Finally...a good reason to blog!

Several months ago, when I wrote my first post I wasn't quite sure why I felt so compelled to do so. I had been reading several of my friends blogs but I am beyond "peer pressure" and the juvenile desire to "fit in." After several months of thinking about starting a blog I finally jumped in, still not quite sure why I did but wanting to pacify the continuous feeling that I should start one. As much as I loved sharing recipes and pictures and news of my children I still felt like there was a bigger reason.

This past week I have had several things happen that led to the answer that I have been seeking. First, I have to tell you about my "missionary" experience.

I enjoy reading about the lives of others. I feel like, for the most part, we are all God's children going through life, trying to find peace and happiness the best way we know how (whether or not you are LDS). I draw strength and wisdom from reading about others lives...their trials and accomplishments and how they deal with each. One day I stumbled upon an Evangelical blog that had a post titled - "Evangelicals vs. Mormons: The Great Divide." So, of course, my curiosity got the best of me and I read the article. In the wake of Mitt Romney running for president, the LDS church (known to the world as "Mormons") have had several articles written about them and I always find myself reading them and wondering what the world really believes about me and the beliefs that I hold so dear. As I read this article it had several misconceptions about the church. I read the comments in regard to the article and was also amazed at the misconceptions held by the articles readers. I have never felt compelled to comment or "debate" online about my beliefs but something just kept telling me that I needed to comment. So, as best and as unargumentative as I could, I tried to dispel the myths they had written about. I was actually kind of proud of myself for doing so in a way that was not offensive to anyone but got the point across that what they thought didn't match what we actually believe and I referred them to the church website if they would like more information. I am usually so timid when it comes to discussing my beliefs for all the usual reasons...rejection, fear, etc. After responding to the article I felt that maybe I shouldn't have. I showed Chris and he also had mixed feelings. On one hand he was really proud of me for stepping in and saying something but on the other hand he is always very "proper" and knows that "contention is of the devil." We were now both wondering if it was appropriate and it continued on both of our minds for several days until...I was reading an e-mail I get from LDSLiving.com. They were discussing an article by Elder M. Russel Ballard. The following are excerpts from it and the answer to the biggest reason I blog.

"How different your world is today. If you read newspapers, the chances are you read them on the Internet. Yours is the world of cyberspace, cell phones that capture video, video downloads and iTunes, social networks like Facebook, text messaging and blogs, hand-helds and podcasts. As many in my generation are just getting onto email, that’s already becoming old hat to most of you."

"This is your world, the world of the future, with inventions undreamed of that will come in your lifetime as they have in mine. How will you use these marvelous inventions? More to the point, how will you use them to further the work of the Lord?"

"The Lord over the centuries has had a hand in inspiring people to invent tools that facilitate the spreading of the gospel. The Church has adopted and embraced those tools, including print, broadcast media, and the Internet. While the Internet is often misunderstood and incomprehensible to many of my generation, it is second-nature to yours. Almost every career you are entering into will require you to utilize the Internet effectively."

"There are conversations going on about the Church constantly. Those conversations will continue whether or not we choose to participate in them. But we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches. While some conversations have audiences in the thousands or even millions, most are much, much smaller. But all conversations have an impact on those who participate in them. Perceptions of the Church are established one conversation at a time."

So there you go. Finally, a good reason to blog. Not that I am going to give up posting pictures about my family or other random thoughts that I have but maybe I can also use this blog to share my testimony of my Heavenly Father and of his son, Jesus Christ. I cannot deny the feelings I get everyday as I feel my Saviors love for me. I know that Heavenly Father lives and has a body of flesh just like you and me. I know that he sent his son Jesus to set the example for us and ultimately suffer for our mistakes. He wanted us to all return to live with him but he knew that we would all make mistakes and that no unclean thing can dwell in the kingdom of God. I know that the truth of the gospel was lost with the original apostles of the new testament. But then a young boy who was humble enough to pray to ask which church was true and which he should join did eventually restore the truth to the earth. I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God but that he was still just a man and no man, save Jesus, is perfect. Through Joseph the priesthood of God was restored to the Earth so that families can be sealed together for eternity and blessings can be given to the sick and needy. That same man was persecuted from the day he mentioned ever seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus. But he never denied what he saw even after being tortured, jailed and eventually murdered for he could not deny it because he knew God would know if he denied it and feared God more then man. We follow the same organization that existed in the ancient times, even the church that Jesus Christ himself established. It is through my beliefs in the gospel that I am able to have hope in our future no matter what else happens. My faith makes me a better mother, friend, sister and wife. It doesn't make me perfect but it gives me something to strive for and I know that when I do make mistakes that I can be forgiven and try harder next time. It is because of the Savior and his gospel that I no suffer from depression (which I was diagnosed with in High School). I could not deny the tender mercies from the Lord that happen daily in my life. I see miracles happen everyday.

So with that said, I hope that I can do what Elder Ballard has suggested and join in on the conversations that happen online and help, in my little way, define what "Mormons" really believe.