Oh, Sister!

In line with last week’s discussion of emotional manipulation, today I discuss the cultural idea of changing one’s own internal emotional landscape, as well as the results as I was trying to do it myself.

My journal entries include friendly cats acting as evidence of our divine calling, going on my first “exchanges” with my Sister Training Leader, and the painful realization that I’ve never fully confided in anyone.

LDS Music Library: "Smiles" https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/songs/smiles?lang=eng

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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 restricted eating

Today we’re focusing in on the practice of using emotionally manipulative language to manufacture "the Spirit.”

In this sixth week, my journal entries include trying to track down a potential investigator at her workplace, dealing with the lack of control over what we ate as missionaries (as well as the pressure  to look a certain way as women), and contemplating gender-appropriate hobbies to pursue in life after my mission.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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 overeating 

I open with a refresher on the rule to always stay within Sight & Sound of your mission companion, as we begin to see the effects of my constant external and internal surveillance.

My fifth week begins with a detailed review of meeting notes from my first Quad Zone Conference, a commitment to stop the “habit” of complaining, and a moment of appreciation for the sacrifices Utah Mormons make when they move elsewhere for missionary work.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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

Take a deep breath and pull on your serious boots, things start to get real as I deliver my soapbox on how the mission environment encourages neurotic religious scrupulosity.

This week’s journal entries include the strange “love at first sight” experience (aka we were best friends in our past lives and we’ll be best friends forever) that missionaries can have with people they just met, the ups and mostly downs of opening up a new town, and as always, the constant disappointment of inexact obedience.

Examples of scrupulosity from https://scrupulosity.com/scrupulosity/ 

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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 over-eating

This episode unpacks my third week as a Sister Missionary. I start by sharing the mythology around and assignment of mission areas, and then we dive into my journal entries from that week.

This week's journal entries include going to my first area and meeting my trainer, the attempted transplant of Utah Mormon culture into rural North Dakota, and my first experience of being over-fed for brownie points. Pun intended. ; ) 

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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

This episode covers the second week of my time as a Sister Missionary. I give context for my time in the MTC (Missionary Training Center), then share my journal entries from that week. Covered topics include important family events that missionaries miss,  the unspoken social beliefs around why a missionary would go home early, & the absolute naive audacity Mormon missionaries have regarding the trauma dumping that happens to people seen as authority figures.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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: mention of suicide

In this first episode I explain my motivation for publicly sharing my personal journals. After explaining the "Missionary Purpose," I dive into the first week of my Mormon Mission with life in the MTC.

Support me on patreon:D patreon.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