Hi, I'm Patty

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a stay-at-home mother of one wonderfully talented 16 year old, and the wife of an amazing man. I love reading, horses, cats, game nights with friends, and some gardening.
I've lived in California, Texas, Virginia and Ohio and have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people in each place. I love to visit new places and enjoy the beauty of God's varied creations.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in a family that was sometimes active in the church but fell away in my teen/early adult years. For years I didn't know what I really believed or why I should follow the teachings of a church. After I had my daughter I started to realize that I wanted her to have a solid foundation in her life. I wanted to be a good mother and teach my child what was right. The problem was, I didn't know what WAS right at that point.
I was blessed to have patient and loving women who visited me and taught me the gospel. As I prayed and started attending church again I found the peace that had been lacking in my life. I felt strengthened emotionally and spiritually as I studied the scriptures and followed the teachings of Christ. I was able to overcome depression, smoking, and social anxiey disorder as I kept taking steps to become more active in the church. The more I embraced Christ's teaching, the better my life became.
I look back now at how my life was before and what it's like now and I wouldn't want to go back for anything. I am so much happier, stable, and at peace. I know that God lives, that He loves me, and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. This church helped me understand that.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

My faith in Jesus Christ has helped to turn my life around. I have overcome severe depression, social anxiety disorder and many dysfunctional situations. Jesus has given me the strength to become a person I want to be, instead of being stuck as someone that I couldn't stand. My faith has helped me to keep moving forward through every obstacle because I have seen how Jesus lifts me up and helps me each time. It is only through faith in Christ that I have been able to make the changes I've made in my life. He is my strength, my power and my hope.

How I live my faith

I am currently the president of the women's organization for our congregation. We have meetings every Sunday to learn more about Christ and how we can incorporate the prinicples of His gospel in our daily lives. On occasion I teach these lessons. I oversee a program where women go in pairs to visit assigned sisters on a monthly basis and also oversee service to those in need, including providing food to families who are having financial difficulties. I am lucky to have a group of dynamic and talented women surrounding me who teach me about compassion, love, service, faith and strength.

What is the Relief Society?

Patty answered...

Relief Society is the women's organization of the church. It is an organization of women who are committed to teaching the gospel, serving those in need, and strengthening homes and families. Relief Society meets each Sunday as a separate class for adult women only. There is usually a lesson on a gospel principle, and insights and testimonies from the women are encouraged. Relief Society also has additional meetings, usually on a monthly basis, on a weeknight to teach homemaking skills, gospel principles, or other things that the women of the congregation have shown an interest in or a need to learn.
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Karen answered...

To me, Relief Society means friendship. It's an opportunity to know and love and learn from other women from so many different backgrounds and situations and ways of looking at life and yet they are truly my sisters! I can't tell you how many times I have been wrestling with an issue in my own life and there, during the course of our class or other conversation, comes the answer. I know that Heavenly Father so often works through others to answer our prayers, and to me Relief Society is a huge example of that. I'm grateful not only for those who reach out to me, but for the opportunies to reach out to others through Relief Society. It is an inspired program and a wonderful asset to my life!

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

Robert answered...

Absolutely not! I grew up in the church and I'd say the number of people that I've helped in the church is significantly smaller than the number of people I've assisted out side the church. This is not to say I don't help my fellow church members. We believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. And by that reasoning we are all brothers and sisters. I take that to heart and when I see someone in need I try to help to the best of my ability and training. Organized service projects aside, I've helped several stranded motorists on the side of the road. I give food to people I've seen that appear to be hungry on the side of the road. And for a long time, when I was growing up, my dad and I would do Meals on Wheels for those in need. I've volunteered at soup kitchens more recently. And during times of widely known hurricanes, I've volunteered on clean up crews multiple times. There is a song we have in our church called "Because I Have Been Given Much." I don't want to post the entire lyrics here, but they are available on a popular search engine. That song is very poignant to me and has always been near and dear to my heart. Also being a former Boy Scout, I have tried to uphold both the Scout Law and Oath to this day. I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my fellow man and want to do all I can to help others in any way I can.