When I was a child, I was afraid of pretty much everything. I could hardly walk down the movie isle at Blockbuster because of the grotesque images on the covers of the horror films. I had nightmares constantly and my nights were filled with perpetual fear.
I was raised Mormon. I was taught that the devil was real and that there was evil in the world doing everything it could to get to me. I tried my very best to always be righteous. Even more importantly, I tried hard to never be afraid. I never wanted to be afraid no matter what. I avoided it at all costs.
But fear catches up to you. Now that I am not a child, I don't fear some of the things I used to (though occasionally I still run up the stairs faster than is really required of me). But I do have new fears. Fears that still keep me up at night. After years of running, however, I realized my fears would never run out of stamina. No matter how fast I would run, they would always catch up.
I realized there was only one thing left to do. And that was to finally face my fears. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But it saved me. I learned that fear is not something to be avoided, but something to be embraced. Fear is a part of me and that it is something to be loved. Embracing my fears finally set me free.
I'm still working on this. It's a process. As part of that process, I've decided to write stories about the things that used to bring me fear, and some of the things that still do. My perspective on life is filtered through the Mormon experiences I have had my entire life. Because of that, all of these short stories are viewed via a Mormon lens.
This idea came to me after reading the work of a dear friend: The Foyer Ghost. You can read their stories by buying their zine. If you liked any of the stories you find here, you will love theirs. Know that none of them would exist without the Foyer Ghost.
Mormon Ghost Stories will be releasing a new story every day in the month of October 2023. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
And remember: Doubt not, fear not.
I was raised Mormon. I was taught that the devil was real and that there was evil in the world doing everything it could to get to me. I tried my very best to always be righteous. Even more importantly, I tried hard to never be afraid. I never wanted to be afraid no matter what. I avoided it at all costs.
But fear catches up to you. Now that I am not a child, I don't fear some of the things I used to (though occasionally I still run up the stairs faster than is really required of me). But I do have new fears. Fears that still keep me up at night. After years of running, however, I realized my fears would never run out of stamina. No matter how fast I would run, they would always catch up.
I realized there was only one thing left to do. And that was to finally face my fears. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But it saved me. I learned that fear is not something to be avoided, but something to be embraced. Fear is a part of me and that it is something to be loved. Embracing my fears finally set me free.
I'm still working on this. It's a process. As part of that process, I've decided to write stories about the things that used to bring me fear, and some of the things that still do. My perspective on life is filtered through the Mormon experiences I have had my entire life. Because of that, all of these short stories are viewed via a Mormon lens.
This idea came to me after reading the work of a dear friend: The Foyer Ghost. You can read their stories by buying their zine. If you liked any of the stories you find here, you will love theirs. Know that none of them would exist without the Foyer Ghost.
Mormon Ghost Stories will be releasing a new story every day in the month of October 2023. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
And remember: Doubt not, fear not.