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I am of the tribe of Mormon. I did not ask to be born this way. At least not that I remember. But it’s part of my DNA. My parents were converts but not me. As a member of this tribe I must abide by certain expectations or I will be outcast. Perhaps not sent into the desert alone to fend for myself but certainly judged, pitied or just ignored by some of my tribe mates. It hurts most to be seen as broken somehow. Seen as lost and in need of saving by those I care for the most. It creates tension where perhaps only love in intended. I take great pride in the virtues of my tribe and I wish to share these with all who are seeking eternal progression. However there are traditions of my tribe that I do not understand and in some cases must reject. I do so quietly and do not openly challenge anything if I am left to myself. I feel no need to question the faith of others when my own is continually evolving.
When I chose to love and marry a devout member of my tribe I further committed myself to this path. She is unlikely to consider any other course no matter how nearby it may be. So I stay here if I want to be with her, and I do. But it’s not without some pain, misunderstanding and silence.
Are there others like me?
Yes — the tribe has been designed to benefit its members, but it also seems to enforce it’s own culture through the kinds of experiences you have shared. Further, it has a strong self-preservation interest from its early history of persecution…so, there are cultural norms meant to keep the braves and their mates together, and to continue to populate the Tribe of Mormon, and stop its current members from leaving. The ostracization is not codified, but it is real. I am experiencing that right now. I have had prominent brave from Great White Council approach wife and suggeset that if I do not make big animal sacrifices for Mormon Tribe, she should find new brave as companion. Bad advice from local Shaman brave. When you are contributing to the the Great White Council of the tribe, there is a lot of interest and postive affirmation in you. When you withdraw from full commitment to the tribe, the other braves will often lose interest in your membership in the tribe. Yet, paradoxically, they go on regular searches for the braves who have abandoned the tribe for warring tribes, to coax them to come back.
I find this strange custom of Mormon Tribe. Me no understand. But must go back to making wampum. Must feed wife and little braves. [thumps chest].
I think I am more of an “ite” than a “Brave”. Israelite, Nephite, Lamanite,Levite,Mormonite, Napoleon Dynamite… I have great respect for many aspects of historical American Indian culture. JWP wrote:Are there others like me?
You’re not alone. As for me, my marriage is the only thing that stands between me and a completely different outward religious experience. Welcome, BTW.
SD wrote:[paraphrased] Someone from the stake told my wife she ought to consider dumping me for someone else if I can’t toe the line.
SD, I hope you’re wildly exaggerating. Even if you are, it sounds like someone is WAY out of line.Quote:SD, I hope you’re wildly exaggerating. Even if you are, it sounds like someone is WAY out of line.
He talked to my wife about my loss of commitment, even though I still attend Church regularly, support my family in it, and take assignments that fit my skills. When she explained my reasons for not being as committed (in a simplistic way), he explained how he had a similar period. What pulled him out of it was his wife said who said “she had done everything right — and if she wasn’t going to make it to the celestial kingdom with
him, it was going to have to be with someone else” = temple divorce. Now, this is a person in authority, speaking to the wife of a man who is in a low-commitment period. He might as well just told her to go and do it. So, I agree, he was way out of line….
Fortunately, my wife had a very good friend who was married to non-member. When I had my first period of semi-activity, she told my wife that love for one’s spouse should transcend their activity in the Church. This influences her thinking, I believe. Plus, and I hate to say this because it soundes snooty, but she believes she “married up”. There are powerful emotional needs that I meet in my wife quite well, and so far, they have kept us together in spite of all the Church interference over the years.
Welcome, JWP. There are lots that keep silent or keep things to themselves, and many that just let go of things and focus on other things in the tribe that are totally awesome (or at least pretty cool) 
If you are wanting a wife of the same ideas…it is probably best to be open to your ideas, not reveal them in surprise later. You may find a sweetheart who actually wonders and feels the same as you do.
Any particular tribe traditions that puzzle you most? Word of wisdom? Temples? It’s safe to discuss things here.
:thumbup: Welcome. I look forward to learning from your posts.
Heber13 wrote:If you are wanting a wife of the same ideas…
Careful, there. Sounds as if he already has
one. We don’t want to go starting any rumours. Yeah, Heber: “Chose” is pronounced “chose”; “choose” is pronounced “chews”. “When I chose . . .” is very different than, “When I choose . . . ”
😆 
😆 Oh, brother…there are probably a bunch of Mormon jokes that could go here…. :silent: JWP wrote:Are there others like me?
Yeah. There are quite a few.
Welcome to the StayLDS community JWP. Glad to have you here with us.
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