Hala401

Actually Muslim women are forbidden to pray at the Masjid when they are on. And if you examine the Old Testament, Leviticus I think, women were like totally dissed at that time. Hah ! Musta been written by a Man. OOPs, sorry I know, behave sister.

It was frightfully stormy the morning I left Huntsville, after spending the night with friends, and when I got to SLC, the sun was shining, but when I came out of the South Visitor's center, it was snowing, so I ducked into the Tabernacle to listen to an Organ Solo, and sunny again when I went to the North Visitor's center, with its Temple display, and awesome dommy thing over a statue of Jesus Christ. It is so much fun to meet new people and along the way I encountered lots of fun people. One woman at the church history building looked so sad, so sitting down to talk to her was fun as I tried my best to be encouraging, and um sweet. I do not know if I will ever get to Utah again ... I mean it would be lovely but perhaps it will be my only chance. Who knows? I have fallen for the place.

I was excited, nervous and a little sad to be going to SLC alone in my little Corolla with 144,000 miles on it. Much to my surprise, and thankfulness, this trip was one of the best in my entire life. It was almost snowing in Portland when I left in the afternoon of the 22nd, but the Gorge was bare, and I decided that after Pendleton if I had to put chains on the car, I would somehow muddle through, even bringing a huge paint splotched pair of coveralls for the purpose. The man at Les Schwab had even showed me how to put them on! :) I had a "Sisters of Light" CD in the player, and the trip was so placid and peaceful. I'd made my mind up that the speed limit was good enough for me and really felt that since Heavenly Father had extended unfathomable mercy to me, that I needed to be as good as I could. I am so amazed that the trip was so very peaceful! There were a couple anxious moments when I went over the pass from and to Huntsville, to I-84. It got really snowy but my little car did not slip. The people I met were more hospitable than I had any right to expect. I'm afraid that infatuatuated with being a member now, so I hope that what I say is not too soppy. Four of the sisters who first taught me, attended Church at BYU singles ward. Amazingly, many people tell me that our conversations have provided great encouragement to them, and it is difficult to comprehend why they would say that. Can it be that unusual to encounter a deleriously happy blushing brand new barely dry new member? You'd have to know about the years of physical and emotional abuse, and of being treated as less than human by people of faith. Other members keep warning me about encountering bridge troll members who will be very unkind, but so far none have surfaced to draw blood. I photographed the brand new temple in Brigham, Utah, the temple in Twin Falls, Idaho, and several Ward buildings in Rupert, La Grande, Pendleton, and other places I can't remember. Later today, I think I will donate all of my Muslim clothing at a local Muslim charity. For some reason dragging them around with me must have been a sort of "security blanket", that I shall have no further need for. Thank you Heavenly Father for guiding my way. Hala (Gwen Boucher)

I'm afraid I broke the rules, AGAIN! Now that I got baptised, I am 'posed to be nice and sweet. She just so obviously is so full of bile and venom. Hala

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me." Even when I was yet Muslim, the above was very clear to me. There may be others who say they are God's, but I doubt that they are.

I was tempted to think that the LDS are so secretive and don't want outsiders here, but after my paranoia ran its course, I realised that it would be very easy to find one's way without a map. :)

I saw the New Temple yesterday as we passed. We went to a performance of The Gondoliers, and then off to the Museum to see a display of mosty Shia, Persian and Ottoman art. It was quite interesting. At the Portland Visitors Center, I ran into a Sister Missionary who's Mother organised that exibit and had wanted to meet her, but the staff were all gone on Saturday. I must say that the practice of modern day Islam, even Shia Islam is vastly different than what was practiced when this art was done. Still, I thought that the exhibit was quite nice. I could easily see myself living in Provo, or anywhere in Utah.

Well, I had an absolutely lovely, event-less drive from Portland down to Provo. I must say that the traffic is really, A LOT! I love the Wasatch Mountains and wish I could live here. The Provo Temple is lovely, but I was disappointed to see all the fences around it. Still, I know why they are there. It felt really odd to see the sisters that first taught me wearing jeans. I can understand though. Don't know if I ever will though. My Muslim conditioning is still very strong and of course there is nothing wrong with it either way. My GPS hates Utah, with their strange address structure, but I think I finally understand now. Really wanted to go down to far Southern Utah to see the parks, friends and things, but it would be another long day down there and back. Stayed in a Super 8 last night, and watched cable TV. I don't have TV at home. Three of the channels were involved in survivalist "stuff". It felt really icky to watch a housewife learn to be a sniper and have a survival shelter put in her back yard. Myself, I'll just be about my business and Heavenly Father can worry about the big stuff.

You mean no discipline according to Surah 4:34 (Quran). I am liking this religion very much thank you. :)

Someone said that we are not supposed to travel on Sunday? It is no problem, I will do it but I'm just surprised.

Thank you all. I am quite unaccustomed to people responding to my ignorance with such kindness. Thank you.

This is about what I suspected, and of course I approve. She was thinking of certain Mega Church folk who make a gajillion dollars being showboats. I know one day that my bubbling infatuation with the LDS church could be quenched, and have been warned about that, but you'd have to understand what it was like in the depths I once experienced, so perhaps not, I pray. Hala

So, last night my non LDS roomate expressed surprise that being a paid preacher is called Priest craft, and not done by the LDS. "That is um commendable", she said, expressing her surprise. Then I mentioned that I did not think that almost any LDS were paid, but did not know. So, I do not even know if this is a permissible subject, but who is paid in the LDS Church? Surely, at some upper level those who work must be paid because they work all day long? Right? Or not? My roomate, an agnostic, is quite surprised at the change in my life, how nice LDS folk are, and what she has seen of the church. Hala

... Is the way that the LDS I have met take the admonisment of Jesus Christ so seriously. I've seen a lot of hate and hypocracy and was very disillusioned. Two years ago, if someone would have told me that I would soon be LDS, I would have laughed at them. And when it started happening resisting the Holy Spirit was my focus; the pain of all the betrayal and hate was too fresh; to much for me. All trust was absolutely gone. I'm a bit ashamed of how I resisted at first; surprised and thankful that Heavenly Father did not give up on me. Still very alert to any sign of betrayal, sometimes I just feel crazy. Are these people nuts? Do they know how many people think that my sin was too great to forgive? Do you lifer LSD folk even realize how special your life is? Sure there have been mistakes in the church, but it boggles my mind when I see how people own up to them and then set out to rectify hurts. There is a lot that I will never reveal about my past life. I will say that I have never been arrested or accused of any crime what so ever. I have never been accused or committed any crime against any person, adult or child, male or female. Yet there are evangelicals who think that I lead the most sinful life that anyone could. When I interviewed to be baptized I was asked to make certain promises and in the name of Jesus Christ I promised to keep them. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the saints of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints have gotten into my heart and I could not stop it. I have watched this discussion with astonished surprise, because I know that in Evangelical Forums, the GBLT set would be roasted and abused in the most abominable way imaginable. Tomorrow, or Friday, depending upon the weather, I will start my drive down to Provo from Portland to see the young women who convinced me to listen to them teach about the church. I'm feeling really tender about this journey; oh so vulnerable. There are people I know to see, a Museum with a Middle Eastern exhibit, and then I want to walk on the grounds of the Temple in SLC. I hope to do it alone, because I want to spend quiet time there praying to Heavenly Father, and just absorbing the history of this place; how the settlers came, fought to build the temple, then had to tear it apart and hide it, and finally to complete it against unfathomable difficulties. I've really tried hard to express my gratitude, but it is clear that there is nothing I can say or do that will be enough. Much peace Hala

From 1974 to 2004, I was an evangelical christian. In that time I saw people in the GBLT set be treated really awfully, and at first, I did not question their treatment, having been counselled that these folk had yielded to satan by their own wicked natures. It is difficult to say this in LDS parlance but I listened to a lot of hate, anger and false doctrine coming from the pulpit by those who practiced Priest craft. I will qualify this statement by saying that I also learned much good too. Sadly, the lesbian and gay folk were preached against, damned to hell, and generally mistreated. And that began my separation from Christianity, because I did not feel like I was qualified to judge anyone, and was at times told that I was soft on sin. I committed sin and was thrown out of my church, divorced, disowned by the family, lost my job, friends and very nearly forced to live on the street. So in those years, I learned a lot about mercy, forgiveness, and self loathing. Qualifying but not giving lurid details, I have no police record and have never been arrested, and that is all the detail I wish to provide. In those years, I came to know several Lesbians and some Gays, and that is when I realized that their life style was not a choice, but perhaps more of an affliction. I became Muslim not very long after all that because I still wanted to worship God, but not with the "people of plastic Jesus". I learned a great deal in those 7 years. Still I still searched for something that was missing and found myself a member of the LDS church in a series of astonishingly wonderful events that started in early March of 2011. So, in the past I have heard that the people of diversity have been excommunicated and generally treated awfully. Well, being a member now, suddenly some of the Lesbians and Gays I've had contact with have revealed that they had been LDS. I do not know what will happen now. Heavenly Father has taken me on a long and often painful journey, experiencing things that I never sought out. For me, I intend to be loving and gentle to all who I meet. Through the LDS, my experience has saved my life.

Please delete this if I am over the line. I read an article that said there was great displeasure because of our involvement with prop 8 in California, and the article said that we had lost around half our membership over it. I was greatly astonished. But a long time LDS member said that those who left felt that taking such a stand was not consistent with LDS values. Sunday in Relief Society, we sang a song, I think around #23 or something whose lyrics repeated "judge no one". Some of you long time members can help me with this, please? The thing about the Atonement is that the sins of ALL are forgiven, not just your favorite Investigator, but all who repent are forgiven. In my life, I have seen it become common for everyone to fly, seen the disappearance of the 4 party line, finally gotten running water in the house, stopped having to carry a lantern out to the outhouse at 3:00 AM, stopped parking the car on a hill because the 6 volt battery would not always start the motor, seen television tragically miss its potiential as an educational tool, seen young women constantly using what I would call a shirt as a dress, and oh so many things. I now have hearing aids which blue tooth to my phone, a car which gets over 30 mpg, seen apendectomies done through a one inch incision, seen surgery done on a baby in the uterous, and seen people begin to realise that Autistic children are often more intelligent than us, seen spina bifida repaired, and oh so many other things. It is my devout hope and prayer that one day these Intersexed and Transgender folk will one day no longer be ostracised, and those who love Heavenly Father will rise to the task and begin to treat all people with love and tenderness. As a new member, I want this church to excell where other faiths have failed and for the world to look to the LDS for healing and wisdom. Much peace Hala

I am too new to wear them, and from reading the comments, It seems much like the principle of Hijab. It was my modesty; my connection go God in a very personal way. I was devout before. Now I have Jesus Christ to help me.

I was wearing two sets of ear rings, but found out that we're supposed to only have one, so I took the second set out. So now everytime I get a little frisky and try to wear two sets, the second on hurts. Guess I am ruined for sinning.

LOL, no, I was not offended at all. In truth, I need to get to work on my Visiting Teaching, and no matter how much fun this conversation is, I can not be stayed from my duty.

I'm going to go my room. This is too much for me.

Um, I notice NO laugh button. Did someone eat it, thinking it was chocolate?

I dress NOT to please the men!

I am too knew to have experienced um "garments". As Muslim, I wore socks with all shoes, and if skirt was shorter than ankle, wore loose silken pants with, as in Salwar Kameez, or like FLDS. Still, I wore below knee skirt to church, but felt very insecure so exposed. So, I think it will be floor length skirts for me. Perhaps still not fully aclimated to Western culture yet. Every once in a while it seems so astonishing that 6 years in another culture would make it so different to be Western again.

Please do not interpret my complaint as anger. I was just put off, and surprised. The one woman that surprised me most did not seem to be interested in hearing from a woman who'd been Muslim for over 6 years. I think one of the most admirable traits of the church is that missionaries go out to many different countries, and rather than have missinformation from the news media, the young men and women come to know the truth. It is my dream that one day the Arab world will be stable enough to exchange ideas with the LDS and others. Hala

Oh yes, but the ailment seems to be much less severe in the LDS. :) I am banned from Christianity.about.com because I was trying to tell the truth about Islam. Yes well, I can't fix them. To date, my major issue with Islam is that they do not properly address Jesus Christ.