Hi, I'm Kathryn I

I'm a science student, an amateur genealogist and a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a university student working towards a degree in Molecular Biology. I like traveling around places like Europe. I enjoy cooking by way of mixing whatever recipes sound good together. I like sewing, anything from helping someone hem a pair of pants to making Halloween costumes. I love reading, especially books like "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings". Let's see... I used to speak French better than I can now, I studied it for 4 years in high school and 5 semesters in college but now that it's been a few years it takes me a while to formulate my sentences. I met my fiancé a few weeks into freshman year of college, waited for him while he was a missionary, and now we're getting married in August. Yay!

Why I am a Mormon

When I was 11 years old, my dad brought us to the Mormon church on Easter Sunday. Before this church we attended the Catholic church very rarely, if at all. At first my siblings and I were just excited that the Mormon chapels had padded pews, but it became so much more.

It took a while to get used to being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ... I didn't really know how to answer questions about the gospel in Sunday school, or really what the Book of Mormon was about... but all good things are worth the work you put in. I was baptized with my family in August of the same year we started going to church, and doing so has made a huge difference in my life. My ward is like my family and I love them too.

It took my family a while to get used to living a different lifestyle, my parents stopped drinking their coffee and tea, I learned to dress more modestly. I have never felt as though it's been anything other than an awesome decision. One thing that really helped me adjust was when my brother started to understand the importance of the gospel. His example helped me want to learn more, and helped my family grow stronger in the church. I'm so proud of him for serving as a missionary, and sharing that new understanding with those around him, helping them see where happiness could be found.

Later, as I was going through middle school and high school, it seemed to me that a lot of Mormons went to BYU for college, and I for one "didn't want to be surrounded by Mormons all day long". But when you're together with people you love (in your ward, or at places like BYU), who love Heavenly Father and his gospel, it's easy to share your testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. This helps you strengthen others and be strengthened by those around you. You feel so good you want to share that awesome feeling with everyone, just so that you can see other people become as happy as you are.

I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know what happiness feels like. I'm glad that I have a family that I love and who loves me. Sometimes I get nervous about piping up and sharing, but I love the opportunities I have to share my belief in Jesus Christ: that He lives, that He knows us personally, that He suffered for all of our sins, pains, sufferings, anything that would weigh us down, that He atoned for those things and died for us, only to rise again so that we could all return with Him to live with Heavenly Father again. And I wouldn't trade that in for anything.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I feel like my prayers have been answered in many different ways. Sometimes I get an answer to look in the Scriptures, where when reading a verse will stand out to me that answers my question. Sometimes it's a feeling of peace and comfort when I'm sad. Sometimes it can feel like I'm not getting an answer though, or at least not directly. Not getting a direct answer can mean different things though, maybe you're not ready for the answer, or maybe there's more to do on your part. God expects us to have faith, so sometimes we have to make a decision about whatever we're praying for an answer to, and then ask God is our decision is right. Maybe you don't get an overwhelming confirmation, but as long as you feel at peace and not worried, you can know that your decision is good, that God approves. It took a lot of praying to decide whether or not to marry who I've chosen to marry. The answer didn't really come as a "Yes, marry him!" but in many prayers the answer came quietly that it was a good choice. Whenever I felt worried that perhaps I'd just mistakenly heard an answer, I would pray again, telling Heavenly Father that I was doubting and needed some more help. Again, an answer would come as a simple feeling of peace, and I know that peace is always brought by the Spirit.

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, maybe not in the way we expect or want it, or even in the time frame we want it in, but he will bless us with an answer when we really do need it. In the Book of Mormon, Christ says "if ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." To me this means that if we pray in faith, we can find an answer to our prayers and do what we need to. When I, in faith, ask Heavenly Father for an answer, a blessing, help, I know that if the desire is righteous, I can be blessed with the power and knowledge to help with my problem. This is especially important with big decisions like marriage, or even little things like helping me to remember what I've studied for a test, and I know Heavenly Father has blessed me to answers to those prayers. No prayer is unimportant.

How I live my faith

Sometimes callings you get at church can seem tough (like maybe you don't want to do them at first), but I learned this year that you're really serving to benefit those around you and make their lives better, which in turn helps you. At school this semester I'm a group leader for my Family Home Evening group, which means I help plan (and assign other people to help) get a fun activity and a spiritual lesson together for the apartments in my group. This way, as friends we can keep up the practice of having fun and learning together as a "family" even though we're far away from our respective families.

I'm also part of our ward's Family History Committee, as an unofficial genealogy guru... meaning since I'm excited about doing my family history, and know how to get research done I'm fairly good at helping other people find out about their ancestors. It's nice to think how the ancestors I'm finding (or helping other people find) are probably really glad that someone took the time to look for them.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Kathryn I answered...

I believe that families can be together forever. I also believe that because Heavenly Father knows all things, he knows what's best for us even if we don't, and he will make sure that everything works out with our families for the best. The family and the home can be great places of strength within the church. You can learn and grow while feeling comfortable with the people you love, you can teach each other, share with each other, and grow closer together. For this reason we try to have Family Home Evening once a week, to set aside a time where we promise to set aside what we're doing to take the time to strengthen our family relationships, and to let each other know that we know that God loves us, and wants us to love each other. God put us in the families we're in, and even though sometimes we might wonder about that, God knows what he's doing and things will turn out for our good.
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Bradley. answered...

The family is a key component to support us in God's plan for gaining immortality and eternal life. All of God's children (all the inhabitants that lived, are living, and will live on Earth) are inseperably connected to each other, both (physically) by our Earthly families and (spiritually) by our Heavenly Father.

Families help us to understand our divine heritage. In this, life takes on purpose and meaning. Our immortal spirits were created by our Heavenly Father before Earthly existance, and we are directly connected to Him in this way. As a spiritual family, our collective purpose on Earth is to follow the commandments of God that lead us to live in heaven with Him again.

Our spirits need to progress, learn, and grow. In order to achieve that, Earthly existance was created as our test. Our Heavenly Father knew that being exposed to opposing forces on Earth was the only way for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.

However, we will not always choose righteousness, and so our Savior, Jesus Christ, is that great mediator to pay the debt of our mistakes. He is the only way by which we can be saved from our sins and transgressions. He is the ultimate example by which direction we need to live our lives. With the support of our earthly kin, we can learn from each other, serve each other, and strengthen our mortal weaknesses by being disciples of Christ. Our families are a gift from God, and we can be together forever.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Jonathan answered...

We absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believe that He was the God of the Old Testament. Under the direction of the Father, He created the earth. He spoke to the Old Testament prophets such as Noah, Abraham and Moses. He was born to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He walked among the people of Palestine, working many mighty miracles. He suffered and died for our sins. He rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to stand on the right hand of the Father. We believe that He appeared alongside the Father to the prophet Joseph Smith. Today, He is at the head of our church and leads it through the prophet and twelve apostles. He will come again to reign upon the earth with all those who have faith in Him. Through Him, and Him alone, we can be forgiven for our sins and receive eternal live in the Kingdom of God.