Hi, I'm Bridget

I'm an American living in the United Arab Emirates. I'm a master's student. I have two kids. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. I studied Linguistics and Japanese in college and did a study abroad in Kyoto. Shortly after my husband and I got married, we moved to Moscow, Russia. Since then, we've lived in Utah, Syria, Arizona, Jordan, Vermont, upstate New York, and Egypt. Now we live in the United Arab Emirates. You might say we move around a lot. When I'm not packing or unpacking, I enjoy running, reading, playing the piano, working on my master's degree, and doing my best to be a good mom to my two young children.

Why I am a Mormon

The easy answer is because I grew up that way. But the truth is that I believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, in Joseph Smith as a modern-day prophet, and in the Book of Mormon. It's that simple.

Personal Stories

Could you talk about your baptism?

Well, I was baptized when I was eight years old, just a couple of days after my birthday. My dad baptized me and I got to wear a simple white dress for the ceremony. Even though I was a young child, I understood the promises I was making and the importance of taking that step. I remember feeling excited about getting baptized and also trying harder to keep the commandments and always remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

Over the years, living in so many places, I've attended very diverse Mormon congregations. But the essence of living the way I believe doesn't change much. I dress modestly and try to take care of my health. I try to pray and study the scriptures daily. I believe family is very important.

What are Mormon church services like? Are visitors allowed at church meetings? Can I attend church?

Bridget answered...

For starters, they're three hours long :). Of course visitors are allowed. I've visited church meetings of other faiths and sometimes it makes me nervous because I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or out of the routine. The members of whatever congregation you visit will be happy to answer your questions or show you the way. And you don't have to worry about your kids making noise during the service. We all try our best to keep them reverent and sitting in the pew but sometimes (as you'll notice) it doesn't work out so well.
Julianne! answered...

Mormon church services are dignified and simple. A sacrament meeting will be conducted by a regular guy wearing a regular business suit. The organ will be played by a regular member of the congregation who is not paid for his or her service. The singing will be led by a regular member of the congretaion. The prayers will be given by regular folks. The sacrament will be blessed and passed by regular folks, usually teenage boys. The talks will be given by members of the congregation, often teenagers. Special music might be presented by regular folks, or the ward choir. Members of the ward choir are just regular members of the congregation who like to sing, and are not paid for their service. Looking around the congregation, you will most likely see some singles but also families including little children and babies. Babies tend to be fussy so the room will not be totally silent. We try to maintain reverence, but it's a learning process. The kids are not perfectly reverent, and neither are the rest of us. People are dressed in regular clothes, usually conservative and modest. Men and boys usually wear dress shirts and ties. Women and girls usually wear dresses or skirts.

You are welcome to come and attend any of our worship services. You will not be asked to stand and sit, stand and sit, stand and sit. No one will pass a collection plate or ask you for money. You come in and sit and relax. And when you come, please sit by me!

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Ryan answered...

To have feelings of attraction for members of the same sex is not a sin. Acting upon those inclinations is. We all are tempted with things that will draw us away from God's plan of happiness if we act upon them. The choice is ours whether to act upon those inclinations or not.

God's plan for us involves the family unit as the primary building block of our interactions with our fellow human beings. Anything that disrupts the healthy creation of those building blocks will frustrate our happiness in this life and in the life to come.