{A Mormon Social Worker}

Mormon....Social Work

I have been thinking about writing a blog post about what I spend the majority of my time doing. 

Social Work is one of those careers where people react in variations of one of two ways. 

First Option: "Heidee, you are such a good person for working in a field that is so hard." or "Those who are willing to do social work have such big hearts!"

Second Option: "I can't believe that you can do that everyday, isn't it really sad?" or "I could never be a social worker, I'm glad there are people like you that are willing to do that."

Am I the only person that thinks the juxtaposition of how people view social workers is completely Bazaar? 

If you can believe it or not. These kind of opposite statements happened a lot throughout school when classmates found out that I was LDS and going into Social Work. 

Again. One of two things would be said. 

Option One: "I am so glad that there are people like you who can do this kind of work, and still stay strong in their faith."

Option two: "I'm not sure how you can handle doing this work and still stay true to your faith, there is no way that the Mormon church would allow you to truly advocate for your clients because of all of their rules."

Again with this juxtaposition!

Now. Obviously I didn't go into social work because I wanted to be praised and I also didn't go into it wanting to be condemned for my decision. 

I went into social work because it was the right thing for me. 

Again, I have been thinking a lot about writing this post. Being a Mormon Social Worker is actually pretty rare, even in the state of Utah. Most of the people that were in school with me had strong feeling towards my religion and it lead me to be quiet about those things that I truly believe in. 

So. The best way that I can think of to help myself work through all of my thoughts, was to write a post like this. 

So. 

Here we go. 

I am a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

I have been a member of this religion my entire life.
I have also lived in the state of Utah my entire life. 

I know what many of you may be thinking. I'm a sheltered, Little, Utah Mormon who doesn't know what the real world is like. 

I honestly can't say if this is true or not for many reasons, the main reason being that I only have my current life experience, and there is no way to know if I would feel any different if I was raised in a different state. 

Anyway, that was a little bit of a rant....

Many of the decisions that I have made in my life I have made with the assistance of a higher being (for me,  my Father in Heaven).

I know that where I am in my current life is attributed directly to Him. And I am forever grateful for them. 

Finding Social Work is one thing that I am eternally grateful to Him for!

Everything seemed to fall into place when I began my studies of social work and it all felt so right. 

And recognizing these feelings I attribute to my Faith and Knowledge in the Gospel. 

As I became a social worker and began to practice advocating for others, I began to recognize so many similarities between social work and the gospel that I believe in. 

I believe that in a previous life, I fought side by side with everyone that has lived on this planet for us to be able to live a life where we are able to choose for ourselves. 

One of the most basic principles of Social Work is a clients right to Self-Determination. 

I believe that I have a Savior who advocates for me. Always. He is always going to be there for me and listen to me when I am sad and comfort me when it seems like no one else does. I tell Him things that I wouldn't trust another to help me with. I am ever His client and He is ever my advocate.

I feel that I am able to do this and stay true to my faith, because my religion teaches me most everything I need to know to be a genuine social worker and advocate. They obviously don't teach me the theories or the therapeutic techniques.  But the things that can't be taught in a classroom I feel that I learned by becoming closer to Him.

This is how I am able to do my job day after day. This is how I am able to see and hear those terrible things and feel true empathy for them. I am able to help others when they are at their lowest, because I have someone who I can go to when I am at mine. And I know this person, because of my religion and how it makes me feel.

I know that not everyone will feel the same way that I do on this particular topic. And I think that is okay. Because, for me, being a Mormon Social Worker is exactly what I needed to do in my life. 

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings. :)