Unconventional Mo

After my last blog, I thought it would be best to go ahead and explain myself as an Unconventional Mo, before any Conventional Mo gets his/her reportedly magical knickers in a twist. "Mo" stands for "Mormon" or "Mormonism" so I am an Unconventional Mormon. I'm pretty stinkin' proud of it too. The easiest way to do this is probably to make lists of Conventional Mo vs. Unconventional Mo traits which I possess. For the record, I have a testimony of the gospel. My faith is very dear to me. I just don't take myself too seriously, and I don't really care to make myself conform to anyone else's ideals for the sake of their comfort. I have room to grow. And that's okay.

Kate The Conventional Mo

• says a prayer and eats meals at the table with her family
• says Family Prayer every evening
• says Car Prayer before traveling long distances
• has LDS Tools app on her iPhone
• has Gospel Library app on her iPhone
• still has analog scriptures in a leather analog scripture case
• wishes she were better at both personal and family scripture study
• loves to see the temple
• watches The Legend of Johnny Lingo and cries and swoons every time
• says "stinkin' "
• drives a minivan
• goes to church on Sunday (okay, not every Sunday all the time)
• wears a dress to church
• tries to have meaningful Family Home Evenings
• has LDS art in her home
• has A Proclamation To The Family hanging on her wall
• believes Families Can Be Together Forever
• doesn't smoke
• doesn't drink coffee
• doesn't drink alcohol
• doesn't use drugs
• eats meat sparingly
• uses the plants and herbs Heavenly Father gave us as food and medicine (not a toker, for real)
• is (mostly) a full-time mom
• dresses modestly
• has memorized the 13 Articles of Faith
• categorizes herself and Mormonism as Christian because testimony of Jesus Christ as Savior
• freezes meals
• can be relied upon to provide a meal or assistance to someone in need on short notice
• practices food storage

Kate The Unconventional Mo

• has not yet been to the temple for herself
• married a non-member/convert, not a Return Missionary
• drops a swear on occasion
• sometimes doesn't go to church on Sunday
• doesn't really feel part of a "ward family"
• wears flip-flops all the time, even to church
• sometimes feels conflicted about one small part of A Proclamation To The Family, but trusts that Heavenly Father will sort all that out
• doesn't feel it's her place to judge or legislate who one loves and chooses to marry
• has a tattoo
• is a hippie
• feels equally spiritual as religious
• sort of unschools her children
• does not aspire to Molly Mormonism (read Conventional Mo)
• doesn't care if other people drink alcohol to unwind
• has friends who drink alcohol
• has friends who smoke pot (though they respectfully don't do so in her presence)
• has hippie stickers all over her minivan
• has no LDS or BYU stickers on her minivan
• has no stick figure family stickers on her minivan
• has a rainbow "coexist" sticker waiting to be put on her minivan
• might watch an R-rated movie if she wants to
• grew up in a broken, dysfunctional home and family
• isn't weird about sex/can talk about it in real terms without blushing
• birthed a baby at home
• wants to be a homebirth midwife
• sees a lot of vaginas and placentas as a doula
• doesn't like baby showers
• doesn't like Jell-O with pretzels or cottage cheese or anything else that doesn't belong in Jell-O
• celebrates and honors all cultures and religions, loves learning about them, feels no need to convert everyone she sees
• is not a Republican
• enjoys gospel discussion without trying to persuade anyone
• is an activist
• abhors canned Cream of Anything soups
• doesn't care what you wear to church
• doesn't care what color your hair is or how you style it
• isn't offended by your tattoos or piercings

There is probably more to say on each list, but it's late, and this is a pretty good representation.