Jennifer Diffly is use to getting weird looks when she walks around campus.

“When I had purple hair I got a lot of weird looks walking around,” said Diffly, a junior from Murrieta, Calif., majoring in English. “But then again it’s my duty to enlighten people that they take themselves too seriously, so it’s no big deal.”

Diffly, like many others of the BYU punk/ Goth population, is a member of a new Web-based club aimed at connecting Latter-day Saint “outsiders” like herself: the Misfit Mormons.

“I am a Misfit Mormon,” Diffly said. “I believe whole heartedly in my religion, but I also like wearing fishnet stockings and listening to Goth music and synthpop.”

Cory Bailey, a student from Arizona and his friend, Eric Bennion, started the club. It was created out of Bailey’s experiences as an “outsider” in the Latter-day Saint community.

“I started Misfit Mormon’s because I often had experiences that I felt most Mormons could not relate to entirely,” Bailey said. “I felt that if a group was established, then I would be able to connect with other misfits of my faith for my benefit and theirs.”

Although there are many possible definitions of a Misfit Mormon, members said the main characteristic of the misfits is their openness to question cultural Mormon views.

“A Misfit Mormon is someone who doesn’t fit the stereotypical Mormon outlook,” said Heidi Higgin, a junior from Dalton, Md., majoring in history. “They have quirks and don’t take religion at face value. They’re someone that won’t take what you give them until it fits their mind that it is true.”

The mission of the Misfit Mormons, according to the Web site at http://misfitmormon.com, is to “seek out the unique individuals in the world and embrace them, while still abiding by the precepts set forth in our (LDS church) of faith.” The Web site maintains the club is not anti-Mormon and will remove individuals contributing teachings against the church.

Bailey said the Misfit Mormons embrace everyone who joins — you do not have to be a “punk-rock-princess” to join the Misfit Mormons. The club has several online discussions with members all over the United States as well as pointing out quirks in the Mormon culture, such as scriptural action heroes and satirical songs on visiting teaching.

“The phrase misfit itself is merely to gather those who associate with being different,” Bailey said. “I supposed I could have named it ‘different Mormons’ but those two M’s roll off the tongue quite well. In essence though, it proves what many Mormons have forgotten, that Mormons are human too and have fallacies.”

In order to reach out to these ‘different Mormons’ the Web site offers discussion boards, profiles, columns and opportunities for members to chat with each other live on-line and share their experiences.

Bailey said there has been overwhelming support for the club from Latter-day Saints who feel like outsiders.

“There’s been an excellent response,” Bailey said. “I have had countless people thank me for creating the group.”

Overall, Bailey said the purpose of the Misfit Mormons is to let Latter-day Saints who feel like outsiders know they are not alone. To do this, Bailey, and the rest of the Misfit Mormons, invite anyone who feels as if they don’t belong to join them.

“I would encourage all, normal or abnormal, if they feel that they do not belong to this great institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to join the Misfit Mormons,” Bailey said. “It will help keep your faith. It will help prevent your falling away. We are not perfect but we have provided so many answers that I cannot help but feel at peace with this organization.”



Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Jan 2005