Hi, I'm Lynell

I'm a 30-something Mom of two!

About Me

I'm a wife and mother of 2 girls with one more on the way!. I've been married for 12 years. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a college student about 15 years ago. I teach a Sunday School class for adults who are new Church members.

Why I am a Mormon

After I joined the Church at age 18, my parents asked me why I didn't pick a different Church - like, maybe one that was closer to my house. The thing is, I didn't ever intend to join any Church. Most of my life, I didn't believe in God at all. We didn't go to any particular Church when I was growing up and I came to think that religion was for people with nothing better to do.

I changed my mind a little bit after I started college. I always wanted to get married and have a large family, but I began to realize that if i wanted to have a happy family, I would need to find a husband that had good values. Most of the guys that I knew at college were heavy drinkers and were mostly interested in partying. I knew that I would have to look somewhere else if I wanted to find the kind of husband/father I was looking for.

I decided that Church-going young men would be the best bets for me. Like I mentioned, I didn't really believe in God, but I was less opposed to Church than I had been in the past and was willing to attend a Church if necessary to create the kind of family I was envisioning. I attended several Churches in the area, but I wasn't very comfortable with them.

Soon after, I saw some young men walking around downtown. I lived in a small town and I didn't recognize them, so I knew that they must be from out of town. They were about my age, dressed nicely, and looked like they were polite and respectable. A friend that I was with told me that they were missionaries from a Church in town - a Church that another mutual friend was a member of. I later asked the friend to introduce me to the missionaries. She said she'd be glad to introduce me and that I could meet them at Church on Sunday.

I went to Church with her it was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I really felt good about it. Everyone was genuinely happy to see me. I felt like their beliefs, though unfamiliar to me, were good.

After the meetings were over, my friend introduced me to the missionaries, as promised. Unfortunately, I hadn't specified that I wanted to meet the boy missionaries, but before I could explain she was already introducing me to the Sister girl missionaries. They were so friendly, I didn't want to seem as if I'd come to Church just to meet potential husbands, so I agreed to meet with them for a gospel presentation a few days later.

When the Sister missionaries started explaining the basics of the restored gospel to me, I was amazed. I had no idea that there was a way to know for yourself what is true and real. I had always felt like each person must be on their own when it came to truth because there are so many different churches. To my surprise, I actually believed the things that they taught me and decided to be baptized as a member of the Church a few weeks later.

So, in response to the question my parents had asked me about why I didn't pick a Church closer to my house - It isn't about picking a Church or just wanting to attend a Church. I truly believe that God continues to call Prophets in modern times and that we can be a part of the Lord's restored gospel on the Earth today. To me, that is the real thing that is important, not how convenient the Church's location is.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

Most people think of our missionaries as being young men in their early 20's, but young women go on missions as well. Two years after I joined the Church, I served an 18-month mission. All missions are voluntary not mandatory and you don't get paid at all. You actually have to pay your own way, so either your family can help support you or you have to personally save up ahead of time to pay your expense. If you choose to go on a mission, you dedicate all of your time to serving others - teaching and doing volunteer work, 24 hours a day except when you're asleep!. There isn't a lot of personal time - its a lot of work and sacrifice. And people are sometimes really mean to you.

So why would anyone want to do it? Its a great character-building experience, but the main thing for me was when I heard about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I just kept thinking, "Why didn't anybody ever tell me about this before?" I felt that everyone needs the chance to hear about it, whether they choose to accept it or not. Thats why I chose to go on a mission.

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

I think that the main thing is having common goals. It helps that my husband and I have the same religion because we have the same beliefs and goals when it comes to our family...we both want our children to be familiar with the scriptures and to understand the gospel, have family prayer together, etc. Ultimately, our goal is to have our family be together forever.

How I live my faith

One thing I really enjoy about Church is the opportunities for leadership and service that I probably wouldn't have otherwise as a stay-at-home mom. I volunteer with newer members of our congregation - helping them to get to know people and feel comfortable, answer questions, help the missionaries teach, etc. I also teach a Sunday School class especially for newer members. In the past I've served in various leadership positions and in other ways party and activity planning, children's organizations, etc. It is a great way to get to know people and make friends.

What is the role of the husband and the wife in the family?

Lynell answered...

My husband and I are equal partners in our family. Many people have a misconception about that. Sometimes people including relatives have told us that they thought our marriage would be John ordering me around and telling me what I could or couldn't do. I think this false idea comes from the fact that in our faith husbands are taught to be the leader of the home or "head of the family".

I think you can probably see that in any religion or with people who aren't religious - some people of any religion may choose to bossy or abusive, but that is definitely not taught or allowed in our religion. In fact, we teach that a true "leader" can only lead if they are righteous because once you try to use your leadership to unrighteously control, force your opinion, or abuse in any way, you immediatelylose the influence of the Spirit of God.

I think that sometimes when people hear the word "leader" they think that means something negative. In our home, it means that John is ultimately responsible for the family's well-being. He sees that our physical and spiritual needs are met. I choose to be a stay-at-home mom, so in our family that means that he is the breadwinner and I take care of the household during the day.

Together, we make sure that we have family prayers and scripture study, and that we all get to Church & other activities. Many families I know choose to share family duties in other ways both parents work, etc. I think of a good leader being like Jesus Christ and how he led the twelve Apostles - he taught them the gospel, tried to help them be better, and encouraged them. I know thats how my husband tries to be as a father. He's not perfect and neither am I as a mother, but we try our best.
Katie answered...

Husband and wife in a marriage are meant to be equal, partners. The husband is the head of the household and is responsible for the temporal welfare of his family. His role is to support his wife. The wife is also to support her husband and to nurture her family both spiritually and emotionally. Husband and wife are meant to work side by side in providing a safe haven from the world for their family. Their roles are different, but equally important and essential to building the family and the community.

What does Mormonism teach regarding baptism?

Jerad answered...

For us, baptism is a two way promise or covenant with our father in Heaven. We promise to obey his commandments, take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and to always remember him ((D&C 20:77-78) and he promises to give us a remission, or forgiveness for our sins and his spirit to guide us (3 Nephi 27:19-20). However, we must keep our promise to maintain the blessings offered by our Heavenly Father. Baptism is preceeded by faith in Jesus Christ and then repentance. Once we repent of our sins and change our lives, we enter into the waters of baptism. We believe in being baptized by immersion, by someone holding the authority of God (3 Nephi 11:19-27), and at an age of responsibility, when we can recognize the difference between right and wrong (the age of eight is set as when we can do this) (D&C 68:27). There is symbolism in baptism by immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ and also the death of our past lives and a rebirth where we are cleansed from sin (Romans 6:3-6). Baptism must also be followed by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-6).The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a second baptism by fire and completes the baptism by water (Matthew 3:11 and John 3:5).