Hi, I'm Jodi

I'm a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter. I'm an Arizonan. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a wife and mother. I have two beautiful sons, an infant and a 3 year old. I stay home with them to raise them. I'm getting ready to go back to school to get a degree in Elementary Education. I plan to start teaching after my boys are in school. My husband works hard to provide for us. He works 45 hours a week, and also takes college classes full time. We look forward to the end of 2010 when he will graduate. I also try to provide a little extra income by babysitting other children. I love to read, mostly fiction, I also do digital scrapbooking which has been a fun way to keep our family albums up to date. I grew up the oldest of 4 kids, I'm the only girl, which I mostly love, it keeps me spoiled : It also helped prepare me to be a mother of little boys!

Why I am a Mormon

I've been a member of this church for the past 24 years, my whole life! One thing that has always bothered me is that when people hear that I've always been a member they kind of write me off. But everyone has to go through their own conversion to truly be a member of the Lord's church, you can't just be born into it. I always had a vague knowledge that the gospel was true, but when I was young I also went through periods of time when I thought church was boring, or thought there were too many rules that were unnecessary. My true conversion really started to take shape when I was 14 and enrolled in Seminary my freshman year of high school. I don't have one specific moment where I realized that it was all absolutely true, it was a gradual process. As I went to Seminary where we would study and discuss the scriptures daily and as my personal prayers became more than just words and I saw them being answered I gained a testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ, his atonement for me personally, and the restoration of his priesthood and his gospel through a prophet, Joseph Smith.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

When I was 19, my parents got divorced. I had a lot of anger toward both of my parents for a lot of different reasons. I was also still trying to find my path in life now that I was out of high school and on my own. I turned to Christ. I truely learned that he loves me and his sacrifice was for me. He was there to listen and He was there to heal me and help to forgive. I am so thankful for a Savior who knows and understands me and loves me always.

How I live my faith

Recently I was asked to teach the adult sunday school class. I believe that God inspires the leaders of the church on who should be called to each calling in the church. So I accepted, even though I was petrified! Going from teaching the 3 year olds to the adults has been a huge alteration to my whole life and an answer to so many of my prayers. Answers to prayers rarely come the way you expect. But the past few months this teaching assignment has helped me study the Old Testament, and be a better mother, and introduced me to so many new people, and just fill an emptiness in my life and made me more well rounded. I think it will also help me as I start taking classes and in the future when I am teaching elementary. I love how living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is interconnected to everything else in my life.

How do I become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church)?

Jodi answered...

Start going to church! Meet the memebers of the church, meet the bishop, talk to the missionaries. The missionaries can come to your home or meet with you in a members home and teach you what we believe and guide you to the path that Heavenly Father wants you to take your life. I have had people meet with the missionaries in my home and there is a really special spirit there. It is so wonderful to see people learn about God's plan for us and his love for each individual.
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Taylor answered...

You definitely can learn about the Gospel of Christ (Faith, Repentence, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) from the missionaries and then follow the steps to apply these in your life. When you truly live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you will do this thorugh the proper preisthood authority of God. A natural consequence is becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.