ugh, you know when someone sends a link to something you didn't realize you had so much to post until you realize its 1am? Yup.

I was reading about Elizabeth Smart today from a link a cousin posted on FB.  It was on thinkprogress.org  I'm not going to talk too much about it, because I've already thought and written a lot earlier on the site!  :)  I'm going to add to it here and then paste what I had previously written.

In a nutshell, I think we need informative sex education in the public schools which includes abstinence.  I understand there are some abstinence only education routes that have may have contributed to feelings of worthlessness on students when they have sex or when they are raped.  But where does that really come from?  Information, not agenda, is what should be taught in school.  What is taught at home?  
A Gospel centered home teaches that we are all sons and daughters of God.  We are loved!  We make mistakes and we can repent. We come to earth innocent.  If we are raped, we are still innocent.  Rape, any abuse, is a sin and a crime.  Even a rapist has value as a son of God.  He will still suffer for the sorrow he's caused  he and he can never suffer the way our Savior did for everyone who has, is and will live on this earth.  We all  have immense individual worth - for we are created from a divine being who loves us personally.  We are no accident.  

 Here's from what I wrote earlier:
 I think there are some differences that should be highlighted here. First, the difference between sex education in the public schools and what's taught in gospel-centered homes. Very different discussions! One is based on ideas that, correct me if I'm wrong, is voted on by the county board of education. So a majority vote, basically, of which parents should be involved. I've had open lessons/ discussions about sex in school, with my family, and at church and I'm so grateful for it. Students should have sexual information, not judgments or persuasions, from public school. Public schools are NOT the place for agenda not matter which side it is, conservative or liberal.
What’s taught in the home helps a person determine, what they believe, is their value. I’m so glad that Ann Richardson mentioned that the love which Ms. Smart’s parents has for her, helped her to survive. That’s why family is so important. Most of us want to find that doctrine which uplifts you by teaching the great worth of every soul and how to be at peace. That teaches both mercy and justice. Parents don’t take votes from the neighborhood to determine something this vital! They (should!) study doctrine and teach it to their children. I’ve never studied doctrine from our Savior in this religion that hits on what Kalisa mentions. The doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormons, is from God through our prophet. God teaches that we are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We come to earth innocent so infant baptism does nothing. We all have value. We all make mistakes and we can all repent. Any abuse is a sin and a crime.  


I would say most religions are just ideas, typically good, but sometimes horrible.   However, To say religion is just ideas, created by people, is only true if there is no revelation or authority today.  Lets face it, just because we have seen  horrible things done in the name of religion does not mean all religions are evil or that they are all man made.   I know that the doctrine I follow is not molded from a bunch of debated ideas.  It is from God, no one else. ( His commandments are not mere suggestions or ideas.) And it is beautiful.  The doctrine teaches that we are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We come to earth innocent.  Our attitudes and mistakes are what can hurt us but that never means we have no hope or no value.  Sexual purity is a beautiful choice that will lead to the most freedom and peace because its what our Father (who knows a whole lot more than we do) desires for us all.  In my decades of study, the notion that women are less than men, or that any person is worthless is not to be found.  Rape is a horrible sin and a crime.  Being raped is horrible but the victim is never worthless or sinful.   SHE never sinned - the rapist is a criminal and he'll be judged  here and when he dies. He has value too but he will suffer immensely for all the pain he's caused.  Ms. Smart is right that we'll always have value - that has never changed.

Oops...I wanted to be clear earlier, abstinence should be a part of sexual education, its a choice just as any other sexual choice is, and the goal is to give students all of the information but, as any option, should neither be shoved aside or be a conversation closer. I know I'm with a lot of others when I say sex is great, amazing and I love it and I didn't have sex with anyone except my spouse. Abstinence was never ugly, tore my self esteem, etc; quite the opposite. Same goes for many of my peers. However, the value I placed on my parents guidance, who are very open and loving people, was much higher than what I placed in the schools guidance.

To end, I forgot to add onto the website, Ms. Smart is a very courageous, beautiful and wise person!  I think the article pushed some agenda that wasn't directly what Ms. Smart stated, and it appears they didn't publish her words in full.  In education, work, anywhere - Any attitude that doesn't uplift is wrong and thank goodness her parents were able to help her see, at least to a strong degree, her value.  She's strong and I admire her helping other victims of abuse.