Hi, I'm Colleen

My close friends and family call me Goo- it was my first word and Colleen is a hard name to remember.

About Me

I was born a free spirit to perfect parents. I have an amazing older sister who makes me look boring, and a little brother that used to rank on me in the 90's for doing yoga and now is a yogi master in Chino Hills, CA. I was married at the ripe old age of 29. Had a daughter at 35 and was divorced at 35 1/2.
I learned that even when you do everything perfectly right, it can still go perfectly wrong.
Being a single mom wasn't planned but life has a way of shaping our understanding through experiences. Every day is a gift, & the breath may start from a sigh, but it can end in a smile.
My pride bubbles & reflects in my daughters eyes. My life's purpose has been beautifully carved through painful experiences that shaped insight & understanding that books can't teach. I am grateful for any suffering & agree with Eckhart's statement, "Suffering drives you deeper~ without suffering we are condemned to a shallow existence."
Every day breathes hope into every thought and our faith steers the only course to our individual happy place. I've learned we can never find beauty & peace on earth~ without first accepting & embracing our own beauty & seeking our own inner peace. The only peace we will ever find~ is only in our peace of mind.

Why I am a Mormon

When I was young, I never questioned anything my mom taught me. She would read scriptures to us and use our stuffed animals to act out the stories. She would always end every story on a cliffhanger to leave us dying for more. We went to church every Sunday, even on vacation.
When I got older, I enjoyed visiting other churches and they were wonderful- but they failed to fill in the blanks. I don't believe God wants to be a mystery. I believe Jesus- when He promised 'ask, & it will be given-knock, & it will be answered unto you.' I love my church because I have found an answer to every single question I ever asked! Now with the Internet & resources from LDS.org- all mysteries are available to those who ask in faith. The truth is never contrary & despite human failings- the gospel is absolutely true!

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

Life without faith is like living in darkness. Faith is the light that makes ugly things beautiful. It clears out confusion and lights the pathway to daily and eternal happiness.

How I live my faith

I am a Sunday School Gospel Doctrine Teacher. I fell in love with the New Testament on my IPod while doing some extreme gardening! I am ecstatic to learn so deeply about the Savior's life- with the added bonus of getting to share the treasures inside with the people I love the most. The church is organized so beautifully-Every movie and story seems to paint Jesus as a casual traveller. Wandering around in sandals saying "Peace" a lot. The reality of the detailed organization he strictly laid out has been perfectly reorganized in the structure of the LDS church. The reality of the Savior's love was perfectly reflected in his life & casts a shadow on every leader in our Gospel. I am amazed with every new insight & discovery- how they compliment each other in truths perfect light.

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Colleen answered...

Not only Mormons are asked. Its in Malachi in the Bible. We are all told to pay tithing.
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Megan Cosgriff answered...

Latter Day Saints(Mormons) donate 10% of their income to the church because the Lord has commanded us too! In Proverbs 3:9 it says, "Honour the Lord with substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." This is talking about tithing, tithing literally means one-tenth, which is 10%. So when the Lord commands us to donate one-tenth of our increase(income) that is what we do. If you look at Malachi 3:8-10 you will see that the Lord is asking for us to give him our tithes (10%) and in return he will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings, so many that we won't be able to contain them. Wouldn't you want to receive innumerable blessings for just giving Him 10% of your pay check? It seems like a pretty fair trade to me.

What is the Law of Chastity?

Joseph answered...

The power to create children is very sacred. Our Father in Heaven has commanded that the sacred power and privilege of sexual relations be exercised only between a man and woman who are legally married. This is the law of chastity. It means that we must not have sexual relations before we are married, and after we are married we should have sexual relations only with our husband or wife.

Keeping the law of chastity brings safety, happiness, peace, and self-respect. It also deepens married love and protects families. Breaking this law is serious. But those who have broken it can gain forgiveness and peace through repentance and obedience.

God wants the best for you and for all of His children. Following God’s plan of reserving intimacy for marriage will help you and your family be happy.