My Favorite Book

If there was a book that has had more impact on my life than any other it would be the Book of Mormon. A prophet once said "It is the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

I know that it is true, I feel closer to God and know my Savior Jesus Christ more fully when I read this book and abide by it's precepts. It has been the biggest blessing in my life. It has given me direction, it has provided answers to life's greatest questions. It testifies along with the Bible that Jesus is the Christ, he is our Savior, he did atone for us, and he has made it possible to be with our families beyond the grave.

I KNOW it is true, and because it means so much to me in my life, I'd like to share it others. I would love to give you a copy. If you would like a free copy with a personal note, please email me at motherwifeartist@gmail.com, with your name and mailing address. I would love to send you your very own copy.

Another Testament

I have fallen in love this this photographer's work and his vision. He has captured the feeling and spirit of this incredible event so well.

The Christian world as a whole believe that the only record we have of Jesus Christ and his mission is the Bible. They do not know that there is another testament of him found in the Book of Mormon. After his resurrection and ascension into heaven to his father he fulfilled the scripture John 10:16 - "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." He then visited his other fold of sheep on the America Continent. That record of his visit, his teachings and his continued role as Savior is found within the Book of Mormon in 3rd Nephi, chpt 8 - 30.

It happened. It is true. I have read the account numerous times. The spirit has testified of it many times. This account has changed my life. The Book of Mormon has changed my life. It can bring you closer to God than any other book. I know that without any doubt. I recently had the opportunity to share my testimony of the Book of Mormon with a Christian friend of mine. Sometimes in the busyness of the day and the many things to do, you forget what incredible blessings you have. The Book of Mormon is that for me. As I had a chance to tell her about it and encourage her to read it for herself to find out if it was true, I once again felt that incredible love for this book and the power of the spirit declaring to me that it is true. It made me want to share it with everyone. It made me wish everyone would read it and ask for themselves. It made me sad for those that because of pride, apathy or hardened hearts will brush it off and say no thanks. Not realizing what they are rejecting and completely missing. Missing the fullness of the gospel, missing more of the Savior's mission, missing answers to life's questions, missing the chance to have their lives completely changed and to be completely and utterly happy.

Many people don't even know what the Book of Mormon is. What is it? I think the preface to the book declares and explains it better than anything.

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.

The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.

After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved.

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.”

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.

I don't know who it is that reads my blog. I do not know why you read my blog. But whoever you are I want you to know that I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true. I know the accounts, the stories, the doctrines and messages found inside are true and from the Living God. I know it has the power to bring peace, healing, comfort, knowledge, joy, happiness, and a testimony that God lives and his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. I know that he did visit the people portrayed in this video after his resurrection and set up the way for us to find true happiness and joy.

Have you read the Book of Mormon? Would you like to? What do you have to loose by reading it? Everything. What do you have to gain by reading it? Everything.

You can read it online here: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents

You can have a hard copy delivered to you from missionaries or by mail here. (Scroll to the bottom and there will be a link to request a copy.)

You can email me and I'll send you your own copy: satippetts@gmail.com

Hope

I don't know about you but lately but as I've been seeing what has been happening in the world, reading stories of others having a hard time, experiencing my own loss through my recent miscarriage, watching a friend go through cancer, and seeing people's trials all around me I have found hope, and have seen the incredible need for hope.

I was so excited to see this website dedicated to Finding Hope. It is something we all need. It something we all need to tightly hold on to, and it is all possible because of the Atonement of the Son of God for us personally. There is a reason to have hope. If you feel like there is none maybe this site can help give you a little a bit of it right now.

Truth

 

Yesterday morning as I was walking on the treadmill I looked up on my board and saw this little card that I had found on the floor one day at a church we were visiting.

 

“At sometime or other, we have to make a choice whether to deny, modify or defend the truth--- What choice will you make?”

It hit me at the time I read it and it still hits me every time I pick it up and read it again. It was on my mind all day and even more so when a friend of mine was expressing a dilemma of someone getting mad at her for expressing her view point.

We make this choice every day whether we realize it or not. When it comes down to making a decision or acting on something we know to be true, we subconsciously choose one of those three things. We either completely reject it, choosing to not having anything to do with it, or we start to make excuses of why we are the exception to the rule and why it doesn’t apply to us. We then start bending or twisting things to make it fit into our personal standard of what is acceptable. Finally we can accept the truth whole heartedly, act on it, believe it and defend it at all costs.

The interesting fact is that it’s truth.  It never changes. Yet we try to change it.  We try to reject it saying it’s not what it is. Sometimes we try and change it to fit our standards. But in reality we can not change it. Ever. It is truth. 

 

The last few weeks I’ve had a few opportunities that have made me think really hard about those truths that I feel really strongly about. In one instance I got to express my feelings about a truth I felt strongly about.  I was given the chance to just brush over it and say well it’s probably ok in this circumstance, or just because it’s my opinion doesn’t mean it’s everyones. But the more I thought on it, the more I realized that no, there is an eternal truth here and I need to say something. Now did it change the circumstance at all. No. But it changed me.  It made it that much easier down the road when another circumstance comes up to be able to stand up and say hey….. this is not right.  And hopefully after a few more of these experiences it gets easier and easier. 

It has also made me think about my own personal life, wondering what truths out there am I trying to personally modify or trying to fit into “what I want".  When do I have the attitude of ‘it’s not really hurting anything’ or ‘it’s not that bad there is so much worse out there'? It’s also made me wonder what truths am I completely ignoring because I either don’t want to hear it or because it’s too scary to act on it.  

What about you? Which choices are you making?

A Loss but Great Gains

A little over a week ago I read this heart tugging blog post.  Little did I know that two days later I would be hearing similar news.  “The baby stopped growing about 3 weeks ago.”  I was in for my 14 week checkup. We were expecting our 5th baby.

 
I had come to the doctor for my 10 week checkup 4 weeks earlier, at that time they couldn’t hear a heartbeat.  They knew it was a little early but decided it was best to check things out on the ultrasound.  I had been feeling all kinds of different emotions and feelings with this pregnancy, so when I first went in I probably wouldn’t have been surprised if there was no heartbeat.  But there was. The baby was moving, everything looked great, and I saw it’s little heart beating strong.
 
That is probably why for this visit I came by myself expecting the normal routine visit.  Once again the doctor couldn’t find the heartbeat.  He checked for quite a while and then decided to do another ultrasound just to be safe.  That’s when I saw for myself that the little heart was no longer  beating. 

I did pretty good until the technician asked how I was doing. The tears started coming, I felt emotions I’ve never felt, and more than anything  I wanted to get out of there, have a good cry and talk to my husband.  The doctor gave me his condolences as well as options of where to go from there. I wanted to try and pass it naturally, and hoped that I would be able to since It had been so long. 

I left not wanting to return to pick up my kids from the babysitter yet, so with tears and all kinds of emotions I started driving, ending up in the parking lot of the temple, where I called my husband up and broke the sad news.

I don’t know that I had ever really planned on this or expected it.  We had 4 previous pregnancies that had gone wonderful.  I have had friends go through miscarriages before, and despite how much I tried to understand, and give condolences you never understand until you hear the news for yourself.  

About 11 years ago while I was in college I attended a Women’s Conference in which one of the speakers talked about her experience of having 7 miscarriages and the lessons she learned through them. Her first one she went through the miscarriage alone, she didn’t tell anyone and she described how hard it was. She decided after that if she ever got pregnant she would immediately tell people, and then she would let people know if she miscarried. She wanted the support and love that she needed so badly and should get. She knew she shouldn’t and it wasn’t God’s way for her to go through it alone.  

For some reason that has stuck with me for years, and as I was hearing for myself the news that I had miscarried, I knew in my heart I wanted people to know. I wanted the support.  That first day I couldn’t share it though. I was still dealing with the news myself.  I still needed to really talk with my husband and I just wasn’t emotionally stable enough too.  Finally that night I emailed my family asking them for their prayers that I could do this naturally and to let them know the news.  I also posted to my dear friends and co-workers at ScrapGirls who are so full of faith and love, asking for their prayers as well.

I then went to bed with hope and faith that we’d be able to pass it naturally and that I would be able to get through this personal loss. 

The next morning I started bleeding. I wasn’t experiencing any pain, and I was glad that it looked like we’d do this naturally.  Things were looking good.  That is until right after Beau took some of the kids and left for a little bit.  It was then that I started having hot and cold flashes, getting week and feeling light headed. I came to a minute later long enough to realize I was kneeling on the floor and holding on for dear life to some furniture next to me.  I laid down on the floor and passed out.

I came to a little bit later, and heard Isaac waking up in the next room.  Calling him I told him that mom was really sick and I needed him to go push a chair over to the phone and bring it too me. He didn’t say anything, walked over and brought me back the phone. I called Beau and told him something was wrong I needed him home now. 

He got home, talked to me, called our friends asking them if they could take our kids, and tried to make me as comfortable as possible.  I was feeling slightly better but could not move. I was completely exhausted, weak and all I could do was lay on the floor hoping to not have any more hot flashes, and to overcome the nausea. 
 
Our friend came and picked up the kids, and unexpectedly my sister knocked on the door letting me know that she had left her kids with a babysitter, had brought 3 freezer meals, hot rolls and asked if could she help out with something.  I was so grateful for her just dropping everything and coming over after she got my email the night before.  She helped do the dishes, clean up the house and helped Beau out while he took care of me.

I would have moments of doing good, and even made it to a sitting position, eating a little bit of food and feeling like my strength was returning…. it wasn’t before long though before the hot  and cold flashes hit again and I hollered out to Beau that it was happening again.

I don’t remember anything after that except Beau patting me on the cheeks asking me if I was with him or not.  I don’t know how long I was out, I had barely come to  long enough to make a sound letting him know I heard him.  He told me we needed to get to the emergency room.  All I could do was listen, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything except lay there and throw up occasionally.  I knew though that there was no way I could get myself into a car, even with his help to get to an emergency room. He finally realized it was not possible either and called 911 for an ambulance.  

I have to say that I have never been so grateful to hear him make that call, and so grateful to hear them come in and talk to me, getting me loaded and feeling myself move towards the hospital. I knew something was wrong, but I could not do anything myself to get me there. I was so glad to just relax and know that they would take care of me.

 

The rest of the morning was spent in the ER trying to get an IV in me. I was dehydrated, and my blood pressure was really low.  15 attempts later with absolutely no luck except a bunch of holes, bruises and pain they ended up putting one in my neck.  Once I started getting some fluids in I started feeling better.  After discussions with my doctor it was decided that I was bleeding too much and the best thing would be an emergency D&C.  I was wheeled into the operating room with the plan that I should be good after the procedure and be able to return home that night.  That was not possible. I was still so weak and unable to stand let a lone walk that I ended up spending the night in the hospital.  The nurses kept pushing me to try standing and walking to the bathroom, but I physically knew that it was not possible. I was so exhausted and weak that every time I attempted I could not even stand.  I felt like my blood level was still low and that my blood pressure kept varying. I was so glad to hear them say I could stay the night.  The next morning I awoke feeling tons better after getting some crackers, water and sleep.  I could finally walk and ended up coming home that afternoon. 

The next 6 days were slow. My mom had been planning on being here to help out until Saturday thinking I should be feeling better by then.  She didn’t leave until Monday.  I kept getting weak, not being able to think clearly. I was completely exhausted and would sleep for 3 solid hours shifts during the day. I was not able to really feel good enough to have her leave until Monday. I’m feeling better now, and know we’re on the upswing. I finally feel like my blood level is getting close to normal, although I am completely exhausted by the end of the day and emotionally unstable. It’s been a week of tears.  As long as I don’t think I can keep the tears under control. If I think too much then they come….

One thing I have been so grateful for during this is that advice 11 years ago from that woman about her experience with the miscarriages.  Her advice to let people know and so you could have support. Even though I feel the loss of the baby, I have gained so much in the last week.

I have gained a huge love for my dear friends who without knowing what was going on, and without question dropped everything, took my children in, watched them overnight until we could get out of the hospital. They made sure Savannah got to school, did her homework and took care of them when I couldn’t.  They will never know how much I appreciated that unconditional love and support even though they didn’t know at the time what was going on.

 

I have gained a huge love and appreciation for my extended family, my sister who just showed up that morning to help knowing that she could help.  My mother in law who just happened to be in town and showed up as I was being carted away in an ambulance.  She gave up the rest of her day and stayed at the house taking care of laundry, cleaning, and taking care of things there.  For my mom who dropped everything and came down and helped take care of things around the house and especially the kids while I tried to recuperate.  I am so grateful for the family members that had me in their prayers and called with love and concern. 
                                               

I gained a great appreciation for the love and support out there from everyone that I either told or found out. Who have given hugs, who have told us they are sorry for our loss.  For Beau’s employers who understood, told him to take care of me and let him go for the week.  I’m grateful for all the women out there who have said "I’ve been there, I’ve lost one or more of my own, I understand" and they do.

I’ve gained an even greater love for my husband who dropped everything since my first call to him, and has been an incredible help and support. Being there the whole time when I needed him more than anything.  I’m grateful for the priesthood, and the power it has in my life, and how grateful I was to get a priesthood blessing from him the night before the whole ordeal, a blessing of comfort, council and strength. To have him here when emotionally all I needed was him, someone to talk to, someone to cry to, someone to curl up next to.
  
I’ve gained a greater understanding of what this kind of loss is like.  I hope that I can be of better comfort to other women out there that experience the same thing, since I too have now experienced something similar.
 
Most of all I have a great knowledge that God is aware of me.  Shalae. He knows exactly what I am going through, he knew what I would be going through and sent people at the right times to help and be a support. He knows what is best for me and my family. He has a plan for me individually but also an individual, personalized plan for each of my children.  He knows exactly when they need to be here in our family and who needs to experience this earth life.  For some reason this was not the time, nor the hour for another baby to join our earthly family.  It will be a part of our eternal and heavenly family, but this whole experience was the Lord’s will and was at his timing. I’m so grateful I know that, believe it with all my heart and can gain great comfort from that knowledge during  this time.

I have also realized I do not have it that bad. I have been keeping tabs on a close friends of Beau and I. His family and our family always hung out together when I was little. We'd spend hours together. Right now he is fighting a battle of cancer.  He has two little kids and amazing wife. I read their blog, I see what he goes through daily and am amazed at his wife as she watches him go through this.  I read his story and realize how little my problems are. How there are those out there with so much greater.  

It has been a couple weeks of learning, emotions, tears and immense gratitude.

Thank you to all of you who have called, expressed love and concern.  That you to all of you that have just jumped in and helped. I am doing so much better and only because of all of you. Thank you!  I love you more than you know.

The Heart of a Boy

This is the inspiring story of my nephew Joshua. I've talked about him briefly on my blog here and here. His life is a miracle and a testimony that God is still a God of Miracles even today. I thought those of you who know Nic and Cortney might enjoy seeing a bit of their life, adding two twin boys they just added to their family a few weeks ago.

God the Father

This is the first in the series on my faith. To find the introduction to this series check out this post.

As I've been thinking about how to go about writing these and the approach I wanted to take, I decided I wanted to:

1) Share some great quotes from the prophet and apostles that explain this doctrine well, because I think it's important to hear their words.
3) Share scriptures which illustrate this doctrine.
2) Share my own personal experiences with this doctrine and how I know it to be true.
3) Ask you some questions, as I'd love to hear from you about your personal beliefs and experiences as well. I know all of you are from so many different backgrounds.

In our faith we have something called the 13 articles of faith. They are basically 13 simple statements about our doctrine and what we believe. The first one states. “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” One thing that makes us different from most religions in our belief that God the father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate, distinct individuals. They are not combined in one substance.

I personally believe this. I personally believe in God, that he is my eternal father. That I lived with him before I came to this earth. I know that he loves me and is aware of my needs. Elder Holland states:

"We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true." (Holland)

I know this to be true based a couple of things.


1) Scriptural doctrine that they are separate beings.

"We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings, noting such unequivocal illustrations as the Savior’s great Intercessory Prayer just mentioned, His baptism at the hands of John, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen—to name just four.

"With these New Testament sources and more ringing in our ears, it may be redundant to ask what Jesus meant when He said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” On another occasion He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Of His antagonists He said, “[They have] . . . seen and hated both me and my Father.” And there is, of course, that always deferential subordination to His Father that had Jesus say, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” “My father is greater than I.”

To whom was Jesus pleading so fervently all those years, including in such anguished cries as “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” and “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”? To acknowledge the scriptural evidence that otherwise perfectly united members of the Godhead are nevertheless separate and distinct beings is not to be guilty of polytheism; it is, rather, part of the great revelation Jesus came to deliver concerning the nature of divine beings."(Holland)

2) I know because a boy named Joseph Smith prayed to know and had the first vision, in which he saw God the Father and the Son.

"When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and Glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

I know personally that Joseph Smith's account and experience is true. I know because I have stepped in that sacred grove where it happened, I have prayed for myself to know if it is true. The spirit has born witness to me over and over, throughout my life, in different circumstances that this IS true. (I will discuss this topic in more depth in another post)

They are separate individuals. With bodies like us only immortal and glorified. Elder Holland explains this belief well.

"A related reason The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is excluded from the Christian category by some is because we believe, as did the ancient prophets and apostles, in an embodied—but certainly glorified—God. To those who criticize this scripturally based belief, I ask at least rhetorically: If the idea of an embodied God is repugnant, why are the central doctrines and singularly most distinguishing characteristics of all Christianity the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the physical Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? If having a body is not only not needed but not desirable by Deity, why did the Redeemer of mankind redeem His body, redeeming it from the grasp of death and the grave, guaranteeing it would never again be separated from His spirit in time or eternity? Any who dismiss the concept of an embodied God dismiss both the mortal and the resurrected Christ. No one claiming to be a true Christian will want to do that." (Holland)

3) I know from personal experience that God is my Father. The literal father of my spirit as well as yours.

He knows me personally. He knows me by name, he knows my traits, my personality, my weaknesses, my gifts, he knows me better than anyone. I am his literal daughter. I know that to be true. I have had many experiences in my life, where I have had the spirit testify to my heart and mind that I am his daughter and he is very much aware of my needs. I have felt his love at times when I questioned my worth, when I felt unloved, or not needed. I know he has my best interest in heart.

About 7 years ago I had the opportunity to go to the San Diego temple for the first time. It is beautiful, one of the most incredible places you could have the opportunity of walking. I was walking through it admiring the beauty of the place and kept thinking, "I feel like a princess," when suddenly I was overwhelmed with this incredible amount of love and the spirit. I heard in my head and felt in my heart these words, "You are. You are a princess. Your father is the King of Kings and reigns high in the heavens. You are his daughter, you are of infinite worth, you are created in his image, you were created for more than you can ever imagine. You are a princess." It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

If any of you do not believe that there is a God, or that he does not know you personally, I want to bear my testimony that there is. There is a God. He is your father. He loves you. He knows you. You were created in his image. He has a purpose and a plan for you. Believe.

There have been many times when I have knelt by my bed, feeling so completely alone, wondering if anyone cared or if anyone knew me. I cried wondering if God was there, did he know me. It was times like that that I felt the greatest love from him. Times the spirit bore strong testimony to me that he was there, that he did care, that he knew exactly what I was going through. He was my father, and just as my earthly father cares for me, loves me, worries about me and knows me. He does even more so because he is perfect, he is eternal.

I see evidence of his love daily in my life. I feel it all the time. Little things happen here and there that let me know he loves me, he knows my needs, he cares about me. I have come to understand this even more so once I had my own children. When you become a parent, I think you can easily begin to understand more how God can truly love us despite all our faults, despite how horrible we can be sometimes. I love and worry about my children more than anything. I cry when they're hurt, I find joy in their accomplishments. The are my life. I know my Father in Heaven feels the same way about me. He is well aware of each of personally.

I know that there is a God. I know that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost create the Godhead. I know that they are individual separate beings united in purpose. I know Heavenly Father and his Son have a body like ours, only it is immortal and glorified. Ours will be too one day when we are resurrected all because of the mercy, atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I know that God is personally aware of me, and of you. He loves us. He is real. Here is there.

Do you know if there is a God?

Do you believe he is your father?

What is your understanding and belief of the Godhead?

When in your life have you felt Heavenly Father's love for you, his concern for you individually.

I'd love to hear your responses as well as any questions you might have. :) This was harder to write and explain than I thought so if you have any questions, or need clarification please ask. :)

You can find Jeffery R. Holland's full article here.
You can read more about our belief of God here.

photo credits:
1) Arjun01
2) House of Sims
3) Del Parsons
4) my own photo

My Faith

Over a year ago I had a conversation with one of my fellow ScrapGirl's designers - Ursula. Ok it was more than just a conversation, it was more like a 3 hour discussion late into the night about my faith and beliefs. She had a lot of questions about our Church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints or more commonly known as the Mormon church. She has been taught various beliefs about us, she had heard various things and she had done her own study about our faith. She didn't necessarily believe it, but had a lot of questions she wanted to ask about it. Things that she had been taught but didn't understand, things she wanted clarified and was glad that someone of the LDS faith was willing to sit down and talk with her.

We also had Keri in our room who was listening to all these questions, and who had never even heard of the Church or of our faith, and was new to everything being said. I have thought back on that conversation for a long time. For one - thinking of poor Keri who was getting hit with all these hard doctrinal questions about a faith she had never heard about and the opposite spectrum of Ursula who had knew a lot and had so many questions. How I wish I could have been able to talk to both on the different levels of their knowledge of our faith, but at the time I couldn't and yet I gained so much from that conversation with Ursula.


I love the gospel. I love to study the scriptures. I love to teach from them. I love to answer questions about our faith and I love to share my faith. Often times people are hesitant to ask questions, and yet I WISH they would. Either they think they already know, or they don't know what to ask, or they don't want to bother us by asking. Yet I grow the most from sharing or learning from each other.

One of my favorite things to do is to learn about other's faith, to study various religions and what they believe, and to learn from others what they believe as well. Truth can be found everywhere. I learned a lot from Ursula that night. I treasure our conversation because I learned so much. In fact at the end of the conversation she asked me the question, "Has anything I said made you think, or possibly change your mind or question whether or not what you believe is true?" At the time I told her that it had made me think, checking myself as to how I know these things are true, and how I came to know that. I did tell her though that it hadn't necessarily changed whether or not I believed it was true. I have had too many powerful experiences where the spirit has told me it is true and nothing could ever change that.

I think she left thinking that she didn't make me think. That she wasn't able to change my mind. But I can tell her that a year and half later I am still thinking about that conversation. I have kept asking myself how I know. Why do the doctrines of other faiths not convert me? I agree with a lot of things, because as I said there are lots of truth out there. A lot of doctrines are similar, they're the basis of Christianity. I am Christian and believe in Jesus Christ, as other Christians do. Why is that I believe in my faith so strongly. One thing I've come to realize is that I have a lot of questions. I want answers to those questions, and I have found those answers in my faith. Other faiths can't answer them for me. Also as I told her earlier, I have had spiritual experiences, and answers concerning my faith that I can not deny.

But despite how much I believe it, there are people out there that either do not know about our faith, do not understand our faith, or are adamantly attacking our faith. Often times people hear things or are told things about our faith that are not completely true. They often times do not understand or have a background of our faith and so to them it is strange and scary. I have wanted so badly for people to just know about us. Know the truth about our faith, from someone who actually knows, practices and lives the faith. I don't necessarily want to convert people, but to at least educate them. They can choose for themselves what they do with the knowledge. I love learning about the faith of my Jewish friend. I enjoy reading my cousins views on atheism. I love talking amongst my Christian friends and hearing their various experiences, insight and faith. Why? Because in the process I grow. I grow immensely. I learn about myself. I evaluate my own faith, I find out where I have a testimony and where I don't and learn how to strengthen it.


For the last while I have felt a push to be more vocal about my faith. For one - I talk about it a lot and may use terms, scriptures, or doctrines that others may not understand from a quick post on a blog. I want to give them a background so that they can understand me. They can understand my background, what I believe, and how that translates into my blog posts.

I want to be able to maybe correct wrong information about our faith, or clarify things like Ursula needed. I want to be able to introduce it from the beginning for someone like Keri who had never even heard of it, so that it's not strange and foreign. I want to hopefully answer some questions that people have deep in their souls. Questions that my faith has answered for me. There are also lots of people lost because they know not where to find the truth. They don't even have a knowledge of the Savior. Maybe I can reach one of them.

So I have decided to just risk it. Risk criticism, risk attack, risk putting everything that I hold dear and my own personal experiences out there in the open. In the big wide open, to be seen by anyone that happens upon this blog. That is scary. But I can't sit here anymore with it nagging me in the back of my mind. I need to share my faith, because I need to be stretched. I need to grow.

I have decided to share briefly every week a post that explains and shares one doctrine and aspect of our faith. They will always have the header "my faith" on them. So you can read it or skip over if if you'd rather not read it. You can find them also at Mormon.org. But I wanted to share it from my own personal experiences that have let me know they are true. To share my own personal insights. I also want you to feel free to have a conversation with me through comments or email. I would love that. I seriously am not afraid to have people ask me questions. Please do.

So despite how scary it is to open yourself up, it hopefully will not only help me grow more in my faith, but I hope it will help you grow in your personal journey as well.