Things that get me fired up.

This may piss some people off, but oh well.

Read this first.
(Pssst...that up there's a link.  Click it.)

It makes me really upset when people try to intellectualize the Gospel and make it fit into a nice little box for the 21st century.  With key elements of the Gospel, like say---oh, the Law of Chastity.  I'm not hating on anyone that's made mistakes there.  That would be hypocritical of me, and I know from experience that those who have truly repented of those past mistakes have a deeper understanding of the Atonement than most.

The Law of Chastity is hard, but it's there for a reason.  And it's not just there so that we can look down our noses at the people who screw up or have a hard time with it (i.e. members of the church that suffer from same-sex attraction, or even just older members who remain unmarried).  Obviously that's really hard.  I am not dismissing their pain or glossing over it.  I'll be honest, some days I don't really understand it, but I follow and believe in what my church teaches me because I have faith.  It's not because I'm a naive, sheltered, little Mormon girl.  I have faith in my Savior.  I have faith that He can heal all wounds.  I have faith that He has a plan, and that He loves each of us and wants us to be happy.  Obviously, the Church isn't perfect.  But I don't think that the Lord would allow something as sacred and crucial to our salvation as temple ordinances to be altered.  I don't know what it's going to be like in the next life.  I have a vague idea based on what the church has taught me, but I don't know all the nitty gritty details.  I don't know that I could begin to comprehend them.  But I know that everything will work out.  I understand it's hard for some who don't find a companion in this life, or for those who find it impossible to find one for personal reasons.  I don't think Heavenly Father wants them to be alone, but this life is such a small sliver of eternity.  They won't be alone forever.  They'll be able to experience that physical joy of becoming one with another if they prove their worthiness.  That may sound harsh, but that's what we're here to do.  All of us are here to do that, and it's a struggle.  We're here to show that we have the capability of becoming like God and Christ.  It takes practice, it's hard, and it hurts.  But it is possible.  And maybe, just maybe (we're branching out into the Gospel according to Lauren now), those who have to overcome bigger trials in this life will have a greater reward in the next.  If you think it's mean of me to say that some people don't get that sort of happiness in this life, you're not looking at the big picture.  Sometimes we have to go through some tough love.

I'm sorry if this offends anyone.  You have your opinion and I'll have mine.  Just don't say you're a Mormon and then say, "except, I don't like this core principle of the religion so I choose not to believe it and if you don't agree with me that this is just "the man" trying to keep us down, then you're an inconsiderate *explitive*."

If you know me, you know I'm not an insenstive, judgemental person.  Most people say I'm the opposite.  I'll be friends with you as long as you play nice.  So please, feel free to discuss.