I found Emily through a series of clicks. It turns out, that is how I find out about a lot of things! I was online looking for local Mormon women groups and happened upon a Mormon women’s magazine where Emily had written an article (read that article HERE). Lioness at the Gate is her blog aimed at encouraging women to maintain their femininity in motherhood and their roles as women. I read some of the posts on her website and decided to email her to see if she would be interested in being interviewed for my project. She is a mom, a wife, and a writer, and is passionate about her religion. Enjoy the interview!
Joni: Before we really get started, I wanted to explain about my project. Basically I am writing about God and women’s perspectives on God and relationship with God (read the whole explanation of my project here). Do you have any opening thoughts on the project or Mormonism?
Emily: I think my initial thoughts on God are that he is our loving Father. In “Mormonism” ((we typically say The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS)), we refer to him as “Heavenly Father” or our “Father in Heaven.”
Recently as I've studied my role as a mother/woman (you can see the results of that on my blog: http://www.latg.blogspot.com/), I realize that if we call him Father, that must be his most important role -- or the one he wants to be known as -- not king or president of the universe or something. If we look at all the good traits of a father, that is what He is. We should be able to turn to Him as we would a good, kind, loving earthly father.
Joni: Tell me your story. How did you get here, what is your religious background, and how did you come to the relationship you have with God today?
Emily: Since I was born into the LDS church, I suppose a more appropriate question would be why do I choose to stay in it? A couple reasons come to mind:
One, I believe Mormonism is right. I believe this is God's restored church on the earth and contains the elements of the gospel as described in the Bible that were lost during the Apostasy such as the restoration of the priesthood (the ability to act in God's name), having a living prophet, and having temples.
Two, I love history and have studied quite a bit about the early members of the LDS church including Joseph Smith (the founder) as well as ancestors who joined the church in its early days. Those people suffered persecution, loss of property, family, and sometimes their own lives because of their membership in the LDS church. I don't think these people would have given so much if they didn't truly believe the church to be what it said it was.
Three, I love that the LDS church encourages its members to live every day the ways Christ taught.The first real experience I had with God/Heavenly Father was when I was a little girl in a dangerous situation. I was literally called away from the situation and protected. Whether it was Heavenly Father, Jesus, or a guardian angel, I do not know, but I know someone was there protecting me. I know life is bigger than what is apparent here. Also, I have had so many prayers answered that I know Heavenly Father is there to answer them either by a direct thought or feeling or through someone else.
It seems it is in personal trials when we come to know God. Of course I've had my own personal trials, but I have also seen how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can absolutely change others. When we use Christ's Atonement (or when we “become one” with him), we can become the way he wants us to be.
Joni: What do you love about being Mormon?
Emily: The church/Christianity really is my life. It gives me a strong foundation of good as a human being. There's also the huge network of Latter-day Saints all over the world. No matter where I am, I can find other members of the LDS Church studying the same doctrine and adhering to the same values and principles as myself.
Joni: Is there anything you don't love about the Church of Latter Day Saints or being a member of LDS?
Emily: I know this is not true for all members of the LDS church because we all have different experiences and live different places, but since I live in the "Utah bubble" (surrounded by many Mormons and we're all wearing Mormon-colored glasses), there exists some sort of a divide between Mormons and non-Mormons. It's sad because your next door neighbor may not be LDS, and may even have similar values, but because of the faith difference and fear of offending one another, you may never talk enough to really get to know each other! I think part of the problem is that because we have so many church activities, see our church friends so often, and have an automatic social network at church, that we forget to reach out to others around us.
Another part of the problem, and I could totally be wrong on this, deals with appearances. It seems to me that in Utah if you don't want to have anything to do with the LDS church, you have to be very opposite to the standards and conservative appearance influenced by the church. I'm talking about piercings, tattoos, smoking, different moral standards, etc. So, I think in a lot of our minds, living in Utah, members of the church think that everyone who's not LDS must totally disagree with them, when they really don't!
Because of the Internet, I'm learning to get over this misperception myself. I have met so many wonderful people online who are not LDS, but who uphold similar values and standards as mine. When I first started meeting these people, I wondered, "Are they Mormon?" then, "They'd make a better Mormon than a lot of us!" I came to realize that they were just good, Christian people who knew and lived the words of the Bible. I was so impressed and have learned so much from them and their dedication to Jesus Christ and his teachings.
One last thing I don't like is that we tend to forget our Bibles because we emphasize so much our "own scriptures" (the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and modern revelation). Of course I love studying "Mormon scriptures," but I also need to make the effort to put more time into the Bible, too. We indeed "believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" (Article of Faith 8).
Joni: What are the challenges you face as a woman in your religious group?
Emily: Personally, I'm too busy. There are so many ways to be involved in both the church and the community that it is easy to forget that my family needs to be first!
There are some LDS women who feel an inequality with men in our church because only the men hold the priesthood. The priesthood allows the men to do such things as preside (lead in the most prominent positions such as prophet (worldwide leader) and bishop (leader of a local congregation)) in the church and give blessings (such as healings). This is not something that has bothered me personally because I have enough to do already!
Women do lead in our women's organization, the Relief Society, as well as our Young Women's groups (ages 12-18), and in the Primary (ages 1.5 - 11). Although women do not hold the priesthood, they still have great faith, influence, and involvement.
Joni: Do you feel God has a purpose for you? If so, what is it?
Emily: Absolutely! As I'm a married woman with children and a husband who makes enough to support his family on one income, I believe my purpose right now is to be home with my children and raise them in righteousness. I believe because the world is so morally confused, that it is imperative that I do all I can to have a positive influence on my children -- and I believe by staying home that my chances of having that influence are improved. If I were an unmarried woman or a divorced woman with children, my priorities would vary according to my circumstance.
Joni: What are the perceptions you think people (on the outside) have of your religious group?
Emily: The first idea that comes to mind is that of polygamy. This is absolutely not true: Latter-day Saints do not practice polygamy! They definitely did, but if anyone does now, it is considered a sin, and they are excommunicated from the church. There are splinter polygamist groups who claim to be Mormons, and come from the same roots, but they are not on the records of the LDS church.
The church is a very centralized organization, and just because a person may claim to be a Mormon does not necessarily mean he or she is on the records of the LDS church.
Joni: What one word describes the feeling your relationship with God gives you?
Emily: Comfort.
Joni: If you had a voice to tell the whole world something about the God you know, what would you say?
Emily: He loves you! He exists. We show we honor Him by keeping his commandments.
Joni: If you could tell other Americans something about your religion, what do you wish they knew?
Emily: I wish people could know that the Book of Mormon is indeed a second witness of Jesus Christ in addition to the Bible. If you really study the Bible and also learn about Mormonism, you will see that the LDS church is a modern restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
***
Emily also contributed a great list that you guys will want to catch on an upcoming blog - "how to be a Mormon for 30 days". :) Thanks, Emily, for your time and help!
Emily: I think my initial thoughts on God are that he is our loving Father. In “Mormonism” ((we typically say The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS)), we refer to him as “Heavenly Father” or our “Father in Heaven.”
Recently as I've studied my role as a mother/woman (you can see the results of that on my blog: http://www.latg.blogspot.com/), I realize that if we call him Father, that must be his most important role -- or the one he wants to be known as -- not king or president of the universe or something. If we look at all the good traits of a father, that is what He is. We should be able to turn to Him as we would a good, kind, loving earthly father.
Joni: Tell me your story. How did you get here, what is your religious background, and how did you come to the relationship you have with God today?
Emily: Since I was born into the LDS church, I suppose a more appropriate question would be why do I choose to stay in it? A couple reasons come to mind:
One, I believe Mormonism is right. I believe this is God's restored church on the earth and contains the elements of the gospel as described in the Bible that were lost during the Apostasy such as the restoration of the priesthood (the ability to act in God's name), having a living prophet, and having temples.
Two, I love history and have studied quite a bit about the early members of the LDS church including Joseph Smith (the founder) as well as ancestors who joined the church in its early days. Those people suffered persecution, loss of property, family, and sometimes their own lives because of their membership in the LDS church. I don't think these people would have given so much if they didn't truly believe the church to be what it said it was.
Three, I love that the LDS church encourages its members to live every day the ways Christ taught.The first real experience I had with God/Heavenly Father was when I was a little girl in a dangerous situation. I was literally called away from the situation and protected. Whether it was Heavenly Father, Jesus, or a guardian angel, I do not know, but I know someone was there protecting me. I know life is bigger than what is apparent here. Also, I have had so many prayers answered that I know Heavenly Father is there to answer them either by a direct thought or feeling or through someone else.
It seems it is in personal trials when we come to know God. Of course I've had my own personal trials, but I have also seen how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can absolutely change others. When we use Christ's Atonement (or when we “become one” with him), we can become the way he wants us to be.
Joni: What do you love about being Mormon?
Emily: The church/Christianity really is my life. It gives me a strong foundation of good as a human being. There's also the huge network of Latter-day Saints all over the world. No matter where I am, I can find other members of the LDS Church studying the same doctrine and adhering to the same values and principles as myself.
Joni: Is there anything you don't love about the Church of Latter Day Saints or being a member of LDS?
Emily: I know this is not true for all members of the LDS church because we all have different experiences and live different places, but since I live in the "Utah bubble" (surrounded by many Mormons and we're all wearing Mormon-colored glasses), there exists some sort of a divide between Mormons and non-Mormons. It's sad because your next door neighbor may not be LDS, and may even have similar values, but because of the faith difference and fear of offending one another, you may never talk enough to really get to know each other! I think part of the problem is that because we have so many church activities, see our church friends so often, and have an automatic social network at church, that we forget to reach out to others around us.
Another part of the problem, and I could totally be wrong on this, deals with appearances. It seems to me that in Utah if you don't want to have anything to do with the LDS church, you have to be very opposite to the standards and conservative appearance influenced by the church. I'm talking about piercings, tattoos, smoking, different moral standards, etc. So, I think in a lot of our minds, living in Utah, members of the church think that everyone who's not LDS must totally disagree with them, when they really don't!
Because of the Internet, I'm learning to get over this misperception myself. I have met so many wonderful people online who are not LDS, but who uphold similar values and standards as mine. When I first started meeting these people, I wondered, "Are they Mormon?" then, "They'd make a better Mormon than a lot of us!" I came to realize that they were just good, Christian people who knew and lived the words of the Bible. I was so impressed and have learned so much from them and their dedication to Jesus Christ and his teachings.
One last thing I don't like is that we tend to forget our Bibles because we emphasize so much our "own scriptures" (the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and modern revelation). Of course I love studying "Mormon scriptures," but I also need to make the effort to put more time into the Bible, too. We indeed "believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" (Article of Faith 8).
Joni: What are the challenges you face as a woman in your religious group?
Emily: Personally, I'm too busy. There are so many ways to be involved in both the church and the community that it is easy to forget that my family needs to be first!
There are some LDS women who feel an inequality with men in our church because only the men hold the priesthood. The priesthood allows the men to do such things as preside (lead in the most prominent positions such as prophet (worldwide leader) and bishop (leader of a local congregation)) in the church and give blessings (such as healings). This is not something that has bothered me personally because I have enough to do already!
Women do lead in our women's organization, the Relief Society, as well as our Young Women's groups (ages 12-18), and in the Primary (ages 1.5 - 11). Although women do not hold the priesthood, they still have great faith, influence, and involvement.
Joni: Do you feel God has a purpose for you? If so, what is it?
Emily: Absolutely! As I'm a married woman with children and a husband who makes enough to support his family on one income, I believe my purpose right now is to be home with my children and raise them in righteousness. I believe because the world is so morally confused, that it is imperative that I do all I can to have a positive influence on my children -- and I believe by staying home that my chances of having that influence are improved. If I were an unmarried woman or a divorced woman with children, my priorities would vary according to my circumstance.
Joni: What are the perceptions you think people (on the outside) have of your religious group?
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| Emily & her hubby (he only has one wife:) |
The church is a very centralized organization, and just because a person may claim to be a Mormon does not necessarily mean he or she is on the records of the LDS church.
Joni: What one word describes the feeling your relationship with God gives you?
Emily: Comfort.
Joni: If you had a voice to tell the whole world something about the God you know, what would you say?
Emily: He loves you! He exists. We show we honor Him by keeping his commandments.
Joni: If you could tell other Americans something about your religion, what do you wish they knew?
Emily: I wish people could know that the Book of Mormon is indeed a second witness of Jesus Christ in addition to the Bible. If you really study the Bible and also learn about Mormonism, you will see that the LDS church is a modern restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 |
| Four Generations of Mormon! |
***
Emily also contributed a great list that you guys will want to catch on an upcoming blog - "how to be a Mormon for 30 days". :) Thanks, Emily, for your time and help!
Emily, I enjoyed your interview. I love Sister Beck's talk as well. While we loved living in UT, we really love living in TX. Nearly everyone I know goes to church on Sunday, and Wednesday night is not just church night for us, but nearly everyone. Activities are not scheduled on Wed nights for that reason. It is a good place to live. My children, however, have encountered lots of interesting comments from their friends, taught from the pulpit at their churches about our church. That has been hard sometimes, but it also has presented many opportunities to share the gospel with those around us.
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks for your interview. My conversion story will be shared here in a few days.
Hey Donna, nice to meet you! I look forward to reading your write-up!
ReplyDelete