moosh in indy.

i am a mormon. on purpose. and i like it.

April 12, 2010

hi.

I need to say something and I hope you’ll listen with an open heart and open mind.

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, LDS or Mormon for short.

I believe in Christ. In God. In Jesus Christ.

I know He is my Savior and He died for my sins.

I would never ask you to look to me as a perfect example of an LDS woman. Nor would I say I’m a perfect Christian.

But oh how I try. Oh how I want so badly to make my Heavenly Father proud.

I say prayers with my family every night, I say prayers with my husband every night and I say my own prayers every night and in my heart constantly. I pray for my friends. I pray for my family. I pray for my little kid. I pray that I won’t screw up. I pray that I’ll be safe. I pray that I will be able to help even one person that comes into my life.

Talking about God makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable.

I didn’t grow up talking about God, let alone talking to God. When people brought religion up around me I always looked for a way out. Even now I assume that this is how other people feel about religion.

So I stay quiet unless someone asks me.

It doesn’t seem very fair to God. He’s given me all these blessings and I keep quiet.

I am happy.

I am so, so happy.

And it’s because I have my church and its teachings in my life.

I’ve known since the moment I hit my knees to pray for the very first time that there is a God.

And I could never, ever deny that He knows me and loves me.

Thanks for listening.

As you were.

Comments off.

amen

Lovely, Casey. It’s not uncomfortable. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. God certainly isn’t uncomfortable with Himself. Continue to embrace Him!

I am not a Mormon but this post made me get all goosebumpy and fluttery.

Amen.

(It makes me uncomfortable too. Silly.)

I think this is a lovely post. I don’t find discussions about religion uncomfortable at all. I know that their is no judgment on my part, only curiosity. However I personally worry about my curiosity being taken for nosiness.

Amen.

Discussing your personal spiritual journey is challenging and brave, and I’m so glad to hear you publicly claim that part of yourself.

I’m glad you shared this!

I loved this in a special kind of way. I wish I could as easily come out and say what I believed, admit my faith.

But my family isn’t comfortable with my decisions in life. Half of them firmly believe I’m going to hell for what I believe. And so I keep my ideals to myself, I pray with my husband, in my heart, and I trust that my faith will be enough.

God Approves.

Well done Casey.

I think your faith is wonderful. I totally admire it and you. It is very interesting to me…it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all because you are so respectful about it. I don’t have faith like that, but I love that you do and can share it without trying to convert me to your ways.

Beautiful. I feel much the same way re: assuming it makes other people uncomfortable, so I don’t bring it up. Here in the land of the Bible belt, it’s not God that makes people uncomfortable, but actual fear of Mormons, so I really feel like I need to tip toe sometimes. I shouldn’t though! We have so much truth, so much hope, so much happiness, and a part of me really wants to shout it from the housetops! But not today.

I think speaking from the heart, as you did, is how people can see Christianity in a more positive light. ‘Cause let’s be honest, there are others who make it look bad, very very bad.

Casey Reply:
April 12th, 2010 at 11:23 pm

@Angie, exactly.

I also have a hard time speaking up.
I spend all day preaching about smart phones, but when it comes to what really matters, I become kinda shy.

I’m not mormon…but I’m Lutheran and have the same exact feelings…Wish that religion would get scrutinized a whole lot less!

Great post!

I know what you mean about feeling uncomfortable. It took me a long time to say out-loud with freedom, “I am Jewish”. I kept that part of me hidden partly because I did not want people to feel uncomfortable around me. That being said, I was young and impressionable. I worried about fitting in. I was the only Jew that I knew of in school. As a kid, the only people that spoke about God (that I knew) were quite fundamental and I could not relate. Age has brought me wisdom, courage and the freedom within myself to say,”I am Jewish. Hear me ROAR!”

I am a mormon.. I was a mormon missionary in your state. I think they are VERY misunderstood. I feel misunderstood. I do think that God is a personal thing and that our belief in him is a VERY personal thing that changes. Not all Mormons are created equal. But God equally loves us all.

Beautiful post! I wish more people would embrace promoting spirituality on the internet.

It can be scary to share our spiritual beliefs because we’re afraid people will mock or scorn us. (at least that’s how I feel)

I hope you know I’m a believer too.

Casey Reply:
April 12th, 2010 at 11:27 pm

@Motherboard, yes. every new comment that shows up I get a pit in my tummy thinking “this may be the one, the person that is going to say mean things that takes away from the dozen other lovely things.”

thank you.

amen sister.
Love you.
all of you.
every bit of your spirit. loud. quiet. funny. snorting. sad. beautiful. shy. silly. exalting.
every. bit of it.

i love you. much.

Good for you. God’s too big to be quiet about.
What brought you to LDS, since you weren’t raised that way?

Casey Reply:
April 13th, 2010 at 12:10 am

@Chrystal, A cute boy named Cody. I had his baby. We’re about to go snuggle up in bed for a long snooze.

I think it’s odd how some of the most important topics we should be discussing (as parents and human beings) like money, religion, race and politics, are often the ones that make us the most uncomfortable or can spark the most anger and debate. I wonder why that is?

Michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2010 at 8:07 am

@Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy, Because they are what are most personal to us. That’s my opinion anyway.

I admire you for spilling it onto the page. I am much the same way in that I keep quiet about my faith. But then I do get those twinges where I think exactly what you said — how horrible of me to try to hide God under the bed when I should have truth and light shining out my pores.

Thanks for the impetus. We’ll see where it goes…

elizabeth

I? Am not religious. I’m not really sure if I believe in a god. But I loved this post, because you should very damn well be able to believe what you want, without getting any bull**** from anyone else.

I am glad that you are happy, and that you shared your happiness and your love for your religion and God. Is that weird?

Meg Reply:
April 13th, 2010 at 12:51 am

@Elizabeth Kaylene,
I, also, am not religious. And I know I don’t believe in god. But I think everyone should be allowed to discuss their belief in (or lack of), and love for, whichever god they want to, without fear of retribution or scorn.
Casey has found her path, and she should have the right to sing out about being found, and I LOVE that she does!

If you must know.
I have a crush on you.

You say it so well.
Amen.

You put it so beautifully. I admire your courage in posting it, and am very glad no one has ruined it yet.

Quite frankly, you inspire me to bare with the uncomfortable to share the love of God that I revel in daily. Joy and love are best shared.

Well said! Unabashed, I like it.

Thank you. It’s what I needed today.

hahaha people said ‘amen’ to your ‘testimony’.
i love ur post!
yay me to love God and Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now I shall go read more general conference talks!
((((happy feelings))))

I’m with you. I’m a Mormon on purpose and I like it. However, I feel a little squeamish about sharing online. I’m private about it, but my religion is my guiding light (a way better one than a network soap.)

Thanks for being brave, it’s important.

I am an Atheist, use to be a Jehovah’s Witness.Although I do not believe in god what so ever,I respect your beliefs and feel that everyone (as long as no one is getting hurt) should have the right to believe what they want.

I work in an op shop (thrift store) run by our church to raise the funds to pay our youth pastor and two other workers in the local primary and secondary schools.

One of our daily prayers is that we may “be the only Jesus or Church that some people ever meet/enter and that we would be true representations of Him in all we do and say”. This can be challenging, but if we remember that we are no better than anyone who comes in, just saved by grace, then we are more patient and gracious with them. It also can open up conversations with others who see how we might deal with a difficult customer, or even just want to know more about our church.

It can be hard to speak up though

Awesome post! My mom, who’s a singer, sings a song in church about once a year called “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” This post reminds me of that song. My favorite line: To some He’s a name, but to me He’s my everything.

One of my most favoritest things about you is that you embrace who you are completely. You should be proud of everything that you have done and who you have become, because it’s really pretty fantastic all around. I don’t believe in all of the same things that you do, but I respect the differences and lurve you all the more for them.

I aplaude you for being proud of your beliefs

I’m not a Mormon. I’m not even a Christian. I’m not even sure I’m an Atheist – I really don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it one way or the other.

I don’t feel uncomfortable talking about religion. However, I do tend to just stay quiet about it because (although they are a minority) there are the “Nazi Christians” out there who rabidly attack you, ostracize you and suddenly consider you not worthy of being alive.

This hurts my feelings, particularly coming from someone who was purportedly a friend. I can’t believe Jesus would approve of such behavior, but what do I know?

I think everybody should just believe what they want and leave everybody else alone. We should be able to talk about religion with the same honesty and respect that we might discuss whether I believe there is life on other planets, or whether you think JFK’s assassination was a conspiracy or not.

As long as you aren’t killing people or generally making the lives of others miserable, then more power to you if your life, and the lives of others, are made better by your belief.

Jess Reply:
April 24th, 2010 at 6:15 pm

@Karin,

Regarding the nazi Christians and whether Jesus would approve of their behavior… I’m right there with you and I AM a Christian. Many of them would also be glad to tell Casey she doesn’t really know God and is going to hell because she’s a Mormon.

After growing up in a fundamentalist church, I’ve come to see people as less churched/unchurched as much as decent/well… not, and Christians range the spectrum just as much as anyone else. Thanks for sharing Casey. This is a good place.

It’s not always easy opening up about faith in our culture, but your post was beautifully written.

So when I first glanced at your tweet I thought it said “I am a moron …”
Which made me feel like we had much in common.
This is beautifully said, Casey. Sharing what is so personal and so wonderful can be frightening, but then, so can trying to hold something so amazing in all to ourselves.
Shine on, you’re doing it in a way many of us envy.

I don’t talk about religion either. In fact, I’m pretty bad at all the Catholic things like going to church.

I think my friends are always surprised to find out that I DO believe in God. I also believe that there is someone watching over me. I don’t know if that someone is God, or an angel or some relative that’s in heaven; but I know it to be true. It’s the only way I can explain some of the times I’ve been saved from serious injury.

I like when you share with us. It makes me feel all happy and sunshiney to know that I know people who are good honest folk. (Dude, did I just use folk in a sentance?)

I think that as soon as people begin to recognize that faith does not necessarily equal religion and that stereotypes are based around the fanatics, life can be more awesome.

Faith is so important. Faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in your family. But faith in God. That is the great thing. You can be as religious as the Pope, but if you don’t have the faith? It doesn’t matter. Thanks for sharing and feeling strong enough to do so!

How many of us could write the very same post and simply replace the “LDS” with their own denomination/description.

Thank you. I don’t know much about the Mormon faith or set of beliefs, but you give me a positive opinion of it.

p.s.: “Southern Baptist”

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

hymn- “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” ( I really like the version by Jars of Clay) God is love! Some of His “followers”, not so much… God bless you for your openess, Casey!

SO awesome. Thank you for posting this!

I love this. All of it, comments included.

Yes. What you said.

I love you and I am so happy that you have me in your life, what with all my drinking and swearing.

*hugs* You’re AMAZING. I am so very glad to call you my friend. I miss you so.

You’re one of my favorite people in the world and your faith is one of the reasons why.

I love this. I am a Christian. On purpose. And I too, like it.

Thank you for being brave enough to say it. Someone needed to hear it, and God used you for that.

I loved this post!

I’m a Christian, too, and I don’t tend to mention it much in my blog–especially since my blog morphed into a beauty and style blog.

Maybe I should do a post called “Makeup for Sunday Morning, or, How Not to Get Lipgloss on the Chalice.”

(Sadly enough, I’m only partly kidding)

Jesus loves you and so do I.

It is refreshing to hear someone just say how they feel about their religious beliefs. I feel like I always have to be so careful about what I say when it comes to religion…don’t want to offend anyone. I am a Mormon too and I would be LOST with out my religion in my life!

I am not Mormon, or Catholic (anymore), or Lutheran or Baptist or any of those things. I AM a Christian. And Christ taught me this – and this is how I lead my life: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And “Love thy neighbor as you love yourself.”

It’s all just that simple.

I love this post as well…comments included. It made me feel warm inside:)

I loved reading this post! One of the many things I enjoy about your blog is learning more about what it means to be Mormon. The church I grew up in claimed that LDS was a cult, and I’d like to apologize for ever entertaining that thought, even as a teen. I find it incredibly sad how people treat others that don’t believe exactly the same way they do.

I switched denominations when I married a Methodist pastor’s son – not because he forced me too, but it seemed like the correct decision for us. It’s lovely to find out that we are so much more alike than we are different! The important thing is we are all in love with Jesus, not all the little things we let get in the way.

i just love your blog & honesty, casey. thank you for sharing your heart.

I didn’t realize that you weren’t raised LDS. I love that you’re able to embrace who you are and all that entails. I’ve typically been one who doesn’t put my faith “out there” but I’m starting to become more comfortable in just being me.
I’d love to sit down and talk with you about what being LDS means to you and discover how it’s different from my own faith. I’ve always been curious (yes, I know I can read about it – but I’d rather hear your story)!

I think I blogged on my original blog for two years before I finally said, okay yes, I am. (People asked). Here I am, 6 years later and it still makes me a tad nervous. For the same reasons. I’m not an in-your-face Christian because I’m respectful of all faiths, all beliefs, all struggles, all doubts, all questions, all confusion. Had I gone on a mission I would have really struggled with how to teach/preach without coming off all wrong / too strong.

You’re awesome.
xoxox

Lovely, Casey. I am a Christian (completely and utterly on purpose) and it makes me extremely happy when someone can say out loud that they love Jesus. Good for you. Good for you.

Aside form the Mormon thing, I agree, I agree, I agree.

I’m a United Methodist by way of Lutheran (Missouri Synod). But I know 2 truths:

1. God is very real.
2. God is love.

The variety of faiths and practices and religions are a lot less important. The reality of His existence and of His love- that is what matters.

I’m fascinated by people’s faiths. I’m so indecisive in general – I honestly don’t know what I believe. I pray, yes, and I have Hebrew prayers I grew up with. But to have such a strong, unwavering faith and knowing is a gift. Thanks for sharing this.

I would never judge you for that. Though I never made the jump I went to church for a while and some missionaries are still some of our fav people.

I love this post, Casey. Just like I love you.

Steph

Amazing (you…that is)…

this is amazing. and such a testimony. i’m a christian as well. a baptist. and i, like you, sometimes find it uncomfortable because people don’t understand. and i fear they’ll think less of me when they find out that i serve God. but at the end of the day, Jesus did SO much for us…i should be able to stand proud as you are today. thanks for inspiring me!

http://blog.cjanerun.com/search/label/Men’s%20Week

If you want a couple good blog reads regarding, adoption and infertility from a couple of LDS men. Check out the link.

Loved your testimony BTW, and your awesome.

Nice testimony! I loved sitting in church last Sunday and listening to everybody give their testimonies. And the ones in RS? Super amazing! And now I just got to listen to yours…yay! So glad you said it!

Congratulations on your faith. It’s a valuable thing to have.

I think that’s so cool. I’m Pagan and I like it too. I just have to say one thing about Mormons. There are a lot of you who blog! I never knew one single Mormon my whole life and then I started blogging about 40% at least of the blogs I follow are written by Mormon moms. I love following and learning about your religion. I’m so glad you spoke up and said something. Maybe I should make a special section under Blogs I follow that are written by Mormon moms.

Kris Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 9:37 pm

@Melodie, It’s because we have so many kids. What else are we gonna do while they’re napping? Besides save the world, of course

You rock, girl! I’m a believer in Jesus Christ as my Savior. It takes faith to believe, but it also takes faith to not believe.

Casey touched my heart in 2006 when she was the first person to comment on my blog. She is honest. She is real. She is lovely. And she is broken like we all are.

We live in this world together & need to love each other well. No one is better than another. We are all children of God.

awesome post.

you rock! and i’m a Jesus freak!

Good for you! I know how you must feel. We aren’t religious and we like it that way. Makes us the odd ball out in Indiana so we don’t talk about it and cringe each time someone tries to get at what religion we are.

Regardless of our beliefs, churches, etc we are all still decent people that are part of the community. Shouldn’t matter what church we are a part of.

Thanks for being brave enough to “just say it.”

I especially liked this line: “Talking about God makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable.” Me too.

I’m glad you started this conversation…

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