My fellow Faithbook blogger Liz, a.k.a. Campus Catholic, emailed me the other day asking me to compile a list of other blogs I read by young LDS members. Frankly, I was stumped. Most of the blogs I come across are targeted for the entire LDS adult community, or are targeted to the high school audience or the “youth” audience as the church calls it.

In LDS culture, I tend to notice a lack of young adults. I define young adult as an individual who is over 18, perhaps in school, or working, making the transition into full adulthood, which is easily attained by marriage. The conception that LDS youth get married extremely fast and early is obviously a stereotype, but to an extent, a true one.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost a great leader on Monday. President Gordon B. Hinckley has led the church for the majority of my life. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to be LDS and have the prophet pass away. Being so young, I’m new at this.

Hinckley led the church through a time of great change. The church membership rolls grew significantly, and a record number of temples were dedicated under his leadership. Hinckley led the charge on building more but smaller temples. This allowed additional members of the church to have access to temples more often, reducing unnecessary travel and financial hardship. Although I disagree with what I would argue as subtle political action regarding the Proclamation to the World, Hinckley did a lot to lead the church into the 21st century.

When I heard President Hinckley had passed away, I was shocked but quickly found peace. This man was 97. He has been mentioning at General Conference for years now that he might not be at the pulpit the next time around. His frankness regarding his coming death is ironically inspirational. Hinckley was a man of such strong faith he didn’t fear death for an instant. His patience with growing old and weak was spiritually inspirational as well. His ability to sit back and wait for the Lord to be ready to bring him back to the heavens was touching. One thing is for sure, this man wasn’t afraid of passing on and seeing his Heavenly Father.

The LDS Church is entering a new era. Thomas S. Monson will no doubt be named the new prophet, seer, and revelator sometime next week. I encourage all of you to try and catch Hinckley’s funeral this Saturday (11:00 AM Mountain Standard Time). I think there is a way to stream it over the church website. You will see a memorial of a great leader of my church, and I’m sure most of you will find it interesting.

Towering in the city skyline, the white LDS Church Office Building is almost always visible in Salt Lake City. I think I’ve made it clear that my faith is very personal. With my spiritual activities kept mostly to myself, sometimes I forget I live right in the center of the LDS church’s headquarters.

The church office building itself is a little disquieting. Its bureaucratic symbolism doesn’t help me feel the spirit. Driving by the building, seeing all the white shirts and ties, I feel irked by some of the church’s views on conformity.

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Even a fair-trade hippie like me will go to Starbucks if a cute girl invites me. I’m not a fan of coffee. In my experience, I have a cup, and I feel invincible for about twenty minutes, and then I crash hardcore, barely able to watch Golden Girls let alone do anything productive. But of course, “cutegirl” insisted that I try some Pumpkin mocha-fropa-frapacuinno-costa-rican-machiato-latte-cream-sugar-espresso drink. Obviously, my LDS heritage didn’t educate me well on the coffee lingo. I felt terrible after finishing the beverage. No, the Lord didn’t appear to me in a vision, scolding me for breaking the all too sacred Mormon Word of Wisdom. I felt guilty because it tasted terrible and I paid about twelve dollars for both drinks.

Getting to the point, being an LDS member I steer clear of coffee, alcohol, and smoking because of the Word of Wisdom revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants Section 89. I feel that the Word of Wisdom was intended as a guide of moderation. It also suggests not splurging on meat and only eating fruit during the season it grows in. In the 1800s, this made a lot of sense. Don’t eat bad meat and rotten fruit. Don’t drink alcohol because it makes you act like an idiot. Don’t smoke tobacco because it’s bad for your lungs. I think the Word of Wisdom is a divine FYI about staying healthy.

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The recent media attention given to the trial of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs has been tugging at my feelings on faith. Obviously, I believe that Warren Jeff’s actions as an accomplice to rape are nothing but despicable, but the shadow the trial cast over the rest of practicing polygamists is unfortunate.

What’s the problem with polygamy? From a human rights perspective, denying someone the right to marry the person/persons they love is a violation of basic natural rights, and dare I say, God-given rights. My faith is rooted in a belief of God-given rights that should never be sacrificed.

The LDS Church did practice polygamy in the 1800’s before bowing to political and economic pressure to change its ways. Today, the LDS Church ex-communicates anyone who practices polygamy, but many independent sects of Mormon faith exist that do exercise plural marriage.

I believe that plural marriage is a law of heaven, but has been sidelined in this world because of cultural customs. Can God compromise?

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I’m sorry to disappoint those of you that were expecting a clean cut, return missionary, BYU student to fill the Latter-day Saint slot on the Faithbook blog. Take a look at my picture. Look at my long hippie hair. Would you be willing to believe that I’m a liberal Democrat? That I was born in Provo but didn’t go to Brigham Young University? That I’ll be twenty in December and I have no plans to go on a mission?

That I’m still a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Take notice of my word choice: Faithful. By using the word faithful I’m implying that I have faith in LDS doctrine. Whether or not I should be considered an active member of the LDS faith is up to you. I don’t attend church regularly, because at this point in my life the Lord is something I worship personally, with support from friends and family. I may not fit the stereotype of an active LDS member, but inside my heart, or my soul, whatever you want to call it, I do possess a comprehensive faith of LDS doctrine. I argue that proof of faith shouldn’t be decided by protocol (i.e. church attendance, hair length, donations). I contend that faith is a conviction that exists within someone, that is executed through acts of kindness, accomplishing the right thing, and a reverent respect for other’s beliefs.

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