Hi, I'm Trish

I'm a bread maker, roadtripper, wife, mother, blogger, photo journaler, writer, and hot pepper lover. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Hi, my name is Trish. I'm a mother to 3 kids ages 7-13 and have a *wonderful surprise* bun in the oven. My husband and I have been married for 15 crazy, stressful, thrilling, wonderful, scary, delightful years.

I enjoy learning, and therefore have many hobbies because I love to try new things. I dabble as an amateur pastry chef. I raise a flock of hens in my backyard. I did animal rescue for a decade. I love to doodle and sketch. I have a passion for teaching, although I didn't go to school to be a teacher, so I frequently volunteer to teach cooking, baking, or gardening classes. I love the outdoors and take my kids hiking as often as I can. I'm currently enrolled in both French and German classes. I always have a book or two with me because I'm addicted to all types of reading. I love to take photos of quirky moments in life, and usually have my camera at the ready, everywhere I go. I love to write, and go through spurts where I have time to blog, and enjoy it so much when I do. I've been nearly everywhere in the U.S.A. because I love to explore with my kids on road trips. Someday I hope to explore the world in a meaningful way, but for now, I'm content to have taught myself to crochet a chain this week. ;)

I'm comfortable in my own skin, and therefore make friends easily. I feel like my faults and trials teach me to be stronger, and help me relate to others on a personal level. I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents were the "pioneers" of our family, joining the church in a time and place where few knew much about Mormons. I don't come from an enormous Mormon family. Indeed, with the exception of one cousin who joined the Church, only my parents and some of my brothers are Mormon. Thus, I have grown up with a wonderful family of good Christian people, and have spent much of my life in the homes of cousins and grandparents that were of other Christian denominations.

This fact made it very easy for me to understand that I could choose to be any religion, or no religion at all. I wasn't bound by any concern that I would not be accepted unless I chose Mormonism, but rather that I had a great responsibility to choose for myself what religion to practice as an adult, and to know my reasons for it.

As a teenager, I decided it was time to commit one way or the other, to be a Mormon and practice it's precepts, or to not, and find my own moral and spiritual set of ethics. Most of my friends were not of my faith, and I could see a wide range of beliefs and standards among them. I gave great thought to what I did and didn't want in my life. I knew I didn't want drugs and alcohol in my life because I had seen their affects on others. I knew I didn't want the complications that come with sex before marriage. I knew I wanted to be kind and forgiving. I knew I wanted Jesus Christ in my life because I felt his love for me. I found that I had already chosen the moral path of a Latter-Day Saint. All I really needed to do, was answer a few questions. Was the Book of Mormon as true as the Bible? Was Joseph Smith a prophet called by God?

I studied my scriptures and spent much time in prayer. I could feel my Savior's love as I read the Book of Mormon. My prayers were answered, and I knew that no scripture could have been brought forth by anyone but a prophet of God. I gained a testimony that these things were true, and I committed to live them.

How I live my faith

As a stay home Mom, much of how I live my faith is done right here in my home. Daily family scripture study, morning and evening family prayer, and prioritizing time together are just the obvious ones. I think the little daily lessons will have just as much impact on my kids' lives as the routine good habits, however. I believe that the little moments that happen daily are just as important- like when we recognize blessings, cuddle on the couch, play board games, make time for each other, and even do menial chores together.

I also try to be active in my community by volunteering whenever I can. Sometimes it may be a big project like raising funds for local families with parents diagnosed with cancer, other times it is just helping teachers at my kids' schools, or helping a friend or neighbor with some small need. I love to be of service. It makes me feel closer to my Savior when I spend time doing what I believe He would do, if He were here. Jesus Christ spent his life in service to all. I want to pattern my life after his example and do the same.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a lay ministry, in other words, no one gets paid to be the Bishop, teachers, chorister, organist, etc. Because of that, everyone has a job- we call it a calling, because we believe it is a special assignment from the Lord. For the past few years, I've been a Sunday teacher in the women's organization, called the Relief Society. Before that, I've served as teachers in youth Sunday school, to the Primary (children ages 3-12), as a chorister to the Nursery (ages 18 months-3 years), and spent many years serving in Young Women's (girls ages 12-18). Every calling I've held has brought me joy, as I've grown to love those I've worked with and taught.

Most of all, I strive to live my faith through Love. I just want to treat everyone with the same love I feel from my Savior. I'm human, and imperfect, but the more I try to love, the more loved I feel, too.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Sarah answered...

Mormon women are a lot like women everywhere! I'm a young, single Mormon woman, who pays her rent and works at a job and wears pants and basically acts like all the other women she knows. If you asked around at my job, probably the biggest thing people would say is that I never swear.

When Mormon women are married, they have to work with their husbands to sort out who's in charge of what, what their expectations are of each other, etc., just like anyone else. A lot of Mormon women with kids, especially young kids, don't work full-time outside of the home - but a lot do. Most Mormon men that I know do a lot of the work at home, though the vast majority do hold outside jobs. It's a lot more important that a husband and wife get along and respect each other than that they conform to some specific social construction. There are lots of Mormon single parents, too. The community tries to help them, but in the end, they're obviously responsible for their entire household, whether they're male or female.

As far as equality is concerned - that word is often misused. We're all children of our Heavenly Father, with tremendous opportunities and responsibilities. That we're all loved equally well doesn't mean that we're all the same. Husbands don't get to tell their wives what to do or vice-versa, but in the great scheme of things, they are held responsible for different things.
Gloria answered...

We believe that men and women are equal in importance, but different in responsibilities and roles. We are two parts of a whole. Women can bear and raise children, men provide and protect. This may seem old-fashioned, but it works! My husband is the President of a company, and I tell him that he is the President at work, and I am the President of my own little corporation at home. I support him in his challenging job, and he supports me in mine. I do believe that "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world"! I am caring for, teaching and nurturing children who will go out in the world and fulfill their own great destinies. I feel a huge responsibility to prepare them for what they will face in the future and to make sure that they have the ability/tools to handle whatever challenges life brings them. I have the greatest and most challenging job in the world!