What Being Mormon Looks Like
Last week I shared a post so many of you loved called “What Growing Up Mormon Looked Like.” Because of the response, I decided to do a little follow up piece this week.
In the name of honestly, this post should really be titled “What I Wish being Mormon Looked like” or “What I try to have being mormon look like” because I’m not perfect, Ben and I aren’t perfect, and we have lots of improving to do. But, this is what it generally looks like, in our life, to be mormon, and what I’m aiming for it to look like all the time.
At 6:30 AM its an alarm going off and a husband getting out of bed so he can read scriptures for half an hour before work.
At 7:30 AM it might be a quick prayer together before Ben leaves (while I’m still half asleep)
At 8:00 AM its another quick prayer under the covers and an even quicker one over a bowl of cereal
At 10:43 AM its a silent prayer that I didn’t delete those pictures yet, that an email arrived, or that my computer will run faster.
At 10:59 AM its a silent prayer that my mom will answer the phone, that a package arrived, or that I’ll be able to focus on my homework.
At lunch its another prayer over the food, with my arms folded, or sometimes with the fork already nearing my mouth.
In the evening its personal and couple scripture study at the desk. Its talking about our day with the Lord while holding hands. Its thinking about our blessings and rededicating ourselves to being better.
On Mondays its singing a song, reading a conference talk, and an excuse for a treat. * Until last month Monday also meant an email from Caleb – the only communication with my little brother for two years as he served a mission.
On Tuesdays its a women’s walking group in the morning and activity days in the evenings. **
On Wednesdays and Fridays its aerobics in the church gym (and on thursday and saturday mornings its waking up sore). Its also catching up afterwards and supporting each other.
On Sundays its three hours of church, lots of inspiration, and plenty of socializing. Its no exercising, no shopping, and plenty of journal writing.
Once a month its skipping breakfast and lunch and donating to the needy. It also hopefully means a trip to the temple (we miss having one five minutes away).
Every paycheck its 10% set aside and given to the bishop. ***
In the summer its sweating for a week with a hundred teenage girls and its long shorts. It looks like one piece swim suits and sleeves on shirts.
Every once in awhile its speaking in front of 400 people on Sunday on as little as a weeks notice. Its dropping everything to go teach with the missionaries. Its a ward party, a women’s get together, or a dinner invitation. Its following a little nudge to give someone a call, invite them over, or send them a kind word. Its declining the wine at a company dinner and its leaving the party early when people get a little too crude.
Its always relying on Him for strength, for guidance, and for happiness. Its knowing who you are, why you’re here, and where you came from. Its working towards where you’re going out of gratitude to Him who made it possible.
*Monday night is family night – you can learn more about it here. Growing up, my mom had three rules for FHE and the last one was that we always had treats…its the only one Ben and I enforce 🙂
**Each person in the congregation is asked to serve in some capacity. Right now, I get to work with the 8-11 year old girls twice a month on Tuesdays putting together fun activities that inspire, strengthen, and instruct. Tonight we’re learning how to make our own chapstick 🙂
***We pay tithing, which is 10% of our increase.
