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.
Note: This was written by Liz Essley and originally ran in the Washington Examiner
on August 6, 2011.