Tweet
Washington Examiner
Aug 6 2011
Credo: Aaron Sherinian
By: Liz Essley | Examiner Staff Writer | 08/06/11 8:05 PM
According to the advertisement about his life, Aaron Sherinian lives
in Arlington, manages public relations for the United Nations
Foundation, speaks Italian, French, Armenian, Spanish and "English
when things are working," teaches high school students every morning
in a Scripture study class and is a husband and father of three. He's
also -- as the ad says -- a Mormon. Sherinian is the subject of a
video for the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign run by the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before settling in the Washington area,
he spent a decade as a Foreign Service Officer and diplomat for the
U.S. State Department.
Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I can enthusiastically tell people I am a Mormon -- exclamation point!
I most appreciate about my faith the fact that it is a faith of action
that encourages people to take their faith in relation to Jesus Christ
and put it into practice every day, not just on Sunday, and not just
when they're on their knees praying, but in how they approach their
communities and workplace and how they can make relationships better.
Two Republican presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman,
are Mormon. Do you feel pressure to vote for them because of their
religion?
I don't feel pressure to vote for any particular candidate, but I feel
pressured to be a smart, informed and active voter. I just feel like I
have to be smarter and savvier because of what's going on. There's so
much discussion about 'Who are the Mormons and what does it mean to be
Mormon?' It's very exciting to be in Washington right now when people
are asking these questions. The last few months have made for the most
interesting conversations at dinner parties, Metro stops and on
Facebook. I think that it's done nothing but help people realize that
we have a lot of getting to know each other to do, as Americans and as
people.
June's Gallup poll shows 22 percent of Americans say they wouldn't
vote for a Mormon. Have you experienced any sort of stigma associated
with Mormonism?
I've had to do a lot of explaining, but it's always ended with more
understanding. Every time I see a poll like that I think, 'Gosh, I
need to be a better neighbor and better citizen and a better friend.'
What do you say to people who have questions about Mormonism's origins
or polygamy?
There's so much of the Mormon experience that's part of American
history that it's interesting to talk to people about it. But the
reality is that the story of the church is really a global story. We
are a global people. More Mormons speak Spanish than any other
language. There's tremendous growth happening in Africa. Mormonism's
origins may be American, but our history and future is about the
world.
How much do you feel you have in common with evangelical Christians or
Catholics, for example?
When you have a conversation with someone about what their
relationship looks like with Christ, those are so valuable, because
there are different ways people understand to him to have a role in
your life. There are more commonalities than differences.
Evangelicals often say Mormons believe in legalism -- that people are
saved by works, not faith. I've heard disagreement in the Mormon
community about this. Are people saved by works or by faith?
It's not an either-or question. I'll quote my wife on this: "People
can see your faith by what you do." You've got to believe, but by
golly you better be sweating and proving you believe it at the same
time. Faith has got to be accompanied by a lot of sweat, or it's not
doing anyone, or you, much good.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
Faith is an action word. You need to have, cultivate and develop
faith, but faith is something you do as much as you feel or think. I
think service to people in your community and family is key to being a
follower of Christ. I think putting family relationships at the top of
everything and accepting everyone as a child of God are other keys.
- Liz Essley
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/people/2011/08/credo-aaron-sherinian
Aug 6 2011
Credo: Aaron Sherinian
By: Liz Essley | Examiner Staff Writer | 08/06/11 8:05 PM
According to the advertisement about his life, Aaron Sherinian lives
in Arlington, manages public relations for the United Nations
Foundation, speaks Italian, French, Armenian, Spanish and "English
when things are working," teaches high school students every morning
in a Scripture study class and is a husband and father of three. He's
also -- as the ad says -- a Mormon. Sherinian is the subject of a
video for the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign run by the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before settling in the Washington area,
he spent a decade as a Foreign Service Officer and diplomat for the
U.S. State Department.
Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I can enthusiastically tell people I am a Mormon -- exclamation point!
I most appreciate about my faith the fact that it is a faith of action
that encourages people to take their faith in relation to Jesus Christ
and put it into practice every day, not just on Sunday, and not just
when they're on their knees praying, but in how they approach their
communities and workplace and how they can make relationships better.
Two Republican presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman,
are Mormon. Do you feel pressure to vote for them because of their
religion?
I don't feel pressure to vote for any particular candidate, but I feel
pressured to be a smart, informed and active voter. I just feel like I
have to be smarter and savvier because of what's going on. There's so
much discussion about 'Who are the Mormons and what does it mean to be
Mormon?' It's very exciting to be in Washington right now when people
are asking these questions. The last few months have made for the most
interesting conversations at dinner parties, Metro stops and on
Facebook. I think that it's done nothing but help people realize that
we have a lot of getting to know each other to do, as Americans and as
people.
June's Gallup poll shows 22 percent of Americans say they wouldn't
vote for a Mormon. Have you experienced any sort of stigma associated
with Mormonism?
I've had to do a lot of explaining, but it's always ended with more
understanding. Every time I see a poll like that I think, 'Gosh, I
need to be a better neighbor and better citizen and a better friend.'
What do you say to people who have questions about Mormonism's origins
or polygamy?
There's so much of the Mormon experience that's part of American
history that it's interesting to talk to people about it. But the
reality is that the story of the church is really a global story. We
are a global people. More Mormons speak Spanish than any other
language. There's tremendous growth happening in Africa. Mormonism's
origins may be American, but our history and future is about the
world.
How much do you feel you have in common with evangelical Christians or
Catholics, for example?
When you have a conversation with someone about what their
relationship looks like with Christ, those are so valuable, because
there are different ways people understand to him to have a role in
your life. There are more commonalities than differences.
Evangelicals often say Mormons believe in legalism -- that people are
saved by works, not faith. I've heard disagreement in the Mormon
community about this. Are people saved by works or by faith?
It's not an either-or question. I'll quote my wife on this: "People
can see your faith by what you do." You've got to believe, but by
golly you better be sweating and proving you believe it at the same
time. Faith has got to be accompanied by a lot of sweat, or it's not
doing anyone, or you, much good.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
Faith is an action word. You need to have, cultivate and develop
faith, but faith is something you do as much as you feel or think. I
think service to people in your community and family is key to being a
follower of Christ. I think putting family relationships at the top of
everything and accepting everyone as a child of God are other keys.
- Liz Essley
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/people/2011/08/credo-aaron-sherinian