Today I'm expressing something that might come close to a rant. But, I have to let my feelings out and this blog is the place to do it. Lately, I have been seeing this trend of "labeling" people over the internet. I've been noticing it all over Facebook. Maybe I'm lacking in sense of humor, or maybe I just don't get it. But as I've been seeing these "labels" and how others are defining themselves based on these, it honestly worries me. Some examples are minor. "What kind of celebrity are you?" or "What your home says about you." Now to be fair, these quizzes are obviously meant to be taken lightly. Ok. It's fun to imagine yourself as Julia Roberts, or if your house looks a certain way that supposedly reflects upon you as a person. But I've been seeing another kind of label that actually has me offended and it's all over Facebook. "What kind of Mormon are you?"
What does that even mean.
Normally, I am not one to really voice my opinion if I disagree about something over Facebook or the internet. The main reason is because my opinions are mine to have and naturally being a reserved person, I don't express my feelings on something negative way often. Number two, obviously, it's the internet. I don't really want the world knowing intimate details about myself and what I think. But back to the subject. "What kind of Mormon are you?" I have heard this over and over again. When I was up at school, students would label you a "Utah Mormon" or a "East Coast Mormon" or whatever state you were Mormon. Or sometimes someone would scoff at another person and say, "He is such a Peter Priesthood", or "She is such a Molly Mormon." And I have to say, I got sick and tired of it. I still am sick and tired of it. I was under the impression that as a Mormon, you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are a Christian. A follower of Jesus Christ. So where did these labels originate from? And who started it? I have to say, I'm ashamed in them. Because these labels are offensive. It divides people. It puts down people. I do not care where you are from. As a member of any religion, you share the same religious beliefs. You strive to become united as members. And you are commanded to love one another. And I am sorry, labeling people (or people in general) in same church is just plain wrong and it doesn't matter. What matters is that you strive to become the best person you can be. You, personally, are setting goals for yourself everyday to be better than you were yesterday. And if that means you are doing something different from somebody else, so be it.
I wish we as people would stop labeling others. I wish as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we would step up and stop with this whole "Utah Mormon" or "Molly Mormon." As long as you are striving to do what is right, and striving to create a happy fulfilling life, that is all that matters.
