by paulah | Aug 31, 2013 | About Mormons
Like many people, I have a bucket list of places I’d like to visit before I die. I also have a list of places I like to visit now. Some places on my list are unique to me and my personality. I can connect at least eight of them to my heritage or my life as a Mormon woman. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church). These eight places are loved at least in part because the gospel of Jesus Christ has helped me learn to love them. Jesus often used the everyday, common objects and occurrences of life to teach his parables. My favorite eight places are listed (but not ranked) below.
Fabric Stores. Sewing is in my blood. My maternal great-grandmother, Karen, learned the dressmaking and men’s tailoring trades from her father when she was raised in Denmark. She taught her daughter Elsie (my grandmother) to sew. My grandmother, who was mother to nine daughters and four sons, made clothes for each of her children. My mother also learned to sew and taught me basic skills as I grew up. She required me to take a sewing class in high school. I loved to explore the stacks of fabric that she stored in one of her bedroom closets. She regularly let me pick fabric from her stash to make clothes for my dolls or myself. I also loved sifting through her large tin of buttons. (more…)
by paulah | Jul 10, 2013 | About Mormons
Judy Nelson Ward, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church), was recently named Arizona Mother of the Year at the American Mothers, Inc., convention held in New York City. The organization recognizes mothers each year and selects a national winner during the convention. Women are selected based on nominations by the community.
Ward, who lives in Mesa, Arizona, is the mother of seven children and grandmother to 34 grandchildren. She was a little embarrassed by the award, but said she is thankful to “stand up for motherhood.”
How Mormons View Mothers
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ respect motherhood and the role of women to nurture children. They believe that motherhood is part of a woman’s divine nature and designation, even if she does not bear children during her life on earth. They believe that motherhood is a divine role given by God to all women.
There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman. . . . All women have within their divine nature both the inherent talent and the stewardship to mother.1 (more…)
by byustudent | Mar 18, 2013 | About Mormons
BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.) (more…)
by brady | Jan 13, 2012 | About Mormons, Mormons in the News
SMITHFIELD — After dinner, three baths, four bedtime stories and a half-a-dozen goodnight kisses for 2-year-old twins Brock and Isaac and 6-year-old Ellie, Erin and Brian Thompson finally sink into the couch with weary smiles.
Being parents is just what they always wanted. And they love it.
“Of course we have our crazy moments,” Thompson says, “but for the most part we just try to find the good things in the day and remember that they’re only going to be little for so long.”
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Thompsons believe that maintaining a strong marriage and raising and teaching children are essential keys to happiness and their most important responsibilities on earth. (more…)
by brady | Nov 14, 2011 | About Mormons, Mormon Reflections
Tiffany Sowby is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon” woman) mother of five. She tries to find humor, joy and contentment in the little things life has to offer.
From as young as I can remember, I wanted nothing more than to grow up and become a mother. I was the youngest child until I was eight years old and finally after years of 
‘playing house’ with baby dolls I was able to put them down and play with a real baby, a baby brother. A couple of years later another baby brother was added. I loved ‘playing house’ with real, live babies! It made my dream of becoming a mother even more real and more personal. I couldn’t wait to one day have a sick child want only me to hold them, or to be cooking in the kitchen and have a baby or toddler cry at my legs to be held, like my brothers did to my mother.
Now five children and thirty or so years later, I have had my fair share of sick children wanting to be held by only me. And I have certainly had more than my fair share of crying toddlers and children crying underfoot while I have attempted to fix a meal. These experiences are far from the dreamy way I envisioned them as a young girl. I can admit I have days I wonder why exactly I chose this path for my life. I can’t help but wonder sometimes how much easier a different career-choice may have been. (more…)
