THE ONE WITH THE ISLAND OF MISFIT MORMONS

      I'd like to start a social group to meet together oft and talk about whatever may be on our minds, perhaps with a topic to help focus our discussions. This group would be open to anyone. I'll call it: The Island of Misfit Mormons.

      I think many of us have things we think make us outcasts in the Church. We may feel somehow less worthy than other members we see. There may be many reasons. Maybe we are converts. Maybe we have events in our history we aren't proud of. Maybe we have tattoos or piercings. Maybe we are divorced. Or single. Or widowed. Maybe we are childless. Maybe we had our children late in life. Maybe we weren't able to have as many children as we wanted. Maybe someone in our family has an addiction, or has trouble with the law. Maybe there is a great physical or mental illness in ourselves or in a family member. There are so many reasons anyone may consider themselves an outcast.

      But someone I very much admire and respect recently made this profound observation: The Mormon Culture is different from The Mormon Church. This couldnt be more true.

      When we label ourselves outcasts, as evinced by our actions and how close we get to other Church members, I think we make that decision based on our Mormon Culture outlook and not a Mormon Church outlook.

       The Savior loved the outcasts, in all their forms. He sought them out, eased their burdens, succored them, befriended them. And the Savior himself was an outcast. If we are truly outcasts from the culture, we are in good company.