Hi, I'm Rebecca

I'm a college student preparing to be a speech-language pathology assistant. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am 22 years old, and I have lived in Arizona since I was seven. There are four of us in my family: my parents; my younger brother, Christopher; and myself. I love love love my family!! We also have four cats: Mushu, Emma, Lucy, and Annabel...they are part of our family, too!! I was homeschooled for three years, and when I was 19 years old, I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in English Literature and Religious Studies. I'm currently attending Estrella Mountain Community College, studying to become a speech-language pathology assistant. I would like to work with children with special needs.

I love Southern accents, cats, mint chocolate chip ice cream, daisies, flip flops, strawberry lemonade, mail, swings, and vintage. I'm trying to teach myself how to cook and bake, and I also enjoy attempting to play the piano. One of my special talents is that I can wiggle my ears. I love to write in my journal, and I'm an avid reader. I believe in true love and happily ever afters. I love to smile and laugh. Oh, and my favorite color is purple!!

Why I am a Mormon

I was the first member of the Church in my family. When I was 15 years old, I started learning about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through a friend (whom I am now dating!). As I went to church and read the scriptures, I felt something special. I came to know of my Heavenly Father's love for me and for all of His children. I was baptized on November 15, 2008...it was the happiest day of my life!! Since then, my testimony continues to grow each day as I pray and read the scriptures. I do not know everything about the gospel, but what I do know, I know to be true with all of my heart. My mom was also recently baptized, on May 1, 2010. It was the greatest blessing to witness her conversion.

After I was baptized, I felt a strong desire to share the joy and happiness that I'd found in the gospel with others. After a lot of thought and many, many prayers, I decided to serve a full-time mission, and when I was 21 years old, I was called to serve in the Georgia Atlanta Mission. Leaving behind my family and friends, I was prepared to sacrifice the next 18 months of my life in serving my Heavenly Father and His children. However, once in Georgia, I began to suffer from anxiety and depression, and it was decided that I should come home early, having been a full-time missionary for five months. I was heartbroken. I hated myself. I felt like I had failed. But as I turned to Jesus Christ and relied on Heavenly Father to carry me through my depression, I found hope again. I still sometimes wish that I could have completed my full mission, but I am beginning to see how much Heavenly Father knows me personally, even better than I know myself, and how He has a perfect, unique plan for me. I don't need to compare myself to anyone else, as long as I strive to do His will.

How I live my faith

I live my faith personally by going to church each week, praying to my Heavenly Father morning and night (and throughout the day, as well), and spending some time each day studying the scriptures. As I continually do these things, my testimony of my Savior is strengthened, and the love I have for Him and my Heavenly Father grows. Additionally, I try to attend the temple at least once a week.

I also live my faith by serving others. I currently serve as a visiting teacher in my congregation. Visiting teaching is a program within the Church that allows all the women to serve each other and ensures everyone is being taken care of. All the women in the congregation are divided into pairs and given the names of a few women. Once a month, we visit those women, share a short lesson, and find out how they are doing. In times of heartache or sorrow, a visiting teacher can offer comfort. In times of hardship, a visiting teacher can support and strengthen. In times of joy, a visiting teacher can rejoice with them. I love visiting teaching, and I believe it is designed by God. Through visiting teaching, each woman is both a teacher and a student, both a giver and a receiver. As visiting teachers, we can look after each other, find friendship and comfort, and strengthen our gospel knowledge and testimonies.

Every day I do my best to choose the right and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. I am not perfect, but I strive to make righteous decisions that I know would please my Father in Heaven. And thankfully, whenever I do make a mistake, I can always find my way back.

Who is the Mormon prophet today?

Rebecca answered...

Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today.
David Child answered...

The president of the church today is the prophet of the world. His name is Thomas S. Monson. I know he is lead by God and leads God's church.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Taylor answered...

Quite simply, no. The young men of the church have been strongly encouraged to serve a mission at age 19, and the sisters are able to serve at age 21, but no one is required to serve. We do it because we want to! Who in their right mind would give up two years and pay that's right, missionaries pay their own way to go somewhere they had never been and do all that they do? We serve missions becuase we know that Jesus is the Christ, and we want the happiness that knowledge bring to be available to everyone! So no, Mormons are not required to serve a mission. It's a personal choice to share the happiness and joy they've received from the Gospel.