Why Mormon?

Being fat in the United States is getting more and more common everyday. Being a fat Mormon doesn't separate me from others struggling to unveil their confident self hiding under layers of chub. Whether they be "big-boned" scholars, mommies, atheists, workers, or students...being fat fundamentally limits all sides in one way or another.

So why bring up the Mormon thing? Well, for one because I believe it. I love it. Also because of it's beautiful doctrine about the body, and what a gift it is. And please keep in mind, I am not here for Bible-bashing or religious mockery. Good people abound in all faiths. Here's some of the goodness from my faith:

"The spirit and the body are the soul of man"

This is from our scripture Doctrine and Covenants . I love how simple this is. History and our own human passions have made compelling arguments that the body, with all of its weaknesses and frailties, is simply holding back our true spirit. Mormons are unique from most other Christians who commonly believe that Jesus does not have a body and that he is an all-encompassing spirit.

Not only do Mormons affirm that the Savior maintains his perfected resurrected body, we also recognize that our living breathing bodies we enjoy now are essential tools for our spirit. The body completes the spirit, making it a force to exercise its choice to bridle passions, read to our kids, get good grades, develop patience, pray daily, or cheat on our spouse. And also whether to eat all the leftover Halloween candy.

Essentially, this body is our testing grounds for that spirit that derived from our Father in Heaven. We want it to be clean and in good running condition, so that in the event our God needs to communicate to us through the still small voice, we won't be sidetracked by alcohol, hate, or chocolate.

Spirit + Body = Soul

Taking care of this body is good for the spirit, good for the soul.