Mew the Mormon

Step two: place into mouth

This is a miraculous story of how Esther, a Jewish woman, becomes queen to the King of Persia, placing her in a position to save the Jewish people of the kingdom. 

Prince Haman issued a decree to exterminate the Jews, Queen Esther reveals to the king that she is also a Jew, and exposes why Haman made the decree. The King’s love for her saves the Jewish people. 

Without the eunuchs, we wouldn’t know Esther, she would not have been queen nor would she have had the information needed to expose Haman to the king. 

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Before we get to the eunuchs, let’s discuss Mordecai. Esther 2:7 says “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”

However, the Hebrew says “And it was that he nursed Hadassah.” The Ben Ish Chai says that Mordechai did this in an attempt to keep her secret – even from the nurse-maids.

Jews have shared a tradition for 1600 years that Mordecai’s body changed, his breasts produced milk so that he could suckle Esther. This midrash teaching subverts gender roles & gender biology. Gender is fluid.

Would we think differently of the story of Esther if we read Mordecai as genderfluid or as a trans-man?

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I think a little background information is needed about what is a eunuch. 

Eunuchs are men incapable of reproduction. In some cases this is due to a birth defect or an accident. In many ancient kingdoms it was common for some males to be castrated so they could serve in the king’s home. 

Castrated males were thought to be more subdued and pacified, making them more pliant servants. Castration normally took place before puberty because it would keep the sex drive from fully developing, and this made eunuchs ideal to be harem guards because it was believed women would be safe around them.  

Another reason eunuchs were favored for work in palaces, eunuchs did not have a family to provide for or a need to provide an inheritance, therefore it was thought they’d be more loyal to the king. 

Chamberlains were trusted eunuchs used for duties close to the king. They also could be eunuchs who had risen to the rank of a chief servant or placed in a political role. 

Despite the opportunity to work in palaces and among influential people, oftentimes individuals didn’t choose to become a eunuch. A conquering nation would take some of the pre-pubescent boys of the people it conquered and castrate them, in many instances these were children of conquered nobles. Eunuchs looked and sounded different from men and women and stood out. 

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Did you know there are a dozen eunuchs who are named in the Book of Esther? At least one appears in every chapter of the book! 

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This story begins in the 3rd year of the reign of King Ahasuerus (you probably know him as King Xerxes). The king holds a week-long party for his princes, nobles, and servants. The text makes a point of saying there was a LOT of drinking of wine going on.

After a week of this partying, the drunk king sent his seven chamberlains to summon Queen Vashti to come before him and his guests, and to have her wearing her royal crown so he can show her off to the men. According to Jewish tradition, she’s to wear the crown and nothing else. 

Given this is a room of drunk powerful men, I’m sure she worried what may happen if a beautiful, naked woman entered their mist. Queen Vashti refused, and the King was wroth. Worried what would happen when news of this spread around the kingdom and wives learned it’s okay to disobey their husband, the King had Vashti deposed, meaning either executed or banished, for her refusal, and a royal decree sent to all the provinces that men rule in their house and women obey.

Harriet Beecher Stowe called Vashti’s disobedience the “first stand for woman’s rights.” Many view Queen Vashti has having dignity and self-respect for saying, “I’m not going to dance for you and your drunk pals.”

Unfortunately this act of brave defiance is usually skipped over when talking about this story

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With Queen Vashti gone, the king ordered all the fairest maidens be gathered and he’d choose one of them to be his new queen, this is a beauty contest. 

Uncle Mordecai brought Esther to the palace per the king’s order. Hegai, a eunuch, who was in charge of the women, liked Esther and was kind to her. He gave seven of the maidens to Esther to serve her and put them in the most favorable space in the palace’s house for the women. Hegai even tells Esther what to bring with her when it’s time to perform for the king as his potential next Queen, and the king chose her.

Mordecai worried about Esther and everyday he’d walk by the palace’s house of the women. One day he overheard two chamberlains plotting against the king (an example that eunuchs were close enough to the King to be able to threaten his life) and revealed it to Esther who notified the king. 

A man named Haman was elevated above all the princes of the realm and wanted everyone to bow to him, but Mordecai refused as Mordecai only bowed to God. This so enraged Haman that he told the king that the Jews were an unruly people who refused to obey the laws and were causing trouble across the kingdom. The king granted Haman’s request to have the Jews destroyed. 

Esther used Hatach, a chamberlain, to convey messages back and forth between her and her uncle, which is how she learned the truth behind Haman’s vendetta against the Jews. 

When Esther revealed to the king that she was also a Jew and exposed Haman’s reasons for wanting to destroy the Jewish people, it was the chamberlain Harbonah who suggested hanging Haman on the very gallows which had been prepared for Mordecai’s hanging. 

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While they served in palaces and had some level of access to powerful people and information, eunuchs were servants and endured humiliating and painful experiences. In the Book of Esther they often seem to empathize with others who are vulnerable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2 chamberlains who were plotting against the king were doing so with good cause. 

While they don’t fit our modern definitions of LGBTQIA, they were definitively considered “other” in their time. Often they were thought of as different from men or women, we might say they were a non-binary gender and a sexual minority. Eunuchs offer us a chance to discuss otherness in the Bible and non-gender conforming people. The Book of Esther names twelve eunuchs. 

Gender non-conforming people in many cultures have made contributions but sadly the historical record usually ignores or erases them. Given the biblical history of eunuchs who are especially prominent in this story, why is there such resistance to accepting gender non-conformists in our church and world? The inclusion of eunuchs who are heroes in this story challenges the idea they should be excluded and marginalized from the religious community.  

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Many times we see allies who can access power, they go out and talk for us, share their thoughts and opinions about us and our positions. One thing about this scriptural story is how the eunuchs generously share their privilege with Esther and teach her how to use it. 

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Next time you have the opportunity to speak on Esther, whether as a talk, a participant in Sunday School, or performing a skit, let’s not overlook the gender-variant sexual minorities all over the pages, let’s go out of our way to include the eunuchs.

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Now let’s focus on Esther. The essence of her story is that fear and unease can easily force a person into a ‘closet.’ She believes secrecy will protect her, that’s something the queer community can relate to. 

In order to fulfill the plan, Esther must “come out.” This was difficult for her, she was hesitant to reveal her identity. She fasted and prayed for the strength and courage to do so. 

By “coming out,” Esther is saving others. Instead of the Jews being a nameless mass of despised people, they now have a face, and this changes how the King feels about them. When family, neighborhoods, workplaces and others learn the LGBTQ+ community has a face of someone they know, it can change how they feel about this group of people. Our stories have the power to change social attitudes and challenge the perceived threats of the queer community. By coming out, we’re like Esther, not just saving ourselves but also saving others. 

To be as kind as we are wise,

To share the mercy God has shown

And never cast another stone,

To show our faith in all we do—

This is what God calls us to.

To feed the hungry, clothe the poor,

Embrace the lonely at our door,

To stand as champions of the weak

And share our portion with the meek,

To offer hope in all we do—

This is what God calls us to.

To walk by faith and not by fear,

To show that all are welcome here,

To see our neighbor clothed in grace

And God in ev'ry human face,

To practice love in all we do—

This is what God calls us to.

Hymn 1071, What God Calls Us To

these are my own tags but i wrote a short little fic about it while in institute:

Grace can't quite wrap his head around it. "Wait, so . . . Jesus? Like, Jesus from the Bible? He visited you guys?"

Rocky's leg taps thoughtfully. "What Bible, question?"

"Um. It's a book of Jesus's teachings, I think."

"Oh understand. Erid has book of Jesus teachings, too. Very long book. Much to learn."

Grace, raised agnostic and grown atheist, really does not know how to come to terms with the fact that the Eridians know who Jesus is. He hasn’t moved since Rocky mentioned it, not even to fidget. That means that Jesus is real? Apparently? Christianity is right—or, well, the Mormons are right?

"So Erid already knew about humans," Grace states, crossing his arms. That, at least, is something he can address right now. He can work on the whole restructure of his belief system later. "Because Jesus was—is?—human."

"Is not," Rocky says with a vehement shake of his body. "Jesus is like Eridian. Jesus is Rock."

"No."

"Yes. Jesus say so Himself."

"Pretty sure he didn't say that."

Rocky makes a trilling sound that Grace has come to recognize as a huff. "Grace not read Jesus book so he not know. Rocky read Jesus book every day. Rocky baptized. Rocky 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅮 (endowed). Not Grace."

Grace rubs his eyes with his palms, knocking his glasses entirely off his face. "Well then, how did they crucify him?" he asks, not even trying to hide his frustration.

“No understand word.”

"Crucifixion? They make a cross, like this?" He makes a cross sign with his fingers. "Nailed Jesus up there? How would they nail him if he was a rock?"

Rocky doesn't even hesitate. "Strong nails. Not cross. Asterisk."

Grace just barely doesn't burst out laughing at that image. It makes sense, he supposes. An Eridian Jesus would have to be crucified on an asterisk.

"Look, Rock, I'm no expert on Jesus," Grace says, raising his hands in surrender. "But maybe we have two different ones? Because I'm pretty sure he was human on earth, and the whole thing he did was die for our sins."

"Yes. Die for our sins."

"I mean, like, earth's sins."

"No, die for all sins. Earth and Erid."

"Did he die on Erid, too?"

"No. Jesus died somewhere else. Rocky now know was earth. Came to Erid after."

It doesn't make sense. It would be like - like saying Jesus went to the Americas after he died in Jerusalem, or wherever it was.

Then again, none of this makes any sense.

"Okay," Grace relents, before Mary can intervene on what sounds to her like a conflict. "Okay. So, Eridians are Mormons?"

"Yes, 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅝," Rocky says, a word that sounds like a four-part harmony lingering on a high note. "Mormon. ocky will teach Grace! Like science!"

He might as well learn about Erid's religious culture before they arrive. It's definitely something he ought to be at least passingly familiar with. "Sure, buddy. Teach me."

Rocky hops excitedly. "Yes, yes, yes! Rocky set apart as missionary in case of aliens. Preach My Gospel in my room!"

Grace laughs. "A missionary? Like, one of the guys with name tags?"

Rocky hums. "Yes, I need name tag. Grace make Rocky name tag."

"You don't need that."

"Human missionaries wear name tag. Rocky need name tag."

"Rock."

"Cannot be consecrated missionary without name tag."

Grace sighs. "Fine, but it's gonna be made of paper. Happy?"

"Happy happy happy! Like Plan of Happiness!"

He became inactive after that, not from a lack of faith. One may say it was too little of an issue to justify not going to church. It was manageable enough, and he should've still went to sacrament anyway. But we don't know him enough to say that! He is an older man, and clearly this meant a lot to him. Maybe he's fragile, has other past experiences that lead to such a reaction, or maybe was treated way worse than what the stories say. He is active now, and has been for the last few months. I pray he can find peace with how he was treated. I also pray we can all be mindful of how even little actions affect our fellow siblings in Christ, and focus on listening to them.

We're finding out which one Tumblr users like the most.

Someone crashes his truck into a meetinghouse full of your coreligionists, unleashes his automatic rifles, and burns the building to the ground. You are home, distant from the horror—but not too distant; a sibling's coworker's family might have been there. The TV continues in the background; further press conferences keep getting announced with further incremental updates. The harrowing stories trickle in. You flip over to social media on your phone. A post is circulating with some hefty traction: a reminder to everyone watching the news unfold that the leaders of the church recently filed a brief in opposition to transgender rights (a move you vehemently disagree with); don't feel too bad for them. The one who reposted it onto your timeline is an artist you admire. Your sibling's coworker can't get in contact with her parents.

It's a normal, ordinary day. A good one, even, regardless of the fact that you're at work. You have a spare moment, and pop open a fandom group chat. Someone is joking around about prudish fandom cop behavior. Your thumb hovers over the appropriate concurrent emoji reaction until you hit the end of the comment: "Go back to your Mormon farmhouse, lmao." You already know how this will play out if you say anything about it. You'll be a buzzkill, it was only a joke, what, are you one of them? why? don't you know what they believe about this and that and this? why do you support that? Never mind that you have been working for most of your life trying to improve your corner of the faith in the ways you can, because you know it's flawed, you know it does things that are wrong, and you want it to live up to its promises. Never mind that you and them have largely the same progressive political views; as soon as they know, none of whatever else you've said or done will matter. You close the chat.

You know full well that your faith, as a Christian sect, enjoys all of the many privileges of being part of the largest religion in the world. You face none of the often violent oppression that non-Christian faiths do. What room do you have to complain?

You also know that there has never been a moment in the past two hundred years your faith has been around that it's not been an acceptable target of mockery, or politics, or violence, or fear, or suspicion.

He destroyed his tomb

Yes

YES

But I love the observation that Jesus Christ was put to death by the empire -- which is the worst thing that the empire can do to us -- and God brought him back to life.

Checkmate, empire.

And it applies to us too.

The empire tells us: if you don't obey me, I will kill you.

God tells us: if they kill you, I will bring you back to life eternal.

He destroyed his tomb

Yes

YES