Confessions with CNN

I'm sure most of you that follow my blog, or are my friend on Facebook know about my recent publication with CNN.  I was asked to write an article for their religion blog this past week.  A lot of people have asked me if they found me because of my appearances on Oprah.  In fact, they didn't even know that I'd been a guest on the Oprah show.  Lisa Ling has a show on CNN and they are doing a special on the Mormon community in Utah, this Sunday the 5th.  As they were researching for this special, they came across my "Mormon Housewife" blog.  That's how they found me and that's how all this crazieness started.

In their searching they came across my post titled The Perfect Mormon Housewife.  I wrote it quite awhile ago after realizing the pressure that I put on myself to appear perfect, along with a few of my close friends. I never knew that writing that post would lead me to CNN or all the emails, texts, and phone calls, I've received this week.  It's all been a little overwhelming, but so touching.  

The piece I wrote for CNN was published on their religion blog.  You can find it here.  I was so honored to be asked to write this piece.  I didn't realize the response that would come from this piece though.  I guess I was bit naive when I wrote it.  I didn't understand how touchy of a subject it was for those within the church and those outside of it.  I wanted to clarify a few things that weren't covered in the article, so a clearer picture could come from my thoughts and feelings expressed.

This piece was not about the women of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This piece was about me.  It was strictly based on my feelings, my insecurities, my issues.  It was mine and mine alone.  It does not and never will reflect the women within the church.  I would be out of line to claim to know what every woman inside of the church feels about themselves, or their lives.  It also had nothing to do with being a "Mormon".  This article was about Jill Strasburg.  It was about how I have felt at certain times.  It wasn't meant to show how being a member of the church has made me feel.  It was strictly about how I felt at a time in my life when I was sick, and had to accept help from some amazing women.  

Those beautiful women taught me about love.  They taught me how charity is the pure love of Christ.  They taught me what it means to be a true Christian.  It was my weakness, my insecurities, and my issues with myself, that made me feel as though I wasn't worthy of their unconditional love.  They loved me more perfectly than I had ever been loved in my life.  They taught me how women that believe in Christ should treat another human being.  They taught me the true meaning of the greatest commandment ever given, "Love one another as I have loved you."  What an incredible gift I was given by them.  I wish I would've seen it back then, the way I see it now.

Perfection doesn't exist.  The only person that has ever been perfect is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior.  He is the reason that I can ask forgiveness from my faults, my wrongdoings, my insecurities, and my shortcomings.  He is the greatest example that has ever walked the face of the earth, and I'm thankful for his example.  

I'm thankful for the imperfections that each of us have, and the imperfections that make us the beautiful people that we are.  I'm grateful for each day that I wake up and get another chance to change and become better.  I'm thankful for the ability I have to admit fault, and ask forgiveness from God.  I'm grateful for the knowledge I have that I am loved just the way I am.  That as long as I am doing my best, I'm doing enough.  I'm grateful to know that my Heavenly Father loves me no matter what I do in this life.  

I'm blessed beyond what I can ever put into words.  How lucky I am to have amazing men and women in my life that teach me about the pure love of Christ on a daily basis.  I'm truly blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No matter what you think of me, the piece I wrote, or the things I write in the future; I would hope you never judge the members of my church, aka "The Mormons"; by the things that I say or do.  Everyone deserves to be judged by the words that come from their mouths, and the things they do themselves. If you have a desire to learn about something, I would encourage you to search it out for yourself, and find the answer that was meant for you.

Thank again for all the love, support, and encouragement that I've received from this article.  I've been blown away by the response.  I'm honored that some of you would take the time to reach out to me and show me such incredible kindness.  It never ceases to amaze me how much my Heavenly Father loves me.  I know he loves me because he sends me you.  Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!