A TIGER DOESN'T LOSE SLEEP OVER THE OPINION OF SHEEP

So a blog is a place to vent right? Good... Well yesterday I came across something that really upset me and I just need to address it. I was on Instagram last night, when someone {who I'm not very close with and who is not LDS} posted a picture of 2 people wearing garments with a caption that was something like"they will protect you from bullets, knives, and sin." Followed by a smiley face. Now probably about 85% of my readers are Mormon, but for those who aren't, this was a picture of sacred undergarments that are marked with sacred symbols and are not meant to be put on display for the world to see. Now I'm not someone who is super public about my religion or someone who dedicates their blog and/or Facebook statuses to my church, but I've seen this girl and a few others, make snide comments about my church. There are times when I haven't said anything, so I felt like it was my duty to stand up for what I believe in. 

I commented on her picture and told her it was very disrespectful whether she believed in my church or not. She quickly commented "How is this disrespectful?" and then quickly added "If it was a picture of a hijab you wouldn't be saying anything." Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? Obviously by how defensive she was she knew the comment (no matter how subtle) was there to make fun. First off, I'm not a Muslim guru so I don't know a whole lot about hijabs, but as I pointed out to her, those are two very different things, as the Mormon garment is meant to be underclothing and not to be publicly revealed to others, where as the hijab is specifically meant to be worn in public and {as far as I know} does not contain sacred symbols on it. She commented back again with "Well I saw it in a movie and just thought it was interesting what people do for their religion." I'm going to go ahead and call BS! Especially since the way her and her sister were commenting back and forth and laughing, that she put it up because she thought they were funny looking, not because she was so "interested" by my religion. She has lived in Utah basically all her life and I know that she knows that she crossed the line but chose to ignore it. I didn't comment back. She and the comment were not worth my time. I stood up for my beliefs, left it at that, and then deleted and blocked her and her sisters from all my social media sites. I only did this last thing because I like getting on these sites to see fun pictures and updates from friends, NOT be faced with ridicule from those who I thought had more class and respect then that. And I' not just singling this girl out. There are others I have recently deleted from social media for this same reason. I just don't want to be upset by things that I think are out of line and disrespectful in the first place. Almost all these people who have been making these comments are either former Mormons, or people who have been surrounded by Mormons all their lives, which obviously makes me think they have a personal vendetta against the church, or were offended by someone in the church and now go out of their way to mock it whenever they can. It truly disgusts me that people can't be tolerant and respectful of others beliefs. 

Just weeks earlier this girl's sister had posted something saying that all religions were cults and were just in the business to make money. I respect that other people have beliefs, but it astonishes me that people take the time to go on to a social media site and taunt other people's beliefs. 

I know some of you are thinking "If you don't like them, don't follow/be friends with them." Well as I said I am no longer following them on social media, but it still makes me sick that people in the world still find the time to tear others down and offend them. 

Now, like the quote said above, I'm not going to lose any more sleep over this, but I would like to add, NEVER be afraid to stand up to those who make ignorant comments about your religion, race, family, etc. Especially when it comes to things that they don't understand. Also, be more aware of what you are putting on the internet. Once you've said it, you can't take it back. Those words are easy to forgive, but you can never truly forget them. I've learn this the hard way from things I myself have said online. I know if this girl sees this, I am opening myself up to be attacked by her, but I can't stand by and watch people desecrate and mock things that are sacred to me. And if any of you want to know more about my church, click on the tab above that says "My Beliefs." Don't get your info from anti-Mormon books and videos (which is where that picture is from that the girl posted). If you truly want to know more about someones faith, that's a weird place to start. I truly believe that what you put into the universe, you get back. My friend Kelly always says to put out "good vibes," which is exactly what this world needs more of. So I challenge everyone this week to focus on LOVE, POSITIVITY, and ACCEPTANCE. Thanks for staying with me until the end of my rant! Here are some great quotes from this years general conference, and years past, that are both related and unrelated to the above: 

Let us be true disciples of the Christ, observing the Golden Rule, doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. -Gordon B. Hinckley

We can respect other religions, and must do so. We 

must recognize the great good they accomplish. We

 must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly 

toward those not of our faith. We can and do work with 

those of other religions in the defense of those values 

which have made our civilization great and our society

distinctive. - Gordon B Hinckley