Conference tecrus::mormonism

Hi Jane,

That expression is very common in our society.  I hear it numerous times on
TV, and it bothers me every time.

I can only say what I would do if I were in your place.  I would first do as
you are doing and try to have the line changed.  If that were unsuccessful, 
then I would withdraw from the play.  In a similar vein, LDS have to decide
if they will portray one smoking, drinking, killing, etc.  I think this is
mostly an individual matter, and I expect that not all LDS would agree with
me about withdrawing from the play.  Fortunately, I'm not an actor and don't
have to make decisions of that kind....

I hope, Jane, that others will voice their thoughts about this.  May the Lord
bless you in making your decision about this!

Allen

    
    Jane

	I would suggest to the director to change the line to "Oh my Goodness".
    Otherwise, if you stay in the play and say the other line, then your 
    resistance to saying the other will be broken down.  Familiarity with
    the name of God in any reference will not allow us to maintain the
    proper reverance we should have to our Father in Heaven.  Good for you
    for feeling the way you do.

    Charles

    You have struck a familiar cord with this situation.
    There is another view of this "Oh my God" line.  Something I
    encountered when I first joined the Church.
    
    In my Catholic upbringing I was taught no to take God's name in vain.
    However, in my culture "Oh, my God" was not considered taking the
    Lord's name in vain.  It was merely an epithet, a statement of
    surprise, usually repeated when something, such as an unexpected
    death, occurred.  I majored in foreign languages in college, French,
    Russi[Aan, and Spanish, and found similar phrases in these languages.
    My natural conclusion was that this phrase did not constitute
    blasphemy.  Rather G--D--n, Jesus Christ! did.
    
    Not too long after conversion, however, I was informed that according
    to LDS beliefs, such a phrase did constitute blasphemy.  So,I changed
    my habit.  
    
    The name of deity is several, Heavenly Father, Lord God, Divine
    Creator, Our Father, Eternal Father,etc.  Of all the terms I use to 
    address him, God is perhaps the one I do not use at all.
    
    So, when I hear "Oh my God" I usually put it into context; who is
    saying it, under what conditions, and what is intended.  For instance
    when my mother would use the phrase, it sounded like the first half
    of a short prayer,  "Oh my God, may this circumstance pass from
    me." Implicitly, she meant something like that.
    
    In the play situation, I would be reluctant to use it because if
    it offends you, it is sure to offend the audience.  If the phrase
    has an intent to convey a short prayer (like my mother's) then I
    would let it be. If it is an epithet, then a good writer could
    probably suggest a "better turned" phrase.  Maybe even an exaggeration
    would be better, like "Jumping Jemiminee, or Jehosphat, Gee-Willikers,
    etc.
    
    Bottom line;  The phrase is so over used in society that not using
    it will have no effect on the intent, plot or whatever else of the
    play. I say; don't use it.  Noone will notice.  Use it and someone
    will.
    
    
    This is an aside.  But I have noticed Mormons have an assortment
    of swear word substitutions that are almost as offensive as the
    word themself.  "Judas Priest" awfully close to Jesus Christ,
    linguistically that is.  How about "flipping"?  Oh no, the dreaded
    F-word!  Gol' Dang, etc.  Anybody got any other favorites?
    
    Paul 
    
    

    Last summer when my wife was in a play, they did some singing at the
    beginning.  One of the songs they chose to sing was "Oh Lord, It's Hard
    to Be Humble".  They changed the phrase to "Aw Shucks,..."
    
    Some of the substitutions I've heard are "sheepdip", "fetch" and
    "dagnammit".  There are others, but I just can't remember them right
    now.
    
    Let us know what happens.
    
    scott

    Ever since I joined this church 3 years ago, wonderful people have come
    into my life--and now you have.  I want to thank you all so much for your
    kind help and advice about my problem.  Thanks to you, I was able to
    talk with the director (this afternoon!) and she said that there was
    no problem in changing the offending phrase to something else.  As a 
    matter of fact, when I told her how much it bothered me, she admitted
    that it always bothered her too!  I can't tell you how relieved and
    happy I feel.  
    
    By the way, some of my personal favorite expletives are these (and very
    satisfying to say, too):
    
    "Oh FISH!" (when you're super-aggravated) 
    "Fiddley fish!" (moderately aggravated--and usually hearing yourself
                     say this will make you laugh anyway)
    "Fishly tuna" (when you drop something on the floor)
    "Aw, nuts!" (when the cat picks up the thing you just dropped on the
                 floor and runs away with it)
    
    You get the general idea.
    
    Thanks again, everyone.  Isn't it amazing how the Spirit will push us
    to look for the right answers?
    
    Jane (Happy to be true to my principles AND stay in the play!)
                                                             

    On January 13th, I enjoyed our Stake Conference here in Nashua, 
    New Hampshire.  At the meeting, our Stake President, Bro. Ned
    Wheeler spoke about many things that relate to how society has
    weakened the Lord's commandments and standards of living (especially
    for the youth to desire to obey), He addressed the use of taking the
    name of the Lord in vein.  He admonished us to never use the
    words "Oh my G--".  He said that it was fashionable for society
    to use it, but that it was just as bad and sinful as any of the
    other forms of swearing and using Diety in vein.  I was so grateful
    to hear him say this.  IMHO, anything "society" uses or does sets
    off an automatic alarm in my mind that it's not something I want to
    partake of, and is not approved of by Diety.  
    
    In the book, We Are Christians Because, there is a chapter which
    talks about slang forms of language which in essence wind up taking
    the name of Diety in vein.  I found that chapter very interesting.
    I also hear the word "j__z" used quite often, and sometimes by Church
    members.  I cringe when I hear that word.  In this book, I learned that
    this is a form of swearing and taking the name of Jesus in vein.    
    
    In this months Ensign, there is an excellent article on swearing.  I
    don't have my copy with me to quote references, or what page it's on.
    I've read it, and it was excellent.  
    
    As a man speaketh, so is he!  It's not so much what goes into our
    bodies that defiles us as what comes out on the tip of our tongues.
    (don't have the exact scripture handy that says this, but it's in
    there).
    
    Trying to do my best not to conform to society........
    
    Penny Sousa
    Digital, Nashua, NH
    SMURF::SOUSA
    
    	

    Re:  372.6
    
    	The article I was referring to in my note is in the January
    	1991 Ensign, page 30, entitled:  Sin on the tips of our
    	tongues.  Written by John S. Tanner, Associate Professor
    	of English at BYU, Provo, Utah.
    
    	Excellent article!
    
    Penny Sousa