Hi, I'm Joan

About Me

The Arizona desert has been home to my family for one-hundred and thirty years. I have been married over thirty years, and my husband and I have raised five creative children and they have produced us five adorable grandchildren. Our children served full-time missions for the Church in Australia, Florida, New York, and Tennessee. I write music, and also have three published LDS novels. My family is very important to me, those whom I nurture and those who have gone before. I love researching family history.

My husband is a consultant in the construction industry. Our country's economic situation has affected our income as it has so many others. We try to live frugally and use our resources wisely.

Why I am a Mormon

I am so thankful to my progenitors for recognizing the true church when they met the Mormon missionaries over one hundred years ago. I am a member not because of family tradition, but because I have strived to gain my own testimony. I have read the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost has testified of its truthfulness. I have prayed about Joseph Smith's story of seeing God and his son Jesus Christ and I have been filled with the burning spirit of testimony. I love the Gospel. I love the Church. I am a Mormon!

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

I love the Book of Mormon! I was raised hearing its stories and memorizing its scriptures, but when I was old enough to read it on my own, and after reading only a few pages the Spirit filled me so much that I knew it was true and wondered how anyone could read it without feeling the Spirit.

There have been many times when I have felt discouraged and randomly opened its pages and read, only to feel the Spirit and be filled with hope. I have found answered to my questions, ideas to help my family, encouragement to go on within its pages. I love the prophets who wrote it, and the Lord for inspiring them.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

I am a strong believer in family home evening, family scripture reading, and family prayer. Of course our children had sibling squabbles growing up. They have grown to be best friends, good citizens, peacemakers, loving spouses. I fully believe this is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that we clung to it, believed it, and tried to live it the best we could.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is the desire in a certain thing to happen. Hope in Christ and His teachings is to put your belief in him; hope for things to turn out; hope in the promises He gives us for keeping the commandments; hope in His atonement that we will be made clean and be able to stand before the judgement seat without our sins condemning us.

When I am fearful, I remember his promise that through Him, all things are possible.

How I live my faith

I have been a Mormon all of my life. I knew, even when I was young, that I needed to have my own testimony of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His church, and not rely on my parents' testimonies. Through prayer, the Holy Ghost testifying, and through other personal experiences, I know that this is His true church. I help in the church in any way I can. I write songs for the youth programs. I serve in the Young Women with the 12 and 13 year old girls. I love the girls and hope and pray for their success in life, school, careers, future marriage and motherhood.

My husband and I attend church together each Sunday. He teaches the men and also coaches those who are looking for jobs. When our son returns from Tennessee, it will be our turn to serve a mission! We are looking forward to it.

I believe in marriage. I believe that families are meant to be together even after this life, so I do all I can to make that possible. I believe in "blooming where you are planted" even if it is in the desert :-)

Mormons believe Jesus Christ is their Savior. Why do we need a Savior?

Joan answered...

For reasons we may not understand, there is the Law of Justice and Mercy. It is an eternal law and cannot be changed or ignored. There must be a restitution for wrong acts, or sin. The only way we can return to God is by having our sin paid for--and since we are sinners, we cannot do it ourselves. Because Christ was the literal Son of God, and lived a perfect life, He only qualified to pay that price for us. He suffered our sins through His atonement, and gave the ultimate sacrifice of His own life.
Nate answered...

The fundamental principle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the faith in, reliance upon, and relationship with Jesus Christ. We regard Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Everyone on the earth today has made mistakes. All of us have come short of the perfect example that Christ set for us. The problem is the laws of God state that “no unclean person…hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5) Because of these laws, we needed a way to be cleansed from these sins and mistakes. God knew that we would fall short of perfection and by His grace he provided us a Savior, Jesus Christ. Being a perfect soul without blemish, Jesus was capable and willing to take upon Himself our sins. Because He paid the penalty for our sins, the atonement, we must take upon ourselves His name to reap the blessings of forgiveness. We do this by having faith in Christ, admitting and repenting of our sins, and being baptized in the true and restored church of Jesus Christ.

How can I find someone to talk with, in person, about the Mormon religion?

Aly answered...

On Mormon.org you can chat with a missionary online. At first I didn't feel comfortable inviting missionaries over to my house, so I chatted online with a missionary in Utah. I found that missionaries are just normal people, with normal hobbies and interests. After that I felt more comfortable, and I submitted the form to request that missionaries come to my house to teach me. Missionaries are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you have about the Mormon faith.