Why (and how) we stay: Claudia, Emma Lou, Carol Lynn, and me
Emma Lou Thayne (1924-2014), who wrote the hymn “Where Can I Turn for Peace.” photo from her obituary
PS - Claudia, I couldn’t find a jpg photo of you online, so we’ll just let the reader google you and enjoy your beautiful self. Thankfully, you are still very much alive.
I mentioned a breathtaking insight I learned while reading Carol Lynn Pearson’s diary, volume 1. I was also greatly impressed by what Carol Lynn said about how she and two of her friends, Claudia Bushman and Emma Lou Thayne, were surviving in the Church. All three had outspoken, progressive views. Here’s what Carol Lynn said:
“Claudia’s attitude is just to put all of that away and not worry about it—to concentrate on the here and now, doing with your life what you want to do” (1973, page 110).
“[Emma Lou Thayne] uses the Church as she wants to, takes the good, and doesn’t let the rest concern her” (1979, page 193). [You may know that Emma Lou wrote the lyrics to the hymn, “Where Can I Turn for Peace?”]
Carol Lynn wrote about why she stays: “I think we are one branch of God’s human family, but as I observe the various branches I see many good reasons why I can feel comfortable in my particular branch. . . . One cannot affiliate with all systems, just as one cannot marry all people. One specializes. And when I throw out all the stuff about the Church that I find harmful or that I don’t believe, and look at what’s left, there is really a lot that is left” (1985, page 349).
“If we allow them to drive us out, we let them win. We can stay and kindly make waves and insist that our point of view be recognized” (1986, page 399). “There’s a lot of work to be done, and I’m going to do my share of it” (1988, page 474).
Claudia, Emma Lou, Carol Lynn — AMEN to your good reasons, which I share. I was explaining to my grandniece recently one more reason why I stay: because those beautiful LDS LGBTQ children may come out one day. If all the queer folks, allies and advocates leave, there will be no one left for them to sit next to. I stay so they can sit by me. They don’t have to stay, but they can sit with me while they figure it out.
-Marci