Hi, I'm Erin

I'm a wife, daughter, sister, traveling enthusiast, photographer and animal lover! I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My husband and I love to go on adventures, when time permits. We both have our Bachelor's degrees and we're thinking about continuing our education. We were married in June of 2008 and have loved every second of it! We adopted our black lab in the summer of 2011 and we can't imagine life without her - she is so much fun!

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in an inactive house, which basically means that my family is Mormon but we didn't go to church. My grandmother would take me to church with her ever I time we had a sleep-over. I didn't start going to church regularly until I was a senior in high school. I attribute that to great friends and wonderful Young Women leaders. When I started college I figured out for myself what I wanted and that was a life in the church. For the first time I understood what it meant to be a Mormon.
Living for others, helping in any way we can, loving everyone and never putting them down for who they are. We are not sent here to judge, but to help those in need.
I went to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead when I was a freshman in college. I felt that wonderful spirit that comes with this amazing experience. From then on I knew that I wanted to continue to feel that way.
I met my husband when I was a senior in college. I knew from the moment we met that he was going to be important in my life. Later on in our relationship we talked of a temple marriage - I wanted nothing else. I received my endowment in the Salt Lake Temple on June 14, 2008, and we were married four days later. I felt as though my life was just beginning. The temple brought me to a renewed sense of self and life.
I'm a Mormon because I choose to be, I want to be. I'm a Mormon because it brings me such joy - I could never imagine my life without it.
It's like cleaning a dirty window. Once it's done you can enjoy the sunlight that's been hiding behind the grime. If you let it, the church can fill and light the rooms of your life.

Personal Stories

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was baptized when I was 8. I was little with big curly bangs. My dad's cousin baptized me and I remember just as we were ready to get into the font he said, "this means no swearing." I don't recall much of that day, but I do know how I felt - wonderful!
The funny thing is that later on I found out that my husband and I were baptized on the same day. He in Wyoming and me in Utah. That's pretty cool!

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is the belief that there can be great change in the world. Whether that change is small, like a little rain on a dry day, or big, like a peaceful end to a long war.
I hope for harmony. Harmony in my home. Harmony in our country and the world. We waste so much time on hate, I hope one day that hatred will turn to love and understanding. I hope for a world where my future children can live wonderful, well-rounded lives.

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

How cool is it that we live in this day! The gospel has been restored to the earth and it's flourishing! Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and we still have a prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson! The gospel was restored so we could have it on earth for us, today.
It's amazing that Joseph Smith saw and heard our Heavenly Father and His Son. To stand in the Sacred Grove and feel the abundance of Spirit is an incredible experience. I felt the same way when I visited Joseph Smith's birthplace, the Smith home in Palmyra, New York and Kirtland, Ohio. These are the places of our history as Mormons and they stand for us to know and see the faith of those that came before us.
My ancestors came across the country with the pioneers. They sacrificed so much for me and my family! How wonderful that they had the foresight to know that what they were doing would benefit us?

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

We can develop harmony by service and prayer. We need to be willing to help those around us. I know that when our apartment is clean my husband and I can focus more on the Spirit in our home. It's the little things that help us, leaving a little note letting my husband know I love him, or even doing the dishes, can bring us closer together and closer to our Heavenly Father. Also, when we pray together it's important to pray for each other, that way we always know we are thinking about the tough times coming up and that we are there to help one another.

How I live my faith

I have a huge testimony of service. Being led to those who are in need of my help is what I pray for every day. My husband and I make it to the temple as often as we can, which should be more often since we have one just down the street. We also love to read in the scriptures and Ensign together. Prayer and scripture study are vital to living our faith.

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Erin answered...

Members attending Sunday services will most likely be wearing their “Sunday best,” which may include suits, sport coats, and ties for the men and modest dresses or skirts for the women. Children also typically dress up for Sunday. I wear my favorite skirts and dresses, I love to show my personality through my clothing. I love color and shoes!

Members of the Church celebrate Christmas and Easter, regarding these two events as the most spiritually significant days in history because of the birth, suffering, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also dress up for Halloween, spend time with our sweethearts on Valentines day, wear green on St. Patty's day, enjoy fireworks and parades on the 4th of July and love gathering with family on Thanksgiving!

Church members also celebrate the regional and national holidays of the countries where they live. Church members also celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and similar events.
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Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Kathryn answered...

As a primary president in my ward, I share in the direction and leadership of our ward. I don't feel secondary in any way. Whether you have the priesthood or not, you are still responsible to listen to the direction of the Savior. The priesthood is a tool and power that is the same power of the Savior. It allows the human authority to do work on earth, particularly perform ordinances, and bless others. As if the Savior was here in person during His ministry accounted for in the New Testament. I would use an analogy to compare the priesthood as a car. A car is an amazing tool allowing you to get you from here to there. I don't mind my husband driving and I can offer some navigation or work the radio, as long as we and our children get there.