In October, I was on a panel about Black Women and Race in the LDS Church as part of the “Black White and Mormon” Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah the week after General Conference. After the panel, an audience member approached me because he knew my writing from Rational Faiths.
We talked about being an Ally for discussing issues of racism in the Church and refuting folklore and false doctrine. He was an older white male, a husband, and a father to a few daughters that he described as strong women of whom he was very proud. We talked about missionary work, too. He said he was committed to being a member missionary IN the Church about race and gender issues. He was committed to staying, serving, and changing perceptions of elect fellow members – those who were ready to change because he had changed. He felt that the panel, in particular, and at the conference in general were attempts at doing the same: staying, serving, and changing perceptions of the folks who are ready to change.
I appreciated his conversation and how he experienced his call to serve. I thought of it as we sang “I’ll go where you want me to go” for our closing hymn in sacrament meeting a few Sundays later. I thought of it as I cried while giving the closing prayer in November. It’s getting harder to be in the Church but not of its oppression. “How do you stay?” my students asked during our “black and mormon” panel in my African American culture course last week. Each of us shared our responses which were variations of “because I asked and God said so.”
I have been consistently reminded that God has called a number of us to be missionaries to our Brothers and Sisters in the Church. Some of us are called to serve outside of the church an attempt to bring more family members into the Fold. Some of us are called to serve in the pews where we have to label our Sisters and Brothers “distant Cousins” in order to survive Sunday School when they say unbelievable things based in fear, ignorance, superiority, and pride. Some of us do our best work after we are excommunicated or request that our names are removed from the records. Some of us are at the temple every week and involved in the Freedmen Project. It truly takes all types to move the work forward even when the human failures of the members and the leaders get in the way. We must still be missionaries. We must be companions in this Gospel, with our unique talents and spiritual gifts. I’m not one for blind faith, but I am a believer in miracles. And if nothing will stop this work from moving forward, it includes the outright as well as the benevolent oppression.
As was stated in October – we are the nuts and bolts that turn the Lord’s clock. Stay wound up. There is work to do.
LaShawn, I love this! I am trying to create another familysearch account to join the indexing of Freemen’s project. Argh! It’s a pain — having to create another indexing account — and I’m now chatting with the help line. Hopefully can figure it out because I’d love to help. Best to you. Thanks for writing this!
Thanks Brent 🙂 best of luck to you! The freedmen project is a wonderful endeavor. I hope we can all stay anxiously engaged.
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LaShawn Schultz,
Turns out I could access this project in my current account. The only difference is where the indexing gets “counted,” e.g. in your Stake of LDS, or in a different group if you choose. I did a couple batches. They were employment contracts for Freedmen. The employee was expected to perform all labors required of the employer, day or night, be upstanding and perform all duties rightfully. The employer was to pay a minimal wage. The contract was for one year. The Freedman’s name was Anthony. No last name, just noted as Freedman. He couldn’t read or write and signed the contract with his mark “+”. Small step from slavery to indentured servitude. Sobering.
If it was a step at all. Interesting thing about contracts is the idea that they are executed fairly instead of placeholders to track property. My sister and brother are our genealogy folks. So many layers of stories! Thanks for indexing! I really appreciate the power in this work.
Oh, this made me feel happy and encouraged! I’m grateful to be part of this great work! Finding one’s place can be very difficult and disorienting, yet very rewarding!
I think once we find our place and believe it has a purpose, everything begins to make sense.
LaShawn, thank you for your courage, for writing this, and for keeping the faith despite the “fear, ignorance, superiority, and pride.”
Came across the October conference doing a search. Saw you on the panel. Nice job. Doing well lil sis! This old dog had to rest from the benevolence. Not out but not in. Imagine hearing those Sunday school tirades of good intent with your non affiliated (sounds better) wife. But I’m glad to see you still in the fight. Time changes everything. Stay blessed.
D!!!! What a surprise to hear from you! I feel ya on the foot positioning with these folks in our ward families acting like bitter cousins. Glad that you and Sis O are well. James, my little brother, writes a guest post here and there too. Check him out! We owe much to ya!
https://realgreattalk.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/black-lds-lives-matter-introduction/