After having a conversation with someone who left the LDS church, Tamu Smith shared some thoughts about the experience on Twitter.
Smith is one half of the ‘Sistas In Zion.’ Smith and her blogging ‘sista’ Zandra Vranes have been social media personalities for quite some time and recently even published a book. They have over 11,000 followers on Twitter, where Smith recently expressed her personal feelings on people who leave the church or abandon their worship of God.
In a series of tweets – 20, to be exact – Smith talked about how people who leave the Church because its ‘too controlling’ sometimes don’t recognize that every religion has a ‘code of conduct’ and that there are rules for worship everywhere. She talks about how, ultimately, each person will be responsible for their own deeds and actions.
1. Her: I left the LDS church because they're so controlling"
Me: "in what way is the church controlling?
Her: they tell ppl how 2 dress— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
2. Me: what are you going to replace your worship with?
Her: I don't know, I haven't really thought about it
Me: every church has rules— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
3. Every religion has a code of conduct. EVERY religious organization is run by men no matter what they say. Mistakes will be made
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
4. Feelings will be hurt. Things they said was a core belief may change or need clarifying. Ultimately our walk is with God.
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
5. What I've noticed from brothers & sisters of our faith who have left is they don't replace their Sunday worship with anything.
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
6. They become unbelievers. Then they become angry. If you feel your religion is controlling and you leave, it should bring you joy, right?
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
7. I grew up in a family full of preachers. Some are anointed speak life to the word others just speak words. COGIC standards make Mormons
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
8. Look liberal! Before leaving a religion look at what's out there because folks are quick to encourage others to jump ship, yet they can't
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
10. Help them once they leave. The church LDS or others can not MAKE anyone do anything. If I don't feel to do it, they "church" can't force
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
11. Me to do it. So, in an effort to take our power back and choose for ourselves can we please stop blaming others for our inability to
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
12. Stand up & stand in our own truth. At the end of all this, I have to stand before Christ and account for my own deeds. With Jesus as
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
13. My only mediator. If I want to wear a strapless dress to church I can. If I want to party all night and be hung over at church, I can
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
14. I've never seen anyone escorted out if church because they wore the a strapless dress… we can not use the leaders of any church as an
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
Excuse for why we stopped having a relationship with God. Our spirituality is personal, we need to treat it as such. Let folks believe
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
16. What they choose to believe, God knows us individually and He judges us individually. It don't matter to me if ppl leave or stay. My
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
17 hopeis that they stay N Gods sight & find a good emotionally safe place to worship. Cause for me, it was never about "them" and (or) what
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
18 They said or did. It was always & only abt Him. I'm only going 2 do what I feel moved to do. May we all find the Peace provided by Jesus
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
19. The Peace Giver. In His name Jesus Christ Amen. ~T
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017
Also we (the people) are the church. We need to be the "church" we seek. Extend to the "church" what you want to receive. Love = Love
— Sistas in Zion (@SISTASinZION) July 22, 2017