Hi, I'm E. Johnson

I'm a small town girl, a drama nerd, & a South Carolina Columbia Missionary. I accepted Jesus as my Savior...and I'm a Mormon!

About Me

My passions are music, theatre, and working with children. I hope to combine them all to create my dream job someday-Owning and operating a theatre for children where they gain performing arts skills and confidence in their own personal achievements!

In the meantime I have been studying musical theatre and elementary education at college.

I love to laugh, quote movies and people, take pictures, use big vocabulary words, sing at the top of my lungs, eat good food, and serve others in any way that I can!

I am taking 18 months away from school to serve as a full time missionary in Georgia and South Carolina!!!

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up with a deep faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, and a love for Him and my father in Heaven. I attended church and activities regularly and devoted time to study of the Bible and prayer. I served mission trips in the United States and Mexico for the Southern Baptist church- Sharing my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ and how much joy He brought into my life... However, I was left with unanswered questions... Some things didn't quite make sense, or seemed missing. I always loved to learn about others' faith, and, since many of my friends were members of the Church, I had opportunities to attend their church meetings and ask questions.
After a period of questioning my faith and seeking answers to my questions, one day I met some missionaries on my college campus. Their was a light that shone in them, and my other friends who were members of this Church that was unlike anything else I had experienced and I knew that I had to talk to them and figure out what they had that I lacked. That 'something' came through study, prayer, experiences testing out the commandments God has given us, and ultimately through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

Young men and young women serve missions for 18-24 months. Senior adults who no longer have children living at home can serve missions too! Missionaries are an important part of the Church. Because we have strong testimonies of the Restored Gospel and what it has done to bless our lives, we are delighted at the opportunity to serve the Lord by inviting others to learn about the things we believe, and to invite them to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Missionaries are assigned to areas throughout the world through a call that comes directly from the President of the Church through inspiration from Heavenly Father. Missionaries are trained at one of several Missionary Training Centers (MTC's) throughout the world. There they study and learn about gospel doctrine, practice teaching, and learn the language native to the area they will serve. After a few weeks in the MTC a missionary is prepared to enter the mission field and will serve in different cities or areas throughout the mission until their service is finished.

I received my call to the Georgia Macon and South Carolina Columbia missions and I am serving for 18 months in areas all throughout the good old South!

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was baptized in September of 2009! I was 21 years old when I was baptized, and it was one of the most beautiful, best days of my life! A lot of my friends were able to attend the baptism, and I was so happy to have them there to support me. As I came up out of the water I started to laugh because I was so happy I couldn't even contain my joy! As I was able to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel at my baptismal service I felt the spirit SO strongly and knew with all of my heart that it was true. I felt approval from my Heavenly Father and a powerful witness that He loves me, and that He lives!

How I live my faith

I am a RIDICULOUSLY happy Latter Day Saint Missionary! After receiving the blessings of membership in Christ's church, I realized that the only way I could experience true joy would be to continue to keep the promises I made with my Heavenly Father at the time of my baptism. I try to do what is right and be a good example to my family and friends because I am a representative of Jesus Christ.

I have the great privilege to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with dozens of great people every single day in South Carolina! Most people aren't learning anything new, but strengthening the wonderful faith in Jesus Christ that they already have! The gospel message we teach doesn't take away anybody's faith but takes what they already know and believe to be true and adds more blessings and more clarity to it! How great is that!?

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

E. Johnson answered...

In a word...Awesome! Mormon women are invited to be active participants in every aspect of church meetings, decision making in the home and family, gospel discussions, etc. and to strengthen their family and those around them in everything they do. Mormon women are notorious for charity, service, and strength from the time of the pioneer women who crossed the plains- pushing carts and caring for men and children to the women of today who are mothers, wives, mayors, advocates, bloggers, nurturers, teachers, doctors, crafters, volunteers, and extremely involved in church and community.

Mormon women do not perform certain ordinances such as baptizing and blessing/passing the bread and water used in sacrament meetings because they do not hold the Priesthood, which is a sacred responsibility held only by men. This is not because of a prejudice against women- It is a way for men to learn more humility and charity which women innately possess. You can learn more about the Priesthood by searching this site!
Angela answered...

Yes! We firmly believe that men and women are equal in the eyes of God and are given separate, but equally important responsibilities here on Earth. Men are given the power of the Priesthood, which allows them to do things for their families and others such as give blessings or baptize individuals. Women are given the sacred responsibility of bringing children into the world and to support their husbands with their responsibilities. Both parents are encouraged to teach gospel principles to their children together and to live in harmony with the Church.
This is not to say women are not encouraged to pursue educational endeavors or career opportunities. Each family is different, we are encouraged to pray and make decisions based on what is best for our families.
Every Mormon woman is different, but we all have something in common. We are all daughters of our Father in Heaven.

Are there restrictions based on race or color concerning who can join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have the priesthood?

Scot answered...

As is recorded in Matthew 10:5, the Lord said to His Apostles "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not..." Later the resurrected Lord told the same Apostles "...Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) This is not an example of any variableness or a shadow of turning (See James 1:17) but is ever more evidence of His wisdom and foreknowledge in executing His designs.
Some who wish to attack the Church think they find hypocrisy or guile in the fact that the Church did not allow men of African descent to hold the Priesthood until 1978. There is nothing contrary to the pattern of God in this. For decades and decades before the 2nd Official Declaration righteous men and women of African heritage were baptized into the Church and fold of God with the full promise and testimony that they would be denied no blessings in the worlds to come. Then, when the time was fully come, and as had been predicted by prophets previously, the Lord inspired His prophet to extend the full blessings of the Church in this life to all worthy members. This could well be one of the happiest days of this era.
Whether in this dispensation or any other anyone who is uncharitable to another due to their race is in direct defiance of the Gospel of Christ, who is Savior to "black and white, bond and free, male and female" (See the Book of Mormon, 2nd Nephi 26:33.)