Hi, I'm Deborah Dushku Gardner

I'm a stay-at-home mom of 5 kids plus 2,500 Bulgarian orphans. I co-founded "One Heart Bulgaria". I am a Mormon!

About Me

I graduated in Human Development and eventually developed 5 humans. In between car-pooling, defrosting the chicken, potty-training, and folding the laundry, I run "One Heart Bulgaria" which I co-founded with a dear friend. It has been the most amazing, life-changing journey. I also love to do triathlons, play basketball, dance to 80's music out on our back deck, read to our little ones, and eat lots of chocolate. I served a mission in Bulgaria and love, love, love Bulgarians! We have 5 chickens, 1 tiny frog, and an adorable little doggie. My husband and I have been married for 16 years.

Why I am a Mormon

I feel at peace in the Mormon church. I have a sense that I am where I belong and where God wants me to be. That feeling is precious! I enjoy the other members of the church who seek to repent, change, be better people and serve others in the world. We are a sort of large family...growing, learning, and supporting each other. I enjoy worshipping along side them each Sabbath day and growing closer and closer to God and ever more grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by serving others in need and bearing my testimony of the gospel. I enjoy helping others find solutions to their problems through the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the Great Healer of our souls. I also love working in the youth programs in our church. I encourage youth to turn to God and discover what their personal missions are in this life and then to go for it!

Are Mormons Christians?

Deborah Dushku Gardner answered...

Yes, Mormons are absolutely Christians! We believe in Jesus Christ, the same Jesus Christ of the Bible. He was born of the virgin Mary baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist had 12 disciples with whom he taught his gospel he lived his life healing, preaching, performing miracles, serving and loving others he died at Gethsemane on the cross three days after his death he rose from the dead and lives again as a resurrected being. He is our Lord, our Savior, and Redeemer. We believe that salvation comes only in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Taylor answered...

I love this question. Having lived in Georgia and having spent time creating friendships with people of all different Christian denominations. I can say with great confidence and vigor that, Yes, Mormons are Christians. All who believe in Christ as our Savior and strive to follow in his footsteps, living as he would have us to, are in definitions Christian or followers of Christ.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Garth answered...

I just saw news footage where a minister called the Mormon Church a ‘cult’ and the news commentator turned around and said it wasn’t. The news commentator was right. One definition listed for ‘cult’ in Webster’s Dictionary is “a religion regarded as unorthodox.” ‘Unorthodox’ according to whom? Catholicism and over 2000 churches who broke off of the Catholic Church or the original teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ? We believe some of the original doctrines contained in the original Church of Jesus Christ fell into apostasy and were changed by men. One example is the definition of the Godhead as laid out in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds that are widely accepted by most Catholic and Protestant churches today. We believe the Godhead is made up of three separate and distinct individuals that are one in purpose not in body. When I read about the atonement in Matthew 26:39 (KJV), “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” I believe God the Father, Jesus Christ, Peter and the other Apostles would find the teaching that ‘Jesus Christ was praying to himself’ as quite ‘unorthodox’. I choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the teachings of men…regardless of the names they choose to call us.