Hi, I'm Katie

I'm a college student, music-lover and artist, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a college student majoring in English and Visual Arts. I love to read and write, sing, play the guitar, and lately I have been working on drawing and painting. I have been married a little over a year to my wonderful husband, and we love watching movies together as well as going backpacking and hiking. I am excited to start my own family and hope to be as great a mom as my mom was to me.

Why I am a Mormon

Growing up, my parents taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ and always took me to church every Sunday. I participated in Primary, Young Women and Sunday School as I grew older. These are all pieces of my background in the LDS Church, but I am Mormon because I have come to know that the gospel taught in the church is true. I feel so strongly that Christ restored this church on the earth. There is no doubt in my mind that God is listening when I pray, and that he responds to prayers, and can instruct me personally as to how I should live my life. These are truths I am grateful for, because with them I have been able to change my life, bit by bit, every day. Although I am a long journey from perfection, I know that God and Jesus Christ will not give up on me, and are available anytime, anywhere when I need a lift. If I continue to follow Christ's gospel, I will eventually make it home to my Father in heaven.

Personal Stories

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

When I was a young teenager my relationship with my father was less than great. I was upset because I felt he was to harsh about things, used too firm of tones with me, and didn't respect my opinion as I wanted it to be respected. As I was writing in my journal one night, after having just become angry with my dad, I thought a little bit more about the frustrated feelings that I was writing and stopped.
These feelings were far from harmonious. I prayed to know what I should do, and realized that my poor relationship with my father was just as much my fault as it was his. I decided I would try to focus on the good qualities my father had, and ignore the bad, and maybe our relationship would get better. It did!

After experimenting with this for nearly a month, our way of speaking to each other had already drastically improved. I felt like my father and I had more fun moments than frustrating ones, and that I was bonding to him in a way. Now, years later, my dad and I have one of the best father-daughter relationships I know of, and I can only remember one or two arguments in all the years since my experience. We tell each other "I love you" all the time, and discuss our good news, our bad news, tell jokes and stories, and do things together. I would not give up my relationship with my father for anything; it is one of the most precious relationships I have.

How I live my faith

Church meetings on Sunday are a wonderful opportunity to come closer to the Savior and to be with others who are also there to worship and feel of God's love. Conducting the music in one of our church meetings and sharing the beautiful hymns with those in attendance is one way that I participate in my local ward. I love doing this, for the spirit that it brings me as I prepare and as I share the music with others. In my life each day I strive to live my faith by keeping the commandments, and the standards which I know are right. I make it my aim to speak kindly of others, work diligently and honestly at all I do, and look for opportunities to help others, If I am able.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Katie answered...

Members of the LDS faith believe that family is the most important unit of the church, and the home is seen as the greatest place for families and children to learn the principles of the gospel and to gain knowledge of Christ, his Atonement, and God's plan for all of us to return home to Him.
We believe that the family is also the most fundamental unit of society, and the thing which will uphold society and strengthen it. If the family is strong, the community and society will also be strong.
Because we believe that God ordains families as the most important unit, it becomes very important to us to strengthen and maintain our families, providing a comfortable atmosphere in the home for children and other family members, and this duty comes to be regarded as crucial and also sacred.
Families are where children, adults, and everyone can experience the greatest happiness by serving one another and living in harmony in the home.
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Matt answered...

We believe that family relationships are the sources of life's greatest joys. We also believe that families can be together forever.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Dennis answered...

I grew up in California and was in the middle of the same-sex marriage debate. The Church believes that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that children have the right to be brought into the world with a mother and father who love and honor each other and their marital vows. I agree with this doctrine, so I, along with others of my faith, supported Prop. 8 in 2009. Any time I spoke with someone, I explained that we all, regardless of our side on this issue, are motivated by love. Love of mankind, of God, of society, etc. So much of the debate turned to hatred, but it's important to remember that love is always our initial motivation. I know people, good friends, who live a homosexual lifestyle. They've shown love to me, and I love them, but I believe their lifestyles are contrary to the will of God. That doesn't mean that I can prevent them from doing what I think is wrong, but their liberty does not translate into license. Liberty in America has never been about license to do whatever we choose. When we, as a people, believe something is wrong, it is our democratic right to enact laws against such things. Likewise, if we believe something is divinely inspired, like the institution of marriage between a man and a woman, it is not only our right but our duty to stand up for it. If we don't, I'm afraid that America will lose the protective hand of God that has embraced us for so many years.