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I love innovative music, and I thought of everyone here when I heard the following song. One of my fondest hopes for everyone here is that you are able to “find your own voice” – and to gain the confidence necessary to use it in a way that will be accepted and understood by others. I liked this musically. It also captured Robin William’s personality. Not sure how to relate it to stayingLDS though. The only thing I can think of is to describe one’s own style of interacting with leadership and other Mormons as one’s “voice”.
For example, my own style is this. With leaders, I assert myself gently by hopefully broadening their perspective of service to include the community at large, and not just our own Church community. I serve where I feel passionate, not where I am “placed”, and I encourage assignments (rather than callings) where I can withdraw from service that I don’t find passion-inducing after a while. I use the church’s rules in ways that make church service palatable and appropriate for my family, such as attending Wards in which I don’t live, which essentially ties the hands of the leaders in the new Ward.
With other Mormons, I avoid controversial topics, or topics that might hurt the faith of others, but I also strive to point out (in gentle ways) the destructive aspects of our religion (one size fits all mentalities, judgmentalism, commitment at the expense of personal happiness). I “manage” my priesthood leaders, and I’m not afraid to put limits and caveats on my service to prevent current abuses that are similar to past abuses of my commitment.
In terms of doctrine, I elevate my own conscience above the so-called rules the church imposes on us, adapting them to my own circumstances. I do what is best for my own happiness, which is the object and design of our existence. If the church interferes with that happiness, I take steps to restore the inner peace, and this often means adaptation of church norms. I never grandstand my unorthodox beliefs, or challenge others in public. I’m also very careful about who I talk frankly to, in private.
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