Beginnings.....

I do not know if anyone who was not raised Mormon can fully understand what it is to be Mormon. Being Mormon is so much more than a religion or faith, it is who you are, like being a mother or a daughter or a sister. It is a thing that defines you as a person, you are a Child of God, a chosen Saint of the Latter Days, special, blessed, important. As a child you are taught that not only are you of God but that one day if you remain righteous you will become God. You pray in the morning as a family, you read your scriptures every day, you pray before each meal and again every night as a family. One Monday night you have a Family meeting where you pray and read scriptures and you play games and learn more about what it is to be a Mormon. When you turn eight you are baptized and become an official member of the church. When you turn 12 you are old enough for Mutual (youth group), for boys this is the time when you receive the Priesthood, this time is also spent doing Boy Scouts and preparing to go on a Mission. For girls this time is spent learning how to cook and sew and care for children and a husband. When you enter high school you start going to a scripture study class called Seminary, everyday before or during school depending on where you live. Once a month there is a youth church dance, in the summer there is Youth Conference, Young Womens Conference, Fireside meetings. You eat, sleep and breath being Mormon. You never question, you never doubt, you never leave, for doing so is unforgivable.

So to walk away is in a sense like Solomon has indeed cut the baby in half....