I am a Mormon

I'm a communications student. I am an avid hiking and camping fan. I am the oldest of 4 girls. I am a Mormon.

Sometimes people think that Mormons are all white, boring religious fanatics who live in Utah and have many wives. Let me clear up some misconceptions that I have heard throughout my life. It is amazing as we come to understand other cultures and religions around us, we learn that we are not so different from each other.

Q: Are you allowed to chew gum?

A: I am not really sure where this question comes from. Yes, we are allowed to chew gum. Although there is a health code that we believe comes from God we call the Word of Wisdom, it instructs us to eat in moderation and avoid unhealthy things like tobacco or coffee.

http://mormon.org/searchResults?theme=blue&query=word+of+wisdom

Q: What is done in Temples? Are they secret?

A: There are a few purposes for temples. We believe they are houses of the Lord and a place where we make covenants to obey God's commandments. They are also places where we believe families can be sealed, or bound, forever through God's power to live with each other throughout all eternity. Finally we perform work for those who have passed on. Since the Savior commanded all to be baptized, and some of our ancestors did not have the opportunity, we are baptized in their name. NO, we DO NOT baptize dead bodies. We beleive they then have an opportunity to accept or reject that work done in their behalf.

http://mormon.org/searchResults?theme=search&query=temple

Q: Don't mormons have to wear some sort of special underwear?

A: Some members of the church who make covenants in the temple wear sacred garments after as a symbol of thier commitment to their covenants. Some other religions have similar clothing and it was mentioned in the Bible.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ex/35/19,21#19

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallit_katan#Other_Jewish_garments

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachchhera

Stay tuned for some more answers to common questions.

Also check out this Web site- it is great for answering questions and realizing Mormons are just like everyone else.

http://mormon.org/people/

Oh Happy Day!

Can I just say it has been WAY too long? So much has happened. Walt proposed to me on my one year anniversary coming home from the mission (that was coincidental) and I said yes!! We are getting married in 9 days in the Salt Lake Temple. I have never been so content and happy in all my life. It is humbling to realize that God has led you to someone so compatible and complete for you. I am so grateful to spend this life and all eternity with my best friend!

Dreams

I was so happy to return to Provo from California and find that I could wear my knee shorts. I even went swimming last week. Yesterday and today, I was dismayed to drag out my winter snow coat because, yes, it was snowing! Did I mention that last week I went swimming? This is crazy. One way to squelsh a California girl's dreams. Thanks Utah.

Well at least some of my other dreams are being fulfilled. After applying to several public relations and writing jobs on campus, I was offered a position at the College of Family and Social Sciences as a writer and editor. It may turn out to be a little challenging to find stories, but I was very flattered and I'm excited for more experience.

Among other dreams being fulfilled, I have thoroughly enjoyed being reunited with Walt. We have cooked together, gone running, picnicked, played Frisbee, cuddled, played pool and spent time with family. I am completely happy spending time with him.

And despite it being cold, I am so happy to be near the mountains. I love the color the mountains turn when the sun starts to set.

Keeping up with tradition, Rachel and I had a girls night during priesthood session. We went to the Getty Museum. I was surprised to find that you park in a parking structure and then take a tram up this hill to the top of an outcropping where the museums are. There were gardens, sculpture gardens and rooms and rooms of paintings, photos, sculptures and drawings. We were there for about an hour and a half. It was nice to appreciate some creations people have made. Sometimes I wish I understood more about art.
sculpture garden and overlook of LA
So happy Spring is here. Hopefully it comes to Utah soon!
We got all dressed up in springy outifts and looked gorgeous!
Outside garden at the Getty.

I dunno why, but I love bridges. There is something fun, old fashioned and romantic about them. I don't know exactly why or what it is, but they make me happy.

After the Getty, we went out to dinner to Chipotle who so graciously had mailed us a 2 for 1 coupon.

We decided that we had created a great, cheap date and that it's not that hard to create fun, cheap dates.

Well I went home last weekend to visit mom and Jenni. I actually took the train and really enjoyed the experience. I was pretty silly to think that people don't take trains anymore. I was thinking that there would hardly be anyone on it because after all, aren't trains old fashioned? Boy was I wrong! Not only were there a lot of people on the bus, there were so many that I had to stand for about 30 minutes of the ride. The train was full of business men and women, college kids and even some elderly folk. I was able to take luggage and go from Glendale to Irvine. It was actually pretty easy. I think I am a fan of taking trains. You don't have to deal with traffic and it was relatively inexpensive.

The weekend was fun and relaxing. It was nice to visit home again before I head back up to Utah for school in a couple weeks.

So LA is a very green city. These recycling cans are just on the street- so nice!

It is always a plus when we can work and sightsee at the same time. Thursday, we spent some time in Chinatown collecting letters. Though the work can be tiring and monotonous, I thoroughly enjoy working outside in the warm sunny Socal weather. I feel so lucky to be living in a place that has such nice weather! Every time I walk outside, I am amazed at how nice it is. I have my window open in my room right now. It is probably 65 or so outside right now- so nice!

We were so excited to go to the beach today. It was gorgeous, about 85 in Glendale. Much to our dismay, we drove over an hour in traffic to get to the beach, only to find it was 67 and foggy. We still spent an hour and a half reading and relaxing. We thought people were crazy still wearing only their bathing suits and even going in the ocean. Ok, I know you who are in provo think I am crazy, but a wet 67 degrees with wind at the beach is too cold for a bathing suit.

Anyways, we listened to Beach Boys on the way. I thought it was very appropriate.