Fo-Mo

Sweet Julie 

"Sweet Julie" is Former Mormon, or Fo-Mo.  Hailing from Salt Lake City, she was raised in the promised land of Latter Day Saints.  She decided to leave her congregation because of serious misgivings about Mormonism's attitude toward women.  She immediately cited women's exclusion from Power of the Priesthood.  At age 12, Mormon boys are indoctrinated into the LDS through the granting of "priesthood", an invocation of God's power, redeemable only through the competency of "His Sons".  Julie implied that women's debarring from this privilege implies subservience to the patriarchy.  Mor-Men hold the roles of decision makers because of their perceived entitlement, whereas women and children are to be obedient to Father's decrees or demands.  I asked her about Polygamy as well, if the custom of multiple (female) spouses basically commodifies women.  She wavered:  "Well, to a degree, yes, but it basically comes down to the church's attitudes toward procreation.  They want to have as many followers as possible... so women are seen more as vessels all around."  

From what I hear, Mormons are making some concessions to the modern world, but "power of the priesthood" probably won't be one, as it's a crucial aspect of their faith.  Yet, should the LDS continue to alienate women they may in fact jeopardize their own long-term viability.  Salt Lake City's Mormon population is already declining, perhaps because many believers are flocking to Idaho, or perhaps because many, like Julie, are empowering themselves and moving to places like Portland.  To deny women's kindredness to spirit, equality, and influence is a seriously antiquated notion, but at the same time the concept of subservience to men is implicit in the cornerstones of the Latter Day Saints.  In my opinion, the future may hold a pretty serious impasse for "God's Sons".