Hi, I'm Emily Louise

I'm an Army wife. I'm a mom to three active boys. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

First and foremost I'm a wife and mom. My husband, who serves in the Army reserves, is currently deployed to Afghanistan. I'm a mom to three incredibly rowdy, but handsome little boys. I'm a college graduate with a law degree on the side, but I've put that aside to be a stay at home mom for now. I love to blog, cook, journal, read, watch TV, travel, and I just started running. Nothing too exciting, but it's enough to keep busy.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a Mormon family so it's always been part of my life. As a child, I followed my parent's example and relied heavily on their testimony. But as I grew up, I developed my own testimony. I remember serveral vivid experiences where I prayed to my Heavenly Father and got a crystal clear answer. Along with those, comes a daily peace and reassurance from living the Gospel. It gives me purpose. I love knowing that the family is central to God's plan and that He intends us to be eternal families and that death doesn't break our familial bonds. I love knowing why I'm on the earth and knowing what it is we're supposed to do--teach our children to believe in and love God, live rigtheous lives, treat others with kindness, and always try to be better. It sounds simplisitic, but it's like having a roadmap. I get lost rather easily without good directions and I imagine I would feel terribly lost not knowing why I was here, and who I really am. Living the gospel brings me peace and reassurance and ultimately joy.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer is a huge part of my life. We're taught to pray morning and night, but I've come to a point in my life where I have a prayer in my heart almost constantly.
I'm something of a worry wart... I worry a lot and about everything. Having a husband serving overseas in a war zone and three hyperactive and somewhat accident prone boys will do that to you. Prayer and faith in those prayers is what gets me through each day.
I pray for my children all the time.... that they'll be safe, that they'll be happy, that they'll feel loved and find friends, and that they'll feel safe in our home.
I pray for my husband all the time... that he'll be safe while overseas, that he will feel fulfilled in his work and not miss us too bad, and that he'll return home to us soon and safely.
I pray for my parents and my siblings. I don't live by them and not being able to see them all the time, it helps me feel closer to them when I pray on their behalf.
I pray that I'll be a patient mom, and that I'll be able to drive and travel safely. I'm always scared when I know that my kids' safety depends on me in a car! I pray for strength and faith while my husband is deployed. Some days it's really hard to do it on my own... my kids test my pateince almost hourly! But when I pray, my faith in God is strengthened. It gives me hope that everything will turn out just fine. And it really helps to know that I'm no alone and someone knows exactly how I'm feeling and what I need.

How I live my faith

I try and live my faith everyday. I take my boys to church every Sunday, where they love the children's organization. I work in the children's organization where I get to teach kids about their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and help them understand that they are loved. I'm also a visiting teacher and get to visit women in the neighborhood once a month to lend support and just be a friend. Daily, we live our faith by praying together as a family, praying over meals, weekly family nights with a short gospel lesson, and reading our scriptures together. But I think I also live my faith by creating a family and Christ centered home. By treating others kindly and fairly. Faith for me, is more than a thought or ideology. It's a way of life and something that influences everything I do.

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Emily Louise answered...

No, we don't worship Joseph Smith. We worship God, our Heavenly Father, and His son, Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith was a prophet... just like the ancient prophets described in the Bible. Joseph Smith was a modern day prophet who is particularly important in our church because he restored the full Gospel. Before his prayers, the Gospel was limited to just what's found in the Bible, along with all the mistakes and things that had been left out. There were holes and confusion for people who were trying to follow the teachings as outlined in the Bible. Joseph Smith prayed to God to know what was right and eventually God revealed to him the fulness of the Gospel... all the things that had been left out and were missing from the Bible. Joseph Smith also translated the Book of Mormon from its ancient writings. It's because of these contributions that we share a special devotion for Joseph Smith.
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Chris answered...

Simple Answer: No.

Detailed Answer: See below.

Saying that Joseph Smith is the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (LDS) may cause a misunderstanding for some. LDS doctrine teaches that Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church that existed in Old Testament and New Testament times. The "of Latter-day Saints" in the church's name denotes that this is the last dispensation before Jesus Christ's Second Coming, or the last period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the keys of the holy priesthood. The Old Testament and New Testament discuss various dispensations when Christ's church existed on the earth in its authentic state.

So, what is the importance of Joseph Smith in relation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Like Noah, Abraham, and Moses, Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. He was simply a man called to speak for the Lord and played a key role in the restoration of Christ's church here upon the earth in these latter-days. Like Noah, Abraham, and Moses, we do not worship Joseph Smith, but study his life and teachings to better understand the will of God. Joseph Smith may had been a leader, but he was not and is not the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The head of the church is clearly stated in the church's name. The Church of "Jesus Christ" of Latter-day Saints

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Stephen Call answered...

In my opinion the real reason people say the Mormon Church is a cult because they don't understand. saying that it is a cult is an easy way to excuse themselves from learn more about it. Its like saying "sushi is slimy raw dead fish" or "computers are of the devil" its easy not to try / learn about stuff if you pair it with a negative word like "devil" or " slimy raw dead fish"