In 2013 Buzzfeed ran an article on "25 Things Mormon Girls Love." Number one on the list? Pinterest.
And it’s true. Mormons LOVE Pinterest. I honestly don’t think I know a single female Latter-day Saint who doesn’t at the very least have a profile.
As with any social media platform or website, there are always the dangers of wasting away your life in a virtual world and neglecting real-time relationships. It's easy to wittle away the hours planning the beautiful nursery you'll design for your baby and drooling over photos of food as you think about how well your family is going to eat, but unless you actually go and do, Pinterest can easily become a vice rather than a virtue.
That being said, there is also a reason why Pinterest gets so much praise from Latter-day Saints. It is perfectly suited to promote our values.
When Bonnie D. Oscarson became the Young Women general president, it quickly became known that she also has a Pinterest account, and her profile summary perfectly describes why Mormons love Pinterest: “‘If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.’ And may I add just downright cute to the list?”
Here are some of the reasons I think Pinterest is perfect for Mormons:
1. Mormons (and Pinteresters) focus on family.
Our children are an heritage of the Lord, and we know the family is the fundamental unit of society. As such, we seek to educate our children and raise them to be able to contribute and be the best example to the rest of the world that they can. Here are some of my favorite Pinterest finds that help do just that.
- 13 Weeks of FHE on the Articles of Faith
- Raising Kids Who Get Along
- 5 Mistakes LDS Parents Make and How to Avoid Them
- 33 General Conference Activities for Children
- 3 Questions That Changed My Marriage
2. Mormons (and Pinteresters) seek out that which is inspirational and uplifting.
Pin
terest is full of good advice, how-tos, uplifting pictures, and even inspiring object lessons to share with your family. Many a time when I've been in a pinch to pull together a good Primary lesson or baptism gift idea, I've turned to Pinterest. But even when I am not searching for it, I'll stumble upon a beautiful picture of Christ or a temple on Pinterest that will remind me of what matters most. In fact, inspirational quotes and images are some of the most popular content on Pinterest. Here are some of my favorites.
3. Mormon (and Pinterest) culture is a food culture.
We serve refreshments at our firesides, have enrichment meetings on cooking, and take meals to those who have had a new baby or have gone through surgery. We emphasize the value of spending time together around the table as a family each night. The heart of the home is the kitchen, and the same is true on Pinterest. I have personally made more than 50 recipes from Pinterest, and while there have definitely been a few failures (I'm looking at you, overnight oatmeal in a jar), there have also been many, many successes, some of which have become staples in my house.
- Easy make-ahead meals for large crowds
- 8 hot chocolate recipes for the holidays
- 87 freezer meal recipes
- Ultimate chocolate chip n'Oreo fudge brownie bar
- Gourmet Neapolitan cupcakes that no one will guess start with a mix
- 7 dinner recipes to help with your weight goals
4. Mormons (and Pinteresters) value industry and being thrifty.
For years prophets have counseled members to stay out of debt, and with a focus on family and children, finding ways to save money and do it yourself is often of paramount importance. Luckily, Pinterest is full of such guides from other like-minded people.
- 8 cleaning hacks that will change how you do housework forever
- Small tips to make your home more energy efficient to save money
- DIY built-in shelving for entryways, window seats, and more—easy
- 12 games for outdoor family fun
- Homemade laundry soap that will save you over $300 a year
5. Mormons believe in standing as a witness and sharing the gospel in all places—including Pinterest.
Church leaders have recently encouraged us to share our beliefs with others in as many ways as possible. Elder Bednar recently said, "Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation." Pinterest is a great platform for sharing the gospel because the things you pin and repin can be seen by everyone—not just your select circle of friends. You never know whom you might be influencing!
Shameless plug: You can follow LDS Living on Pinterest to get tons of great content in all of these areas and more; then do your own bit of missionary work by repinning it!
Bonus
Check out this hilarious video of a bunch of Mormon women who try to throw a themed birthday party based on Pinterest finds—and just how much goes wrong. . .
