Hi, I'm Jamie

I’m a mom of three with a PhD in Engineering. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with a rock-hound miner for a grandfather. My grandparents were a big part of my childhood, and inspired me to pursue metallurgy. Grampy was self-educated. I was the first one in my family to get a PhD. I love school, love being a student, and love being a teacher. I believe one of the reasons God sent us here is so we can learn. I’ve worked in mineralogy, pyrometallurgy, and gold ore labs, and have written MD simulations. I’ve taught lecture and lab courses, published papers, spoken at conferences, and traveled the world with my research, but I digress. The most important things in my life are not listed on my vita.

My oldest daughter once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her I wanted to be an astronaut. She thought about my answer, and then she asked, “What happened?” (I didn’t grow up to be an astronaut). In reply, I looked her straight in the eye, and told her I did something better. I had her.

Out of all my accomplishments, my three children are my crowning jewels. Harold B. Lee said “The [greatest] work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home”. This is true. Advances in medicine, energy, science, and engineering are worthless without the people they are designed to serve. As fascinating as rocks are, the most important things to learn about are family, love, and God. All the knowledge in the world is pointless without the next generation to pass it along to, and without a hope in God.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in a non-denominational Christian family, and find it fascinating to explore the many different philosophies and expressions of spirituality which exist around the world. While in college I took a comparative religions class where we were assigned to go to a religious meeting. I had a friend who was Mormon, and I decided to go to church with him. At the time, my friend was assigned to teach a children’s class, and, not knowing anyone else, I sat in on the children’s class he was teaching. He taught a lesson on “the plan of salvation” that detailed different stages of spiritual progression.

As I sat in the children's class looking up at the plan on the chalkboard, I had a very powerful spiritual experience. I have read accounts of people having spiritual experiences, but had never had one myself. I have climbed mountains to see breathtaking vistas, immersed myself in stirring music, cried, and laughed - up until this class, I thought that was what spiritual experiences were. Those kinds of things can indeed be spiritual, but what happened in that classroom was of a different caliper.

I became aware of another presence in the room. I felt a power come over me, I was encircled within a warmth, and my mind was opened to know that the plan of salvation I was looking at on the chalkboard was true. Not only was I given knowledge of the plan of salvation, but I was also given the knowledge that God was real and that He could communicate with us through His Spirit (because the Spirit was right there communicating with me). God went from being just a poetic philosophical idea, to being an actual physical reality.

Since joining the church, I have had many more spiritual experiences. It’s truly a new reality, to live with the knowledge that God is real. I am grateful that He was willing to reveal a little of Himself to me, and pray that those reading this might recognize His reality and influence within their lives as well.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I have had prayers answered many times in many different ways. One story we like to tell is about our son James. James is all boy. He’s constantly on the go and getting into things. One morning, when he was really little, I found him sitting on the floor of the bedroom with a funny look on his face. He was swishing something around in his mouth. Upon further investigation, to my horror, I found that he had somehow gotten the lightbulb off of his nightlight, and had put it into his mouth. I can only surmise that he thought it was an icecube – we live in a hot, humid region, and he liked to eat ice. It was a pretty big lightbulb, and he had chewed it up, and swallowed all of it save the metal end. I rushed him to the emergency room where MRI images revealed broken shards of glass scattered through his entire mid-section. The doctors and nurses at the hospital did not know what to do. They had never seen anything like it. They called the big children’s hospital downtown but no one there knew what to do either. After praying, I received an answer. The answer was “wonderbread”. We fed little James some bread. The bread coated the shards of glass, and they passed through his system without any complications. What could have been an extensive, risky, dangerous surgery on a very small child was turned by a prayer into a fun yummy snack. For this, and other instances, I am ever grateful to my Father in Heaven for helping us out with our children.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

I am a convert to the church, and so I have not been sealed in the temple to many members in my family. When I first joined the church I was sad because of this. I envisioned myself crossing the veil, watching others as they were joyfully reunited with countless generations, while I stood by alone, a mere spectator. There is no point in heaven without someone to go there with. “Take it to the temple” they say, so I turned to temple work. I went to my grandmother who is not a member of the church but knows who everyone in our family is. She pulled out the family Bible with pictures, journals, and among the papers, a baptism certificate of her mother, Grace. To my surprise the church that performed the baptism was “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and the elder who had performed the ordinance was “Harold B. Lee” a man who later became a prophet. Grace was crippled, she was not able to go to church, that is why I never knew. I just knew she had been the spiritual guide of our family. Through genealogy work I learned that my family is not unknown to my Heavenly Father. I can learn about, and feel connected to those who have gone before me.

I have sense been married in the temple, and now have 3 beautiful children. My little family is growing, on this side of the veil, and on the other, and with it my testimony of God’s love for everyone. Genealogy and temple work give me hope for my family, and for the families of all mankind.

How I live my faith

Living my faith includes daily prayer and scripture study, avoiding harmful entertainments and foods, and seeking instead those things which are “virtuous, lovely, of good-report, or praiseworthy” – Article of Faith #13. I try to be honest in all my dealings, love everyone, and serve others in our church and in the community. I’m not perfect in doing everything right all the time, but I try to be the best I can, make amends where I fall short, and am becoming better every day.

The church provides me with a clear purpose to work towards, and step by step guidance on how to refine myself to gain more peace, love, and joy in life. When I am more centered in Christ’s teachings I am a better mother, wife, and friend to those around me. When obstacles and trials come I know where to turn for help, and have hope that everything will work out if I just do what Heavenly Father would have me do.

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Jamie answered...

Temples are our most holy place of worship. They are the house of the Lord. In the Old Testament work inside the tabernacle was only performed by those in the house of Levi who were specially ordained and set aside. In the New Testament Jesus cleansed the temple by throwing out all of the moneychangers who had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves. The LDS temples of today are not as exclusive as the tabernacle of old, nor as inclusive as the temple Jesus cleansed. The modern day temples open their doors, not just to those of the house of Levi, but to men and women alike of all nationalities.

Psalms 24:3 - 4
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

All are invited and encouraged to join the church, set their lives in order, and come to the house of the Lord. I like to think of the temple as a sacred, not secret place. For me, the biggest secret in the temple are my personal trials and questions I bring there for answers. An often repeated phrase within the LDS community is “take it to the temple.” The temple is a place where we receive personal guidance for individual quandaries. We might not feel comfortable talking to everyone about everything in our lives, but we can always take our hearts in confidence to the temple and there find what we need.

Our Stake president (President Paulsen) gave a wonderful talk on temples in which he encouraged everyone to work towards going to the temple. I would like to share some of his remarks as I am able to remember them. He started by quoting Elder Bednar from an April General Conference

“Shortly after I was called to serve as a stake president in 1987, I talked with a good friend who recently had been released as a stake president. During our conversation I asked him what he would teach me about becoming an effective stake president. His answer to my question had a profound impact upon my subsequent service and ministry.
My friend indicated he had been called to serve as a temple worker soon after his release. He then said: “I wish I had been a temple worker before I was a stake president. If I had served in the temple before my call to serve as a stake president, I would have been a very different stake president.”
I was intrigued by his answer and asked him to explain further. He responded: “I believe I was a good stake president. The programs in our stake ran well, and our statistics were above average. But serving in the temple has expanded my vision. If I were called today to serve as a stake president, my primary focus would be on worthiness to receive and honor temple covenants. I would strive to make temple preparation the center of all that we did. I would do a better job of shepherding the Saints to the house of the Lord.”
That brief conversation with my friend helped me as a stake president to teach relentlessly about and testify of the eternal importance of temple ordinances, temple covenants, and temple worship. The deepest desire of our presidency was for every member of the stake to receive the blessings of the temple, to be worthy of and to use frequently a temple recommend.
My message today focuses upon the blessings of the temple, and I pray the Holy Ghost will illuminate our minds, penetrate our hearts, and bear witness of truth to each of us.”

President Paulsen told us he would like to do “a better job of shepherding the Saints to the house of the Lord” too.

He then proceeded to go through all of the questions which are asked during our temple recommend interview, and to expand on the significance of what each asks.

1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? 2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer? 3. Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

The first three questions do not have to do with worthiness, but have to do with our testimony, how we all need a strong testimony or it is pointless to go to the temple. (The temple is for those who are able to see beyond the symbol, to the mighty realities for which those symbols stand. Without a strong testimony the symbolic meanings of those things in the temple will be lost, the trip pointless.)

4. Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

Our Stake president encouraged us to read through the General Conference talks and gain a testimony of our leaders and their guidance for us.

5. Do you live the law of chastity? Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

He talked about how he likes watching the game, but the adds shown on the sports channel were a form of pornography. He talked about how important it was to fight to keep everything evil out of our homes. Our homes and our families should be a safe refuge of harmony and peace.

6. Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

There are those who build up, and those who tear down. The spirit of contention is not of the Lord. The Lord’s people stand together with one heart and one mind, united in all things.

7. Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

Our stake has a “no TV on Sundays” policy to help make Sunday a sacred day of rest without worldly distractions. Church meetings stregnthen those who attend with the intention of using what they learn there.

8. Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen? Are you a full-tithe payer?

Old Testament - Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” Tithing goes towards maintaining church meeting houses, building temples, sustaining missionary work, and building up the kingdom of God on Earth. The LDS church does not have paid clergy, members volunteer. All that we have comes from the Lord. Giving back a small portion to sustain the church is a small price to pay considering all He is given us.

Families of full-tithe payers are protected.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts."

The last of the qualifications: Do your keep the Word of Wisdom? Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations? If you have previously received your temple endowment: Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple? Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple? Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been? Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

Our stake president reminded us of the blessings and protection that are ours when we adhere to those principles which allow us to enter into the House of the Lord. The joys of the gospel are found, not through merely hearing the words, but by acting on them. The temple is a real, physical reminder to help us keep our lives in check.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Lauren answered...

Only some Mormons are allowed to go into temples because of the sacredness of the temples. Those who are living worthily and honestly are allowed to enter the temple. The temple is the "House of the Lord" and we esteem it with such respect that we make sure those who are in the temple are worthy to participate. We don't talk about the specifics of the temple because they are so sacred and we want to keep it that way. In the temple we can be bound as eternal families, learn more about our purpose here on earth, and baptize those who did not get the opportunity while they were living. It is a place where we would love everyone one day to be worthy to enter.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

Steven answered...

No, but we are instructed to be involved and to seek spiritual guidance in all political matters.

We believe that the leaders of a nation, state, and community can have a great influence for good or for evil and we need to ensure that they are represent our values and beliefs.