Kaiya took this picture
Okay....I really feel the need to get on a soapbox here about a particular thing that was brought to my attention today. A woman named Martha Nibley Beck who is also the estranged daughter of an LDS church scholar by the name of Hugh Nibley is planning on publishing a book she has written called "Leaving the Saints". Apparently the book makes many false accusations towards the church, including her temple experience, and is also a chance for her to vent about her so-called "horrible family life". Oh, please....like we haven't heard *this* before. (rolls eyes)
What's more appauling about it is that she plans on promoting the book on Oprah since she has been featured as a guest on the show as well as in the O magazine before. And what's even more ghastly is that her book is scheduled to be published in March to coincide with her father, Hugh's 95th birthday!!!! It's like, "Oh, dad. I wanted to thank you for screwing up my life so I wrote a book about it...Happy Birthday!" (rolls eyes again)
First of all, I am all for freedom of speech. I realize that we live in a nation where this is a right whether we agree with what's being said or not. Second of all, I know that some people's accounts of their horrbile childhoods have helped others cope with their own similar issues, but I think there is a very specific time and a place for this. This seems to be a growing epidemic in society...to write about your private family life and expose the faults and sins therein to get gain...to have a "Best Seller". Basically, to get paid to gossip! Hollywood seems to have hopped on this banwagon a lot lately....
Now don't get me wrong. I have a friend that is writing a book about her father's unsolved murder. And of course, she has had to relate her childhood memories and probably had to dig into her family's past to complete her story. But that is a totally different situation and subject and I'm sure that she will present it in a classy and respectable way. (So please don't think I am even remotely implying anything about you, Rachel H.) *hugs* :)
Secondly, clearly this woman has no class. You can't tell me that Martha Nibley didn't realize this would be published around her father's birthday. Now, I don't know the real truth about their relationship, but even if my own father had abused, betrayed, hurt or wronged me in any way I would at least have the decency to not publish my book about him around his own birthday! The poor man is turning 95 for goodness sake! But then again, I just don't have a vengeful bone in my body so I have no idea what it is like for someone who does.
The other problem I have with this is that it is being associated with the Oprah Winfrey show. Oprah, to me, has, most of the time, been an inspiring, uplifting show. There has always been a warm and good spirit that fills the different episodes...I'm always so touched, I cry at the end of almost every episode!!! I was even inspired to start a successful Mom's group because of one viewing. If Oprah were to talk about this book on her show, it would be such a negative perspective on a Church that has done so much good throughout the world. Why not focus on the humanitarian relief the Church provides to millions of disaster victims? Why not focus on the success of the missionaries promoting the gospel all over creation? Why not focus on the Church welfare program or the Relief Society as the largest women's organization in the world? Why not focus on the Truth, rather than one angry woman's lies?? These kinds of topics would seem more typical of the Oprah show. I really don't care to watch any show or read any book that focuses on the atrocities, false beliefs and rumors of one religion or another. I am not interested in the recent scandolous stories associated with the Catholic church. What good is that information going to do me, really? Why not learn truths from the good members of the Church themselves who have a testimony of the truth, who understand the correct interpretation of the doctrine and who have felt the power of the the love of the Savior in their lives? Never seek knowledge about a certain subject and/or faith from someone who has tried it and failed, like Martha Nibley Beck.
But as always with the LDS Church, where there is much good, there is much opposition. ;)
And hello, this woman is estranged from her family....obviously there isn't going to be anything good she has to say about them or the Church they are devoted to. Has most of this world abandoned the concept "forgive and forget"?
Anyway, I for one, will be emailing Oprah this week. I think it important for anyone who disagrees with her show promoting this book to do so also.
*steps down from soapbox*
-Britten
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