Hi, I'm Jennifer Anne

I grew up in the Philadephia area. I'm a stay-at-home mother. I am a Mormon!

About Me

I am a wife and a mother to two active preschoolers. I was a high school drama teacher for 5 years before becoming a mother, an now I enjoy staying home with my boys. Together my husband and I enjoy photography and traveling. As a family we love softball, and the outdoors. I love the arts and being creative. I keep busy by doing custom tailoring out of my home for weddings and I love to do specialty costumes! Learning to be a great mom is the greatest adventure yet!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I feel the spirit every time I read the Book of Mormon. I feel it when I sincerely pray to my Father in Heaven. I feel it when I listen the the Prophet speak to us. I can feel that the prophet's guidance is the word of the Lord to help us through these troubling times. I find comfort and peace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It helps me stay optimistic in the the face of opposition.

Personal Stories

Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?

Personally, I want to share the gospel with others because it has provided me with a tremendous amount of peace and happiness. Why wouldn't anyone want to share something that has influenced them so profoundly? As a friend, I try to be open about what I believe in, and why. I try to be a person whom they would feel comfortable approaching if they did have a question. I'm trying to be like Jesus. Mind you, like everyone, I don't always succeed, but I would hope that my successes can outnumber my failures in the end. Great joy can be had in making others happy, and the gospel brings joy into the lives of those that embrace it. I know as a teenager I loved inviting my friends to church activities. It's just natural to combine your loves-- your friends, your family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

We are encouraged to set every Monday evening aside for a "Family Night." Even though our children are so small, we really have loved this time together. We sing a song together, pray, say a family proclamation, and then do a simple activity together like: coloring a picture, telling a story, doing a short play, going for a family walk, or talking about a special even coming up. We also take a family picture together every week! It's wonderful to see how our kids are growing, and how they look forward to our special family time together.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

One of our core beliefs is that when we die, it is not the end of our identity, or the relationships that we have formed here in mortality. We know that we can be together with our families forever. These key relationships are so important to us that we want to know about our ancestors, what they were like, and where they came from.

We know there is nothing we can take with us when we go--but that our family relationships are enduring. Our genealogy work ties into the service we do inside our temples. We do temple work in behalf of our ancestors because we love them and we want them to have the blessings and the happiness that we have found for ourselves. That happiness is tied to taking on sacred covenants and ordinances that bring us closer to the Lord.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

We have two wonderful boys, one that is almost 6 and our younger one is almost 4. He also has Autism. Sometimes when you have a child with special needs you really begin to understand that you have to act in faith without always seeing the end results. Sometimes you don't see it because the growth and the learning is slow and incremental. It may take another few years for my youngest to begin speaking, but I can have faith that our efforts are helping and we rejoice in the small milestones he achieves.

The same principle applies to the principles of the gospel that we try to share with our children. Yes, there will be days when I really don't think they are listening, or paying attention, but I know that by holding family home evening, reading scriptures, and praying together they will understand that our savior loves them and that he knows them. Recently our family pet died and I was so touching to see my little son talk about resurrection and the hope of seeing our loved ones again.

I try to remember that even though we don't always see the results, or the results we wanted, that faith can keep us going, and that one day we will receive the fruits for our labor. The Lord has promised us that it will happen.

How I live my faith

I know that if I did not live the things that I believe in I wouldn't feel whole as a person. Living our faith means that we will do what right even when it is difficult, or unpopular. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has given me that foundation for making good choices in my personal life.

As a member of the church we are all asked to contribute a little bit of ourselves. Right now I am serving as the ward choir director in my congregation. (I have never had any formal training, I just learn as I go!) Its a little bit intimidating, but I do know that if we fulfill the callings we are given, and try our best, that our efforts will be blessed. I'm glad that I get the chance to develop new talents.

I have also been asked to visit other sisters in our congregation, and in turn there are sisters that visit me. I really enjoy these associations with other women. They often provide a great perspective on the things that I am going through and I enjoy the friendships that develop because of our regular visits.

I have been a member since I was a young girl, and the gospel has been central to every happy moment in my life. I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Jennifer Anne answered...

The priesthood is the power of God, given to men, to act in his name on the earth. The priesthood is used to serve others and perform ordinances of the gospel, the blessings of which are enjoyed by both men and women. Although women do not hold priesthood offices their power and influence is not in any way diminished. Organized by priesthood power women lead the Relief Society, the Primary Organization (for children under 12), and the Young Women's Organization. Women are called to serve in and sometimes lead in many other capacities including and not limited to: Activities Commitees, the Visiting Teaching Program, Teacher Training, Welfare Program, Geneology and Family History Programs, and Music Commitees. There are innumerable opportunities for women to serve and bless the lives of others through their church service. In the church I have always felt important and cherished. I feel that my contributions are appreciated and needed.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Madelyn answered...

I feel that men and women both have different but equally important roles in getting us back to God. In God's eternal plan we were spirits in His presence before this life. To progress we needed to get bodies on this earth, then perform specific ordinances (eg baptism, marriage) to return to God after this life. Women were given the godly power to bring spirits into this world and give them bodies, then nurture and raise these children with God's inspiration and guidance. The men were assigned the responsibility (through the God's Priesthood power) to serve others and administer the ordinances that will bring God's children back to His presence after this life. Both roles are necessary and equally important to God's plan for us.
I don't think women need the Priesthood to be powerful influences and to do God's work in their homes and in the church. I see men grow spiritually, and their characters become more godly when they act in God's name through using the Priesthood.
I have never felt the need to hold the Priesthood myself. I can still receive all the blessings offered by the Priesthood, my prayers can be just as powerful, and I still have access to the inspiration of God in my life.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Tember Skye Harward answered...

Mormon's are viewed as a cult by some because we do not adhere to the fundamental creeds established by the other Christian churches, such as the Nicene or Athanasian Creeds, and their view of the Godhead. Latter-day Saints are viewed by other Christians just like the early Christians were viewed by the Jews and Romans of the time, which was as a cult, because they strayed from what seemed to them orthodox Judaism. Much like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who viewed orthodoxy through the lens of the rules laid out in the rabbinical law and their interpretation of the Law of Moses, the Christians of today view orthodoxy through the lens of the creeds that were established hundreds of years after the death of Christ under the opinion and counsels of men.