Posted by:
josephsmyth
(
)
Date: February 16, 2012 04:27PM
I have quite a bit of guilt surrounding this because I raised my children the way you were raised, up until my oldest was 14, when I finally had the courage to admit that I no longer subscribed to Joseph's Myth, for reasons I explained, clearly, logically and honestly.
His response at the time was, "Well Dad, if that's the way you feel about Joseph's Myth, then why do you still pretend like you believe by going to church with us?"
I had to admit that he was right. I shook my head and said, "You're right Son, I need to have the courage of my convictions. I need to start living my life with integrity."
So that was the encouragement I needed really to confront the challenges that laid ahead for me, the threats against me for telling the truth, for exercising my right to the freedom of speech, which has predictable consequences.
I was living under a threat from my wife, who had given me the ultimatum, "You share any of these doubts with the kids, I'm gone. So you have a choice, either me or your doubts." and from my Bishop, "You share any of these doubts with other Mormons and I'll have to discipline you."
"Even my wife and kids?"
"Especially your wife and kids."
He had my resignation letter the next day. Nobody tells me I can't be honest with my kids. He and anybody else who tells me that can go straight to hell for all I'm concerned. What kind of a human being tells another man he can't be honest with his partner, his wife, his own kids? Not any man who deserves my respect. Screw him. Screw everything he represents.
Now, I'm not gonna lie, I'm not on speaking terms with my TBM MIL, because I turned her sweet, virginal, little Mormon Daughter into a little slut, which is what I love about her most, haha!
So I guess my best advice to you boils down to this,
In tricky situations like these, I have found it best to really determine what it is that I want, then to go after it with everything I've got, to achieve that outcome. But first make sure your intents are noble, that way you can always take the high road. Even if it turns out you were wrong in the end, at least you will have made decisions with integrity, with good intent, that were logical and empathetic.
Now, go fast, think faster and never look back!
Life turns out fine in the end. The end of the story is, we survive and as long as we survive, we thrive and as long as we thrive, we keep on evolving. Always evolve or die.
Never look back.
Lop off the rotten limb of Joseph's Myth from your family tree and fill in the void with something real, honest, true and good. It's not hard to find. Look around you, its everywhere you look. And where it isn't beautiful, true and honest, destroy it. Cut it out of your life and keep what matters, the fuel, the energy, the dynamic that animates you.