Hi, I'm Chareine

I grew up in Idaho. I have 5 children. I am a Mormon.

About Me

I have worked as an assistant librarian. I have also worked for the federal government as a secretary as well as in the private sector.

When I got married, I moved to California and lived there for 23 years.

I have lived in Mexico for 6 months, in southern California for 9 months, and various parts of California, Idaho and Utah.

Why I am a Mormon

I love being a Mormon. It gives me answers to questions such as "Why am I on earth?" "Where did I come from?" and "What will happen to me when I die?" I have found peace to my soul, even when there is so much conflict in the world.

I love being a Mormon because through the Church I have come to know the doctrine of Christ. Knowing Him has brought me comfort. Having faith in Him gives me courage and direction. I am so grateful!

Personal Stories

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

During the last 4 and 1/2 years I have learned in a personal way that the Savior loves me and supports me. As I have tried to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have found Him close to me. In the New Testament, we are told that Jesus is the true vine and that we can't do anything without His help. I have come to understand what that scripture means. I have come to depend upon Him and trust Him and wait upon His timetable. I am learning that it is important to be patient with myself and with Heavenly Father for both of those characteristics are important to the growth and development of my faith.

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

The Plan of Happiness can also be known as the Plan of Salvation. It makes me happy because it helps me understand that Heavenly Father created this earth for at least 2 reasons:
1) to gain a mortal, physical body
2) to see if we would be obedient to all of Heavenly Father's commandments

His plan not only explains the creation of the earth but explains the fall of Adam and the part that the Atonement plays in the salvation of God's children.

Put together, these three doctrines explain who I am, why I am here and what will happen to me when I die. Having that knowledge gives me guidance and direction and helps me find peace in this world of conflict.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

So very many times when we think of talents we think of the visual or perform arts. However, many of us have gifts or talents that not in that arena. I have a sister-in-law who has the gift of love. She makes people feel at ease and comfortable from the first moment that she meets them.

Another sister-in-law has the gift of loyalty and dependability. Many times she works quietly in the background so that others can accomplish their assignments with confidence that her assigned tasks will be done with excellence.

Gifts such as kindness and a willingness to listen lighten a heavy load and give encouragement to continue on.

The gift of selflessness and considering others makes them feel important and worth-while.

As we consider each of the Christ-like characteristics of the Savior and seek to develop those "gifts" in our own life, we become more like Him. In James 1:17
we are taught "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." As the Savior served, so we can learn to love and serve as we ask for those gifts of a character like His.

How I live my faith

I have just lost my job because of the economic downturn. However, because I tried to follow the counsel of the prophet, I have enough food storage for a year and have some money saved so that I will be able to be ok for a little while. As I look for a job, I know that Heavenly Father will help me and direct me.

What is faith?

Chareine answered...

James 1:5 teaches us that faith is substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In my own words, I believe that faith is whenever we do something that we don't know the end result for. It is faith that prompts us to read the scriptures. It is faith that motivates prayer. It is faith that helps us through the challenges and hard times of life--faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We often can't see the end but as we take one step at a time, things begin to become visible to us.
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Zen answered...

Of all the definitions of faith I have read or heard, I add the simplest and most complete to me, which is the Love of Christ. I cannot think of a better way to describe faith. Love of Christ is the substance of hope in something evident we can not see with earthly eyes. It is the faith in Christ or the love of Christ that enabled Able to make a more perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). That love is why we believe in Christ, it is why we have grace, it is why we have works, it is why we have belief, it is why we have hope, it is why we have charity, it is the very essence of faith, and faith is the very essence of the Love of Christ

Perfect knowledge is worthless without faith. For instance, most of us have perfect knowledge that applying a pointed pencil to paper will cause a mark. That knowledge will not make a mark if we do not exercise the elements of faith called works (picking up the pencil, applying it to the paper, and making a mark), belief (that doing so will make a mark), and hope (that it actually will make a mark). It is my desire that you would exercise works to find out about Christ and study Him, that you would believe on His words and His life and His sacrifice, and that you would hope that He would have an effect in your life. If you exercise this faith, you will truly come unto Him.

Why do Mormon missionaries proselyte?

Nick answered...

Our decision to serve missions is motivated by our belief in the Gospel and our desire to fulfill the Savior's command to "preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. The Gospel teaches us that we are all sons and daughters of God, and so we feel a kinship with all of God's children and a desire to help them enjoy the peace in this life that the Gospel provides.Our missionaries are not salesman and won't take much of your time, but I know that your decision to invite them into your home will change your life for good!