Oh, Sister!

cw: mention of r*pe, inc*st, discussion of abortion

In line with this week’s focus on an investigator preparing for her baptism, today I’ll talk about one of the requirements for baptism into the LDS Church: the Baptismal Worthiness Interview. Since my investigator was a woman, I’ll focus in on the interview’s focus of female sexual purity.

This week’s journal entries include actually written-out doubt about the inspiration to do missionary work in Ellendale, getting amped up by how cool a middle-aged member is since he wears a CTR ring, and the surprisingly anti-climactic first-ever-in-my-mission baptism. 

Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen

This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you!

Church handbook: Abortion

Reddit: abortion in interview for elders

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

cw: spouse abuse & murder, diet culture, child endangerment

I believe that Mormon theology enshrines patriarchy as god-given doctrine, and I will die on this hill! Today we’re learning about the document The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and I discuss misogyny, patriarchy, feminism, and how they tie into the church’s teachings.

In week sixteen, my journal includes the affirmation of conditional love and homophobia (barf!), more stressing about not being a good enough missionary, and a show-down between my companionship vs. our missionary leaders. Spoilers, we were the ones to back down.

Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen

This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you!

wikipedia misogyny: helpful breakdown 

wikipedia patriarchy: helpful breakdown 

The Family Proclamation: official church website 

Women Are Doormats: reddit post 

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

CW: discussion of dying for the church, food insecurity, food restriction. 

We start this week off with a reflection on a classic Elder Holland address to missionaries, with the chilling threat that "I have chains in every room." Yes, really! And of course, in this fifteenth week’s journal entries we once again come across the Mormon Message “Mountains To Climb,” so we’ll look into that message as well.

This week’s experiences include the loss of my first-ever investigator, a fast from “disobedience,” the assistance of a family moving in -10 degree winter weather, and the decision to send personalized propaganda to my family in my regular letters with them. : /

Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen

This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you!

recent reddit post: r/exmormon

Don’t You Dare Go Home: ldsminds.com 

further reading: Don’t You Dare Go Home

Mountains to Climb: video

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

CW: heavy swearing.  discussion of child abuse, child endangerment, violence, death, food insecurity, food restriction. 

In line with some darker themes that begin to pop up in this week’s journal entries, today I’m beginning with a brief recap of the LDS Church’s history of dealing with both perpetrators and survivors of abuse, children in particular.

In addition to the heartbreaking situation that inspired today’s rant, this fourteenth week’s journal entries include putting a positive spin on running out of money for groceries, dealing with true North Dakota winter temperatures, and daydreaming of my future, carefree life as a housewife.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you!

Faith-safe resource for finding LDS offenders in your area: floodlit.org

Mormon Stories Episode: Mormon Church Facing Sex Abuse & Trafficking Lawsuits

Sam Young’s Website: Protect LDS Children

2008 First Presidency Letter: Responding to Abuse

Current Child Protection Training Website: Protecting Children & Youth

Church Handbook: 38.6.2

Utah Code 602: Child abuse and neglect reporting requirements -- Exceptions

LDS song: A Child’s Prayer

Composer’s Website: Consider the Lilies

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

CW: discussion of child abuse, discussion of over eating & food restriction

It’s Christmas time! In this episode I’ll begin by explaining what Christmas means for missionaries—spoiler alert, it’s not a day to rest or party. After discussing the He is the Gift campaign, I’ll read the exhortations from my mission president about what to do during the Christmas season.

This thirteenth week’s journal entries include facing my first Christmas away from home as a missionary, dealing with a scheduled baptism imperiled by sudden illness, and reckoning with the strict rules to limit contact with children while being asked to teach a primary class.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you!

He is the Gift: ⁠mini lesson ⁠

He is the Gift: ⁠video ⁠

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

Today I dial into the concept of the Mormon church’s list of Approved Reading Materials for missionaries, which includes a small “Missionary Reference Library” and not much else. With the help of the beloved BITE model, I argue that this is yet another aspect of inappropriate control which led to my unhealthy personal development.

This twelfth week’s journal entries include a day of distraction due to a “Ke$ha-style” Mormon kids-bop-style cd, a district meeting with the exciting focus on my favorite topic of the Atonement, and encouraging and receiving the trauma dumping of a random lady in the hopes of converting her to Mormonism. In an exciting turn of events, I even crack open my old set of mission scriptures!

-Approved Missionary Reading List:latterdaysaintmissionprep.com

-Dr. Steven Hassan’s Bite Model handout:BITE model

Support me on patreon:Dpatreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon

CW: discussion of grooming, and I swear heavily in this episode

After weeks of holding it in, I can no longer keep myself from “dropping the f bomb” as I share a deeply formative priesthood blessing experience from my freshman year at BYU. I do a deep dive into the ramifications of power dynamics built into the church’s male-exclusive priesthood structure, explaining how much it messed up my own capacity for clear thought and judgment, among other things.

Of course, my journal entries this week also include priesthood blessings for different people we were in teaching, as well as a firm denouncement of the Catholic church building as creepy (I know, I know) and a sudden move to a new town.

Support me on patreon:Dpatreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon

CW: discussion of sex, mention of r*pe culture

Today I begin to dive into the strange world of Mormon sexual repression and control, with a discussion on Spencer Kimball’s infamous talk “Lock Your Heart.”

My journal entries from week ten include even more worries about gaining weight, a micro-aggression around race and music, and the celebration of finding a place to “do service” as a missionary.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

-Check out the whole Lock Your Heart talk: Lock Your Heart

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon

I begin by connecting cult “mind control” techniques with the Mormon practice of thought stopping through music, along with the idea that one can use holy music to “keep out the devil.” (“Just hum your favorite hymn, sing out with vigor and vim...”) 

My journal entries from week nine include the celebration of a Sister Missionary’s 21st birthday, the misunderstanding that dealing with my symptoms of ADHD resulted in a “miracle,” and being taken down a peg by a self-righteous member missionary we had “abandoned.”

Support me on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

-check out Dr. Hassan’s pdf on undue influence (thought control): BITE model

-check out the song: "Hum Your Favorite Hymn"

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon

Today I’ll cover one of the basic rules of missionary life: what (not) to wear. ; ) 

My journal entries from week eight include an admission that “missions are a good pressure cooker,” the story of one member’s inter-racial adoption, and my final days with my trainer before she is sent home to be released with honor.

-check out Tara Herbert’s podcast:⁠pouty mouth ⁠

-check out the YW lesson on marriage:⁠ r/exmormon ⁠

-check out a digitized White Handbook:pdf

Support me on patreon:Dpatreon.com/AllyChristiansen

Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen.

Music credits:

Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

#sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon