. It's a part of me, and it makes me happy.

From a Rock to a Diamond

Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes end up hurting people. Sometimes the mistaken one doesn't even realize they did anything wrong, and sometimes they feel as though they aren't any better than dirt. Sometimes the offended one chooses to hold a grudge, and sometimes they choose to forgive.

It's hard to forgive when a rock messes with a diamond.

But sometimes you just need to clear the dust away and you'll find that the rock is a gem too. Maybe not a diamond, maybe a sapphire, or a ruby, but when it comes down to it, you've got two gems who've been through a lot. Two gems who are a lot more alike than you first thought.

But I get it. It's hard to look past all of the dust when you've been hurt.

Strangers

It's amazing how one day you can tell a person all of your secrets, admit to them everything that haunts you. You can stay up all night confiding in each other about your biggest trials in life, and that person will assure you that they'll always be there for you. They'll tell you that you can trust them. They'll promise, promise, promise.

Then a few days later, that person just leaves.

The person who knows all of your secrets pretends to not even know your name. The person who promised to be there for you won't even call you their friend. And when you're hated for something you've done wrong, they pretend they never saw a light in you.

It makes you wonder what kind of friendship you could have had if things had gone a little differently.