“I would, for the love of God, feel a man's hands on me before I die.” — Nicole Hardy Feel Copy Share Image
“Are you sure you want to be that?' says Kim gently. 'With all due respect. It's not working for you.” — Nicole Hardy Gently Copy Share Image
“For Mormon women, however, motherhood is an identity, rather than a role.” — Nicole Hardy Mother Copy Share Image
“Damn, girl,' says Jomo. 'You can play hard to get.' 'Unfortunately for both of us,' I say, softening, 'I'm not playing.” — Nicole Hardy Play hard Copy Share Image
“There have to be men out there like us: committed to the Gospel, if not the culture of the church, she says.… — Nicole Hardy Committed Copy Share Image
“That feels like the worst part: denying people hope. I don't know where I'd be if I couldn't even tell myself that… — Nicole Hardy Denying Copy Share Image
“Already I'm wondering if it will happen again, and when: that what I've been conditioned to fear, taught to avoid, will instead… — Nicole Hardy Beauty Copy Share Image
“Sariah and Kim both nod when I say I woke up one day wondering, Whose life is this, and how did I… — Nicole Hardy Life Copy Share Image
“Rather than envy, anticipation, or joy, what I feel when I look at the bride is a shortness of breath. I hear… — Nicole Hardy Bride Copy Share Image
“Five minutes later, I have in my hand a one-way ticket that will take me back to the island of Grand Cayman… — Nicole Hardy Way Ticket Copy Share Image
“I am shocked at the openness with which people reveal their secrets and personal failures. Until I realize: not everyone has been… — Nicole Hardy Failure Copy Share Image
“I played along, spent the next two hours searching for Mormon men who are attractive, employed, educated, no more than two inches… — Nicole hardy Children Copy Share Image
“My throat closes against the words I can't swallow, not one more time. Because it's not true, what they're telling me--what they've… — Nicole Hardy Children Copy Share Image
“The separation of young single adults from (plain old) single adults is supposedly a precaution against older men courting girls as young… — Nicole Hardy Married life Copy Share Image
“It's good you have something to keep you occupied." I smile stiffly and turn away from her. Because I'm this far from… — Nicole Hardy Marriage Copy Share Image
“We seem expected to put up with bad manners and bizarre behavior from LDS men, I say. Things we'd never subject ourselves… — Nicole Hardy Bad man Copy Share Image
“It didn't take long to figure out I'll never go back to teaching public high school. Why would I, when I can… — Nicole Hardy Education Copy Share Image
“If I say no, sex isn't everything--those mechanics, that act--but it affects everything, she will say, "Be faithful." If I say sex… — Nicole Hardy Different people Copy Share Image
“I can't bear to look at the screen itself, the women in pastels, like so many Jordan almonds. The men in suits,… — Nicole Hardy Big picture Copy Share Image
“Modesty be damned, I'm done caring whether other Mormons will be offended by the sight of my midriff.” — Nicole Hardy Humility Copy Share Image
“If the second-greatest commandment is to love our fellow man, where is that commandment in this? Dear God, where is the love… — Nicole Hardy Dear god Copy Share Image
“This is the kind of behavior that I was dreading: she doesn't see that what she's doing is for her, not me.… — Nicole Hardy Habits Copy Share Image
“But every time I go to church with you, I feel like everyone's trying to trap me in a room and convert… — Nicole Hardy Church Copy Share Image
“Mormon men are raised to be providers,' he said. 'You already have everything we're supposed to provide . . . What's left… — Nicole Hardy Love Copy Share Image
“Singlehood is a problem to be solved. Even the bishops in singles wards are impatient with us, frustrated with the amount of… — Nicole Hardy Game show Copy Share Image
“No prophet or apostle has lived a celibate life is what I'd like to tell her. No one who's ever told me… — Nicole Hardy Celibacy Copy Share Image
