A lot of my Mormon friends have been complaining about James Marples' letter that applied today's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Apostle Paul's instruction that women should keep silent in church ("Woman, know thy place," Forum, March 25). As a believer in equal rights, I agree with them that scripture should not apply today.
But it is damn ironic, and more than a tad hypocritical, that many of these same friends defend the LDS Church's stance on gays, especially gay marriage, by quoting the Apostle Paul. Hmmm... it's pretty tricky to dismiss Paul on women and accept him as gospel on gays.
Well, I suppose most of us create our notion of morality in our own image. That's only human. It's those who assume that their notion of morality is also God's who frustrate me because you can't have a rational conversation with them: They're on God's side, and you're not.
I disagree with Marples, but he's more consistent than people who pick and choose which scriptures to apply.
Shawn W. Scott
Ogden