Why do we like Twilight?

"Twilight is like soccer. They run around for 2 hours, nobody scores, and its billion fans insist you just don't understand."

I read a recent blog in the Deseret News that tried to explain why so many people love Twilight. Its interesting that the novel is young adult fiction novel but so many grown women love it. Here is what she wrote:

"But not all women are crazed fans. In fact, I think it's pretty safe to say that most women feel like I do -- we hate that we love "Twilight."

We hate that we occasionally identify with clueless Bella. And most of all, we hate that Edward got us. We like to think that we are too mature to get sucked in by the cliche of a hot vampire. But it gets me. And while the sexual tension is thick, that's not what really gets most women.

Here's my theory: women can't help falling in love with the bad guy who is willing to give it all up for the woman he loves. Women are suckers for that streak of danger in a man who will put aside his naturally devilish desires to be with the women he just can't get enough of. Throw in a little protective nature and a hot body and you've got a recipe to make every housewife in America swoon -- right alongside her teenage daughter."

My old professor at BYU has a blog for The Mormon Times and he mentioned how so many news agencies have written about the Mormon themes in Twilight:

A writer at USC's Media and Religion Blog, Jennifer Hahn, says journalists have missed the spiritual undertones of the "Twilight" series and encourages them to mine the spiritual and Mormon themes in Meyer's work. She writes: "Seen in this light, the 'Twilight' phenomenon is fueled not (just) by teen hormones and melodrama, but also by spiritual longing. While it is no doubt true that many 'Twilight' fans are active in traditional religious settings, an increasing number of spiritual-but-not-religious Americans feel that traditional religious organizations are failing to satisfy their spiritual needs. If this trend continues, we will likely see more pop culture offerings that address spiritual needs through supernatural storytelling."

Ironically, some journalists and bloggers continue to suggest that "Twilight" is veiled Mormon propaganda, but I can't help but agree with a column from the Scottish Sunday Express. "The books have been criticized for being veiled propaganda for beliefs held by the Mormon church. The central characters must remain chaste because losing control could have fatal consequences. Yet it's an odd world we live in where chastity is seen as the grounds for reproach."

Twilight Just an Abusive Relationship?

According to the National Domestic Violence hotline, these are some signs that you may be in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship.

Does your partner: Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
Check.

Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go?
"Stay away from the werewolves. I love you."

Make all of the decisions?
Check.

Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
"If I wasn't so attracted to you, I wouldn't have to break up with you."

Threaten to commit suicide?
"I just can't live without you. In fact, I'll run to Italy and try suicide by vampire if anything happens to you."

Threaten to kill you?
On their first date.

Has your partner... Tried to isolate you from family or friends.
Bella doesn't have time for anyone else!

Damaged property when angry (thrown objects, punched walls, kicked doors, etc.).
Check.

Pushed, slapped, bitten, kicked or choked you.
Does tossing her through a glass table count?

Abandoned you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.
"We're breaking up. And I'm leaving you in the forest."

Scared you by driving recklessly.
Check.

Forced you to leave your home.
She had to run away with him to flee from the other vampires in the first movie, and she had to drop everything and run to Italy in the second.

Prevented you from calling police or seeking medical attention.
Check. Even in the hospital, nothing is a big deal.

Accuses you of cheating or is often jealous of your outside relationships.
Check, wolf-boy.

Facebook Status No-no's

1. Don't Post about your kids "poops" "blowouts," vomiting or other bodily functions.

"I survived John's first major blowout. That was intense. And a mess."

"Good thing for daddy who can catch throw up in his hands and then love a baby to sleep."

I know I'm not a Mom yet, and I might understand someday, but still .... its gross. What if I checked Facebook right before dinner? Really does all of Facebook have to know?

2. Don't post about how sore you are and how many millions of miles you ran.

"Just got back from a 10 mile bike ride ... and I have to say I enjoyed every min of it"

"Day 1 and 2 down ... 88 to go ... I better be able to jump over a building while sporting an 8 pack when I'm done!"

It just seems too egotistical. I don't post when I decided not to eat chocolate cake or about how I am tan after a day at the pool and the same principle applies. What is the point except for tooting your own horn?

3. Don't post your undying love for your spouse publicly.

"Happy Birthday to the best husband ever!! I LOVE love LOVE you so much!! Thanks for always being there for me and for loving me. You are my bestest friend!"

I think about the talk by Elder Bednar: "Sometimes in a sacrament meeting talk or testimony, we hear a statement like this: 'I know I do not tell my spouse often enough how much I love her. Today I want her, my children, and all of you to know that I love her.'

Such an expression of love may be appropriate. But when I hear a statement like this, I squirm and silently exclaim that the spouse and children should not be hearing this apparently rare and private communication in public at church! Hopefully the children hear love expressed and see love demonstrated between their parents in the regular routine of daily living. If, however, the public statement of love at church is a bit surprising to the spouse or the children, then indeed there is a need to be more diligent and concerned at home."

4. Don't post completely abstract things.

"I'll walk across the landscape into another world, strange to me, new to me, and yet ... familiar in so many ways."

"I kept my secret because I was afraid. Now I'm only afraid that it's too late."

Are you just trying to get comments? Are you really trying to deeply express yourself in a Facebook status? I don't get it.

p.s. I may have gotten a little caught up in being annoyed in this post. My apologies.

The Way We See Ourselves

"My teacher says real beauty is on the inside."

"That's just something ugly people say."

- Liar, Liar

On one hand I know the church teaches that we need to focus on inner beauty and be happy with who we are, but we are also commanded to obey the Word of Wisdom which not only tells us to obtain from harmful substances, but eat healthy and get enough sleep. Sometimes I feel conflicted with these two ideas.

Whenever I am dieting and trying to lose weight I feel myself also focusing more on how I look and being more shallow. I notice all my imperfections and sometimes I give up because I feel that I will never have the body I want and it's not worth it to work so hard.

We should always be striving to improve ourselves and be healthy, but where is the line with being happy with who you are?

As Mormons we abstain from so many things and I feel I am constantly bombarded with choices. Scriptures or TV. Journal or a movie. For the most part I feel I make really good choices when it comes to being righteous, but sometimes I feel that treats are the one thing I can give in and have that won't effect my spirituality. Sometimes it serves as a release. I know this is a bad way to view food and it shouldn't be an emotional release, but I wonder how many of us have this same train of thought. There are a lot of overweight Mormons and I wonder if this is one of the reasons. We also don't go out drinking or partying so we go out to dessert instead.

I went on LDS.org to try and look up some talks that might deal with this and I did find one talk I thought was interesting. It talked about how we use desserts as a reward (if you finish your chores we will go out for ice cream) or a punishment (finish your broccoli or you don't get pie) and how we need to take the emotion out of eating. I was definitely raised this way and I think it has effected me more than I know. When I have a bad day or if I am bored I turn to food.

Maybe I am thinking about this completely wrong and if we have a good self image and are living righteously then maybe we will automatically eat healthier. I often think of what President Packer said, "I have long believed that the study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than talking about behavior will improve behavior."