FEATURE: Family and Faith Along the Journey
By Robert Sampson
WKU Athletic Communications/Media Relations
As Lauren Crowder has traveled the world, two things have always remained the same, family and faith.
"I have moved around my whole life," said Crowder. "My dad's job took us everywhere... I was born in Indiana. Since then I have lived in Canada, Utah, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and England.
"I feel at home wherever my family is," said Crowder. "Whenever we are together, I feel like home." Crowder is the youngest of four siblings. Her three older siblings have all graduated from college and are married.
Faith has also been a constant for Crowder, who is a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The religion is more commonly referred to as the Mormon faith.
"I have been a member my whole life," said Crowder. "I was baptized when I was eight because we believe that is the age of accountability.
"Being in the South, a lot of people go to church," said Crowder. "Everybody knows about church, everyone knows the Bible. We have a lot more similarities to other churches than others believe. We have a lot more in common that most believe. We are both Christian. A lot of people don't realize that.
"People think we are weird," said Crowder. "We are not weird at all. We are Christian and we believe in Christ. We represent Christ. That is who we are.
"A lot of people don't know a lot about the Latter-Day church," said Crowder. "We believe that we have the same church that Christ established when he was on the earth. When He was on the earth, he taught his gospel and people followed him. He established apostles and disciples, people who followed him and believed in him and followed his gospel. Then he died and went back to heaven. There is this period of time when his gospel, people tried to continue it, but only got bits and pieces of it. There was this time when his gospel wasn't fully on the earth. We call that the apostasy. So then, in 1820 a boy named Joseph Smith was deciding what church he wanted to go to with his family. He went around with his family and didn't know which one was right. He read in the Bible in James and felt the need to pray to God to ask him which church was true. When he prayed, he saw God and Jesus Christ appear to him. He told him that none of the churches were completely correct, but that the gospel needed to be returned to the earth. He returned God's original gospel to the earth and that is what we follow today."
For someone with such a strong religion background, the rigors and unique schedules of being a student-athlete can take their toll.
"We don't do it every once in a while, we live this way everyday," said Crowder. "That takes effort. I always want to do what is right.
Games for the WKU Soccer team are normally played in a Friday/Sunday format.
"It is hard missing church," said Crowder. "I grew up going to church every Sunday. It is hard missing church with our Sunday games. I do regular scripture study on my own. I do regular prayer every morning and evening. I attend as much as I can. That really helps. When I am able to go on Sunday, I really try to take as much as I can in."
Outside of her religion, having lived around the world has influenced Crowder, especially living in England.
"England was the greatest," said Crowder. "It was so fun. Everything is different. I have never been in such a different place in my life. Even going to the store, they could hear that I was American... School is so different. I went to an all-girls school. We had to wear a uniform... It was weird. I took 20 different subjects. It was stuff like music, cooking, design class and math and sciences. But I had chemistry, biology as different subjects... It was very fun. It was very cool. Whenever I move to places, I like learning about the culture and what they have to offer. I think part of what makes me who I am today, outside of my religion, is in part because of that."
Having been in one place for four years now is quite a change for Crowder, who feels her freshman year was many years ago.
"I feel I have come a long way since then," said Crowder. "I am a better soccer player than I was. My mentality is a lot better. I understand the game better and I like the game better. It has just been a growing experience.
"In Bowling Green and at Western Kentucky University, everyone is so friendly," said Crowder. "Everyone treats each other good. Professors have been really supportive and wanted me to do well. It is a good place to live here... With the soccer team, that times a million. We really are a family. They treat me wonderful. I have made really great friends."
No matter where her travels take her down, the road, it seems she can now add a third constant to her life: family, faith and WKU Soccer.
