My religion teaches me .....

...to develop a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ...that no matter what happens in my life, I can always trust Them....that I am happier when I have the Church as the center of my life and live it every day...that all people are my brothers and sisters in the Lord, deserving of my love and kindness...that my marriage and family can be for Eternity, not just "till death do we part"...that I am a child of God.

I am so grateful for my Ward family...

A Ward is comprised of a certain number of families that live within a particular boundary area, which has been determined by the leaders of their Stake. A Ward is led by a Bishop and his two counselors with other leaders called in each Ward auxiliary. A Stake is comprised of a certain number of Wards and the leaders of a Stake officiate over the Wards within their stewardship. A Stake is led by a Stake President and his two counselors with other leaders called in each Stake auxiliary. In a Ward family...we truly are like a family. We worry about one another. We support one another in difficult times. We stand ready to serve one another when the need arises. We are very aware of each other and have bonds of friendship and mutual concern. We have many Ward activities that bring us together as we learn and grow together and feel the warmth of each other’s caring. And just like a real family, we pray for each other.

Everyone has struggles and trials....

Just because I joined the LDS Church does not mean that my life has been always smooth ever since. I have had my share of temptations like everyone, have made some wrong choices, and had periods of inactivity from attendance. I struggled for a few years after baptism with not going to meetings for awhile. Part of it was that I lacked a strong enough testimony in the beginning to keep me strong. I knew the Church was true, but I didn’t have the support of family members to lean on to keep me focused on what I needed to be doing to continue to change for the good. And my spouse was not active in the Church, nor living as he should, which made it difficult for me, a new member. He had been a member all his life, but just not active. But as the years went on, I corrected things and my testimony grew stronger as I grew in knowledge and understanding, and my faith increased and blessings flowed.

It is my life....

I can’t imagine my life without the Church as part of it…it is my life! I acknowledge the Lord’s hand in all good things that come to me. Heavenly Father is the father of my spirit, I am His spirit daughter. Jesus is His first born son and Savior of the world; the Holy Ghost brings me comfort and peace. “The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and bones. He is often referred to as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, or the Comforter. Roles of the Holy Ghost - The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel. He “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches “the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural senses. As we strive to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, the Holy Ghost can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger.” Quoted from: http://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng

Monday nights are always Family Home Evening nights...

We gather as a family on Monday evenings and spend time together learning about the gospel and each other. We begin by singing a Church song chosen by an assigned family member, followed by someone assigned to offer a prayer for the Lord’s spirit to be with us during this time and to help us. Then the person, who has been assigned to give the lesson, presents it. The lesson can be on anything gospel related or on a topic that helps us to be better, kinder people as we follow the Savior. After the lesson, another family member is in charge of some sort of an activity, which can be going for a walk to the park, playing a wii game, doing a craft, or whatever. Then after the activity another family member has been assigned the refreshment. After this, we close the evening with Family Prayer before sending the little ones off to bed. Each week we rotate the assignments for Family Home Evening between all family members, so we each have a turn at everything. This is a very special family time…and is held universally throughout the whole Church so that every Monday night, we know that millions of other LDS families throughout the world are holding theirs, also. What a blessing this has been for our family, as we come together and are able to feel the Lord’s spirit in attendance with us as we learn of the things He would have us learn that will strengthen us as individuals and as a family unit.

Some beginning things I learned...

1)..That at baptism I made a covenant (a two way promise: I promised to remember the Savior and keep His commandments…and…He promises that if I will do that, I will always have His spirit to be with me). 2)..That as I partake of the Sacrament (the bread and the water) each week in Sacrament Meeting, that I am renewing my baptismal covenants.

Gradual learning

I learned slowly but surely about the Church as I served in my callings, attended Sunday School classes and Relief Society (organization for the women of the Church), listened to those who gave talks in Sacrament Meeting, asking questions of those in my Ward, reading the scriptures and other Church books, and greatest of all, the things Heavenly Father opened up to me as I prayed to him. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little, is how we all learn. I was attending the Lord’s university of life.

Inching my way along...

After baptism, the Church likes to settle you in gradually by offering you a calling (inspirationally asking a member if they would accept a Ward position to help the Ward function as it should). Callings in the Church helps a person to grow spiritually and to serve others. Generally, for new members, that means teaching a Primary class (for the young children.) So, I was asked to be the assistant secretary in the Primary. It was a very easy calling, as I remember, and I enjoyed learning about how the Ward Primary is organized and functions. Callings are like volunteering for something...no pay, but tons of wonderful blessings.

Baptism day

Before this time in my life, spiritual things just didn't seem to phase me. I never felt much in the way of pondering a God in the universe or what a person named Jesus Christ had done for me. My two special elder missionaries were wonderful to teach me about these things, and it was all so new to me that I still had comprehension problems with it all. But one thing that did stand out to me, as I committed to be baptized, was that at my young age of 22, ALL I knew was that baptism in this LDS church was what I was suppose to do. I felt I was being pulled like a magnet into this unknown realm that felt warm and safe and secure. My baptism day was special and unforgettable to me. Comimg out of that cleansing water and entering the changing room, I began to sob. I didn't understand then, what was happening to me, but I do today. My Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ was confirming to me that day their love and acceptance of me..and that they were pleased with me for my decision..and I was clean, every wit, from my former sins. Little was I to know at that time what great and marvelous things still awaited me as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As a young adult...

...and even before that in my late teens, I seemed to be searching for a religion...one that would grab my heart and not let go. I found it, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.