Last Sunday, my family and I went to the in-laws house to celebrate some birthdays that were close together. I already knew something was going to happen. It's been harder and harder for me not to say something when I see hypocrisy or hear about something idiotic that the mormon church has concocted. It's been even harder since my MIL has been pestering us to let her take our son to church with her. He's 2 years old. He can't do 3 hour church sessions. She ended up taking him to a Saturday evening church activity without telling either one of us. That was the last time she was allowed to take our son by herself. She talked about how all these other people loved our son (I do not know any of them. The whole family is of the mentality that since they go to church, they're ok people.) Since then, she's asked and we have refused. She's always asking why and saying she doesn't understand. Last Sunday however provided the perfect example of why I will never allow my son to be inside a mormon church building without me or my husband.

We were all sitting in the common room: TBM MIL and her new husband, 3 of her married children with their spouses and her 2 youngest. I overheard one SIL tell another SIL that she had prodded a young lady at church to say hello to a young man that the family has known for years (I do know this man's mother and one of his sisters). Apparently, he really appreciated this gesture and said that he'd been having a hard time recently. I believe it was last year that he'd been arrested for possessing child pornography. Hundreds of images of toddlers being sexually abused were found on his computer. As soon as he was arrested he was fired (he was in a position where he would be coming into contact with children). His trial is set to begin next month. Therefore, he isn't "convicted" and is allowed to attend church presently.

SIL said "Who am I to judge? Temptation is so hard to control. We're all human." Let me just say that 10 minutes prior to her uttering these sentences that she had bashed a girl that she knew for getting pregnant out of wedlock. She said "I don't know how she could look at herself in the mirror. I know I couldn't." Believe me, the hypocrisy of her statements was not lost on me and being the mother of a toddler, I was about ready to explode. I told her "I find it interesting that you can forgive someone for exploiting innocent children, most of whom are toddlers but you can't show compassion for an adult woman who chose not to get a piece of paper as permission for her to have sex. In my opinion, (young man) made his bed and now he must lie in it. I don't feel sad for him. I feel sad for the children who were hurt and angry that he expects pity. I'm even more angry that y'all are defending him and not the children. If you wanted a reason for (our son) not to attend church, THAT'S your reason. You defend him and I know that you wouldn't think twice about putting our son in his care if he asked nicely since he's a "member." (Yes I used air quotes too).

Everyone was so quiet after I said that but man I felt better! I took my son's hand and said that we would be outside in the backyard jumping on the trampoline. We did and we had a great time...

Spot on, momma bear! Good for you for speaking your mind. I would've done the same thing in your situation.

Good for you! Way to stand up for you and your son!

Well said!

I hope it makes her think instead of just blowing you off...I wonder if she's kept her kids safe around this guy, or just turned her brain off there, too.

Luckily SIL who made the statement does not have any children yet. She was married last year at 19 and believes she knows everything. Hopefully when they do have kids her feelings will change. However SIL who pestered the girl to say hello just had a baby in August. I hope that she just didn't know the specifics (she did ask my husband specifically what happened. I gather the ward knoes it was a sex crime but specifics haven't been told).

If I could do a fist pump thing I would, but since I can't you get a helluva big old wag instead!