"Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” Spencer W. Kimball as quoted in Daughters in My Kingdom.
Blogging comes with a responsibility and an accountability. I've always known this, but I never expected former Relief Society President, Julie B. Beck, to state the position so eloquently.
When I started this blog I intended it to be a place for me to rant. I wanted to rant about things because I was frustrated. I'm still frustrated, but I no longer rant. So, if you find my early posts a bit different than my later posts you know why.
My blog changed because my perspective changed. When I discovered that people were actually reading me, I decided to orient my blog to them instead of myself.
Writing has always been an outlet for me. If something is really disturbing me, I write it down. I argue myself through it and I feel better. Issues often plague me until I do this. Once it is written, I can let it go.
In academia, I always felt like a Cassandra. Perhaps that was inevitable given my two best subjects are religion and politics. Nobody ever listens to political science professors. People let them talk, but they don't really listen to them.
People always seem to follow their own judgment on politics. I hope against hope that at least some of my students remember back to my impassioned lectures on entitlements though.
Sometimes I feel like a Cassandra on this blog. Discovering that people actually read my blog and think about what I say reformed me. Occasionally, I hear a General Authority backing me up in some address or other. When this ceases to happen, I'll know something is wrong. Hopefully I know before I get to that point though.
Back to accountability and responsibility.
Blogging can help the Lord's efforts.
Blogging can distract from the Lord's efforts.
Blogging can hurt the Lord's efforts.
Those of us who blog have a responsibility to help the Lord's efforts. Accountability may come much further down the road, but it will come.
Keep that in mind when you blog.
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