Proactive Versus Reactive

Proactive Versus Reactive
19 June 2012

They were with all the rest
Mormons well-dressed
In their Sunday best.
Maybe it was a crusade,
But for sure this was no charade
Marching in the gay pride parade.
Drag queens and the Sisters twirled
As political currents swirled
Mixing in this brave new world.
These active Mormons were there
Showing signs that they care
For lesbians and gays everywhere.

Hard-Won Dry Run

When I went to the Affirmation conference for gay and lesbian Mormons in September, one of the speakers was Joanna Brooks at the Kirtland Temple. Yesterday as I was driving home from dinner at my nephew's, I was surprised to hear her being interviewed on NPR. Today there was a new post from her blog. Someone had written in asking about going back to church after a period of inactivity. This poem is a response to her blog.

Hard-Won Dry Run

24 October 2011

Here’s a plan for your first time going back.

Pick a chapel where two or three wards meet.

This maximizes chaos and minimizes flack.

You simply go into the foyer and have a seat.

There you can watch the toddlers running,

The Primary girls sharing stories and gossip,

The young men bettering each other’s cunning

And parents doing their best to worship.

When you’ve had enough, as you please

Get up and leave. No harm, no foul.

Most chapels are built with entries

On both sides in the back. When you prowl, 

And people are filing in, you join the tide 

To collect a program. Then continue 

Across the chapel and out the other side.

The flyer will have information about the who

And what of ward events. You now know

About potlucks and campouts, activities

That let you mingle on your status quo

Without violating your own proclivities.

This poem was made by a guy

Who hasn’t attended in years,

Is once-burned, twice-shy

And understands your fears.

Ceremony of Sanctimony

Ceremony of Sanctimony

23 January 2011

Doing as advised and authorized

Britton was galvanized to be baptized.

Following the Mormon tradition

And rules for admission

He had to wait

Until he turned eight.

As is usual and customary

There were kids from the Primary.

Adults acted as witness

To make sure of form & fitness.

Now in humility or pride he can boast

He was given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Grandparents from both sides

Were there in case he backslides.

His parents didn’t say it out loud,

But they were all smiles and proud.

Larson has a few years to learn,

And then it will be his turn.

Uncle Al was a fly on the wall

To write a poem about it all.