What is a TBM?

[why me]

Of course I know that TBM stands for true blue mormon but what exactly is a true blue mormon? I had this idea when I was reading the 'Is the church in crisis' thread and a point that was made by Elder NoMo. He referred to the mormon posters at the 'fair' boards. What was the conception of a TBM when this forum was created by the founders? Did they have a set image in mind? I realize that perhaps the founders had a TBM utah image but of course the church is extremely diverse and mulitcultural. It is far from the Utah notion of a TBM but then again what is a TBM utah Mormon? My daughters are TBM. They are innocent human beings, having complete faith that the church is true. Now they will be visiting Utah with my ex-wife and her husband and my girls are looking forward to seeing temple square and the church sites that are in Salt Lake and also in St. George. They read the scriptures and pray every day. Is this a TBM according to the forum definition? Is flotsam a TBM? Am I a TBM because we attend some of the meetings? I think that it is difficult to classify just who a TBM is. What are your opinions about this? The fair boards are a good example of the diverse LDS opinion about life in general and about church life. And so...what is a TBM?? Iam just curious to get some take on it. :)

[taegan]

Of course I know that TBM stands for true blue mormon but what exactly is a true blue mormon? I had this idea when I was reading the 'Is the church in crisis' thread and a point that was made by Elder NoMo. He referred to the mormon posters at the 'fair' boards. What was the conception of a TBM when this forum was created by the founders? Did they have a set image in mind? I realize that perhaps the founders had a TBM utah image but of course the church is extremely diverse and mulitcultural. It is far from the Utah notion of a TBM but then again what is a TBM utah Mormon? My daughters are TBM. They are innocent human beings, having complete faith that the church is true. Now they will be visiting Utah with my ex-wife and her husband and my girls are looking forward to seeing temple square and the church sites that are in Salt Lake and also in St. George. They read the scriptures and pray every day. Is this a TBM according to the forum definition? Is flotsam a TBM? Am I a TBM because we attend some of the meetings? I think that it is difficult to classify just who a TBM is. What are your opinions about this? The fair boards are a good example of the diverse LDS opinion about life in general and about church life. And so...what is a TBM?? Iam just curious to get some take on it. :)

Anyone that-

looks forward to handing over their tithing envelope

Volunteers to give talks

likes spending all their free time reading the scriptures

gets up at 5am just to make sure they have enough time to pray before their shower

doesnt cook on Sunday because its considered work

would rather starve then go to the store and get food on Sunday

I'm sure there are more :D You must have at least 3 of these to be a TBM, one is ok to have (I guess)

[dogzilla]

I would label someone a TBM if they were completely unwilling to consider any spiritual idea outside of what is taught to them inside the church building. If you're not even willing to think about how there might be other truths... you are lost to me.

[elder_nomo]

Why Me -
I suspect that most of us have a definition of TBM that matches, more or less, our own experiences. Many of us refer to "when I was a TBM". We tend to use it as shorthand for the mormon life we aspired to live and the ideas and ideals we held dear, and all the trappings that went with it all. [Things we may have now outgrown.]

Sometimes, it is said with derision. I know I do that a lot. I don't really mean to disparage people who believe. I think that is more self-criticism than anything else. I want to :slap: myself for my blind obedience and naive acceptance. I want to shake the TBM that I was and say "Wake up!! Ask questions!! Think for yourself!!"

But back "when I was a TBM" I felt that too much questioning was dangerous and disloyal and unfaithful. So by my experience/definition, no, you and Flotsam are not TBMs. I would call you TTMs - true thinking mormons.

[templenamesarah]

I would label someone a TBM if they were completely unwilling to consider any spiritual idea outside of what is taught to them inside the church building. If you're not even willing to think about how there might be other truths... you are lost to me.

I share this idea of what a TBM is. My archtypical TBM is my father: he fancies himself a scholar of the church. He never misses a meeting. He likes to visit me because I live near a temple. He really believes that he receives divine revelation when doing temple work. He has read every word ever published by Hugh Nibley. He was thrilled when I announced that I was getting married at age 18 because my chosen mate was a worthy RM. He subscribes to FARMS and thinks they are making real scientific breakthroughs. Please note that I am simply saying these things as my observations. My words are meant only to be descriptive, not derisive.

[free thinker]

True enough why-me that often we use the acronym TBM in a pejoritive context here . My sister is a TBM, and I have a great deal of love and respect for her and many other TBM associates, freinds, and clients. I truly do love and respect them.

Never the less, I cannot live that way and be happy any longer.

I know that this does not answer your question , but I wantd to express myself on this issue.

In addition I would NEVER solicit anyone to join the post-mormon fold unless I could see that they were struggling with the faith, and needed insight, or support. It is not for everyone!! I do though, think people should know about it, and feel free to visit if they like. This site has been very helpful to me.

I admire you and flotsam for your courage, and ability, and desire to contunue to draw good things from the mormon faith. Believe me, there is no condescension in that expression. In some ways I envy you!

I hope your daughters are very happy, and fulfilled in their faith.

Free Thinker

[why me]

True enough why-me that often we use the acronym TBM in a pejoritive context here . My sister is a TBM, and I have a great deal of love and respect for her and many other TBM associates, freinds, and clients. I truly do love and respect them.

Never the less, I cannot live that way and be happy any longer.

I know that this does not answer your question , but I wantd to express myself on this issue.

In addition I would NEVER solicit anyone to join the post-mormon fold unless I could see that they were struggling with the faith, and needed insight, or support. It is not for everyone!! I do though, think people should know about it, and feel free to visit if they like. This site has been very helpful to me.

I admire you and flotsam for your courage, and ability, and desire to contunue to draw good things from the mormon faith. Believe me, there is no condescension in that expression. In some ways I envy you!

I hope your daughters are very happy, and fulfilled in their faith.

Free Thinker

My daughters are happy in the faith but they are also just 17 and 15 years old and still have a certain LDS innocence about them. But I do worry about them. I want to be there for them when life is not so innocent and to be there for them if life and church begin to show my daughters opposites. This forum has been a big help to me in raising my girls from afar and for giving my life an inner outlet of expression.
Before my girls left for Utah the youngest asked me to give her a father's blessing. Well, I never gave a blessing to anyone (don't feel worthy for that) but after thinking about it I did give her the blessing. I also gave my eldest girl a blessing too. I said to my girls (in joking)that they should also get a backup blessing just in case. I a certainly not a worthy priesthood holder. To be honest the church has always given me inner conflict and the people on this forum can sense this inner conflict in my posts. I am very much a man alone in this inner conflict---at least in my outer and inner life but this forum does help me greatly... :)