It isn’t easy for single Mormon women like me to listen to talks on the importance of marriage between a man and a woman, supporting our priesthood holders, the sacredness of human sexuality and family formation.
How can a 40-year-old midsingle like me stand up and defend "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," which was given 20 years ago when I was just entering the young single adult scene, and follow the prophet’s call to increase our temple worship when I was never even asked to the temple, let alone my high school prom?
Who would ever take me seriously? I’m a virgin who can’t drive.
How can I proclaim that marriage and family matters to me when I have no husband, home or family of my own?
How can I honor and sustain the priesthood when I have no worthy priesthood holder in my life?
I posted these very questions to my friends on a Facebook group for midsingles who a members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Their supportive and uplifting comments were wonderful. There are many singles who share my frustration, feeling like an “invisible Saint” as we continue to wait patiently for our blessings. These faithful singles suggested a return to prayer, serving others and to not let myself feel inferior when the ideal is not my current reality.
Frankly, I was told I needed to start looking at my situation in a different way.
To begin with, there is hardly a shortage of worthy priesthood holders in my life. My bishop, brother-in-law, three younger brothers and stepfather are all worthy and honorable priesthood holders who I can call, any time, for blessings of comfort and counsel.
Whatever humble structure you call home, even if you live by yourself, you can make it a place of safety, refuge and peace — like a temple.
Those people in your life you simply cannot live without — friends, nephews and siblings — are your family and you are never alone.
Pray and study the scriptures. Find little ways to serve and make a difference.
I struggle often with the question of continuing to live the law of chastity when isolation and loneliness are the only blessings I see. But a life free of guilt and shame are the real blessings that come from living this law. I have no reason to feel inferior for continuing to strive for the ideal when the quick and easy path of cohabitation beckons.
During his Sunday morning address at the most recent general conference, President Thomas S. Monson admonished us all to have a spirit of temple worship. My temple recommend expired years ago, due to my lack of motivation to attend, yet, as I listened to the voice of our beloved prophet, I discovered that the spirit of temple worship continues to burn in my heart. The desire to believe and worship was there. Recalling the words of Alma, I would let this desire work in me.
The best way to stand up and show our support for our beloved prophet is to encourage each other to study his latest words and follow his most recent counsel to seek the blessings of the temple.
Michelle Llewellyn is a University of Utah graduate with a bachelor's degree in English. She blogs at oldmaidmormon.blogspot.com.