Hi, I'm Emily

I'm a daughter. I'm a friend. I'm a teacher. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born and raised in Australia. I have three brothers and one sister. I was blessed with two amazing parents. I work as a teacher and love it. I love to travel and currently live in the USA. I love running and am currently training for my first half marathon. Oh, and I love the colour pink and dark chocolate!

Why I am a Mormon

When I was born my parents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which meant I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. My parents are good people and they gave me a good foundation of values and standards. When I was about 14 I had a desire to read for myself The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I started at the beginning and every night I read a bit. When I was almost finished I came to Moroni's Promise. Moroni was a Prophet who left a promise with all who read the book. It says that if I want to know if it is true I can pray and ask God and he will tell me. I had a belief in prayer and I had been taught to pray. One night I knelt by my bed with all the faith of a child and I prayed to my Heavenly Father to know if the book was true and if what I had been taught all my life was the right path. It was on that night that I felt in a very real way, the love of my Heavenly Father. I had my answer come in a feeling that encompassed my whole body. I knew that The Book of Mormon was from God. Since that time, I've had many experiences that have further reconfirmed to me the truthfulness of the gospel. I went on to have several callings in the church including serving a full time mission. The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses my life and fills me with a sense of purpose. One of my greatest blessings is knowing who I am, that I am a child of God and I can have a real and personal relationship with him. I know that He loves me and has a plan for me.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer has become a major part of my life. When I first wrote this, I was living in the United States, although I am from Australia. My family was living across the other side of the world and at times I wished I could be in two places at once. I love my family and I have a great relationship with my parents. I have learned through needed experience, that my Heavenly Father can be with me always regardless of where I am. When I can't talk to my earthly father I know I can always pray to my Heavenly Father. He is always there and He is always listening. I feel his love most strong when I pray and talk to him, when I pour my heart out and listen to the promptings of the spirit. Prayer is one of my greatest comforts. For me, it's just as Jesus Christ told his disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18

What is hope and what do you hope for?

The Book Of Mormon teaches us about hope. The Prophet Ether is teaching the people. He taught
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" Ether 12:4
Hope, like faith allows me to endure with patience and cheer, knowing that good works are rewarded. Hope allows me to have faith in my Heavenly Fathers plan for me. My hope is that one day I can have an eternal family and experience all the joy that accompanies that.

How I live my faith

Being a member of the church requires me to be active with my beliefs. I am blessed to be able to serve in my church and at the moment I teach Sunday School. I attend a ward for Young Single Adults ages 18-30 and participate in a variety of social activities with the many friends I have made there. I also have the opportunity to give talks in church meetings and visit other female members once a month in their homes to share a spiritual message visiting teaching.
In my personal life, I read the scriptures daily and I pray morning and night. I attend the temple at least once a month. I don't drink or smoke and I try to take care of my body by running. When I am with my family we have Family Home Evening, where we spend Monday night together having a spiritual lesson and sometimes a fun game. Family time is really important as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I contribute 10% of my income to the church as tithing, just as Malachi taught in the Old Testament. I don't shop on Sunday as I keep the Sabbath day holy and I attend church. I subscribe to LDS magazines each month and I read the messages from church leaders. I do my best to share my faith with my friends and family by living as an example of how Christ taught and by living my life with gladness for every blessing I have.

What are some things that tell to you there is a God?

Emily answered...

There is a wonderful children's song called 'My Heavenly Father Loves Me'. I love this song because it reminds me of the blessings I have from God and the evidences that are all around us to tell us there is a God. If we just take a moment to pause from our busy lives and listen, we will feel God's love.

MY HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES ME

Words and Music by Clara W. McMaster, b. 1904

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by a lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him reverently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.
Scott answered...

Everything in nature tells me that there is a God. The universe is so ordered, so perfectly in harmony. If you really study our wonderful little planet, you'll learn that it is so amazingly unique to be able to sustain life, that there is just no way the earth and its inhabitants were merely created by chance.
The most important reason I know there is a God, though, is because I have felt his presence in my life. Through prayer, I have built a relationship with him, and as such, I love him and know that he loves me.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Nadja answered...

How could we ever hope for anything if it weren't for the grace offered by our Saviour Jesus Christ?

God is just - which means His laws are just. They are eternal. This means that His dealings towards us will always be just, but it also means that He exacts justice from us, His children. Regardless of the commandment or law, justice demands a recompense for obedience, but also a punishment (or consequence) for disobedience.

Jesus Christ has paid for these trespasses, and He willingly extends that payment to each one who earns or deserves it. This grace is awarded based on our repentance, a change of heart so profound, we abandon the desire to repeat the offense.

That is grace: forgiveness (meaning: not having to suffer ourselves for our own mistakes and disobedience) which follows sincere repentance. What an incredible gift!