~ Wolves in sheep's clothing...full of shady deals
Temple Square Mission was based out of Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States of America. It was a visitor's centre where guests from the United States and other parts of the world came to learn about the Mormon Church, the LDS Church, which is officially called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My parents joined the church when I was much younger but I got baptized into the faith at about ten years old and it was the main church that I attended and identified with until 2013, when I officially wrote to the Utah headquarters to be removed from its communication and dossiers. I thought I came to church but it appeared that a coven was rather preferred for its congregation.
 |
| Utah, 2007 |
 |
| Utah, 2005 |
 |
| Aba, Nigeria, 2014 |
 |
| Utah, 2006 |
 |
| Utah, 2006 or 2007 |
I grew up in the LDS Church attending primary, youth/young women and eventually Relief Society. It was a huge chore being an active member of that entity. It stole your time, money and effort to do all that was required to gather people there. Of course, there were people who came to eat - there were those socials that people gathered for entertainment and refreshments. As a child growing up in Aba, Abia State, I had no issues with the teachings of the church, which were morally tasking. It wasn't easy to be the Mormon kid in your school or neighbourhood. For many times, you had to guard your speech, manners and actions around people. You were taught not to swear, fornicate, take harmful substances and guard against such vices. It wasn't easy not to be in the world when one was in the world. Other children went to their own churches with their own families. You were reminded to be nice even to very wicked people. Some family members went away to attend the enemy's school because the Mormon Church didn't run any formal education besides its church educational services comprising the seminaries and the institute. A mission was mandated for the men and voluntary for the women. Both were volunteer positions that lasted between 18 to 24 months for women and young men, respectively. With Temple Square, it appeared that something was wrong, right from the MTC. Were the missionaries even LDS, like frankly? It was a strange place; like an Alice-in-Wonderland.
There are many things to look back and appreciate about the experience but I'd rather that I didn't do the LDS Church mission at all. The leaders chose to be aloof, secretive and manipulative; even taking it out of context in many ways choosing evil over goodness. What was Temple Square? Missionary work or mercenary work? Privilege or problem? Humility or humiliation? Discretion or deception? Opportunism or opportunity? Theft or testimony? Faith or fetish? Ecclesiastical or entrepreneurial endeavour? Church or cult, business, maybe a club or casino? A competition or a contest? Diversity or divergence? I shall highlight those paradoxes and ironies later.... Like the Igbo say, the sea wouldn't drown anyone who never ventured its way. Was that a church or some sort of casino or even an escort service? Who were those girls, single or divorced women? LDS or non-LDS? Why were they called to be where others were? To spy or to spot? Was there any reason for the mission to hold other than image making for the LDS/Mormon Church? Did the world watch while liars were given therapy rather than rehabilitation? What a fraud! Miscreants made leaders? Nuisance made sensible? No, thank you! There were rules but was it up to everybody to behave and respect one another? How long was a make believe supposed to last? mumbo jumbo supposed to ease off? My parents' silly decision to join a white pagan faith cannot control my life forever!
To be continued....
No comments:
Post a Comment