Hi, I'm Stephanie

I am a lover of life. God, music, service, people, and running are my oxygen. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am just your typical girl who truly believes in living life to its fullest. I like being a well-rounded person who tries everything but is really a master of nothing. I love running (five marathons, going on six!), dancing, zumba, singing, playing the piano and guitar, playing sports, traveling, cooking, being involved in social causes, and a lot of other things. I'm ridiculously busy and disorganized and so I lose things ALL the time :). It's kind of incredible and I always keep myself on my toes. My greatest joy in life is my family and friends-they are awesome people. There are few things I would rather do than to just spend time with them. I'm also a grad student and I'm passionate about helping families stay strong- and I'm just hoping I can finish my thesis!

Service is my favorite thing in the world because other people's stories inspire me. Compassion is a driving force in my life because I believe in it. I truly believe there is good in everyone and I can always learn something from someone else. I also believe that life is meant to be happy, and so everything I do is meant to help other people feel happier and loved. People who live their lives according to themselves have got to be miserable...and people who see the world as a horrible place really just need to chill out. So that's me :)

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I know that the teachings of the Church are true. I have learned for myself that Heavenly Father is watching out for each of us. He has a plan for each of us, and will not let us fall. I've attended this church ever since I was a kid, but I learned that I could not really believe in God unless I sought Him out myself. I have read the word of God and have prayed to know if it was true. It has been confirmed to me over and over again that it is true- and if at any time I wonder, have doubts, or fears, I know I can ask again and that I will receive an answer. I am a Mormon because I know that the message of Jesus Christ is true- that the Gospel, the good news, is meant to lighten our burdens, to guide our purposes, and to give us strength. I know that I can do all things through Christ- which strengthens me. He has called a prophet for our day to guide us and help us understand God's will for us. I am a Mormon because I know that if we keep His commandments, we will be happy. I know that when I follow the will of the Lord I am happy. I know that although I go through difficulties, He will always be on my side. I am a Mormon because I know that families can be together forever.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

Some may wonder why we talk about Joseph Smith so much, and why we revere him so much. I have wondered that many times in my life. I have thought many times, "Why do I need to care about Joseph Smith?" "Why does a testimony of what happened in his life really matter?" "If what he really saw and did was true, why do so many people say that he lied?" I thought that somehow, there was just something that was hard to believe about Joseph Smith. Somehow, it seemed like focusing on Joseph's ministry was somehow taking away my focus from Christ and Heavenly Father- but it's because I didn't understand how he fit in. Now I know how.

Joseph Smith is like a Moses of our day. We do not worship Joseph Smith- but recognize that he was a man of God. I know that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in the sacred grove- even though he was only a 14-year-old boy. That experience was necessary for us to understand the true nature of God, and to know that God knows each of us. He called Joseph by name, and explained to him that he had been chosen to lead a marvelous work- a restoration of the fullness of truth to His children. As Joseph was commanded to bring forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated through the gift of God, he was faced with much opposition and trial. But even with everything he faced, the work went forward. The Book of Mormon was published, and it has been given to the world so we can come to know Jesus Christ. Like the Bible, it is a witness of His divinity and His mission. Joseph Smith sacrificed his life for us so that we could have that truth, and I am so grateful that he did what he was called to do.

Joseph Smith was also called to reveal restored truths about the next life, the work that needed to be performed in holy temples, and was also given the gift to reconcile many misunderstood doctrines. With sincere prayer and humility before God through his entire ministry, Joseph Smith became a vital instrument in restoring the complete message of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. The truths he helped restore teach us that families can live together forever, God still gives revelation to man, we have great need for truth and scripture, each of us has a divine purpose, and that we can with God again when we die. We glorify Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that we can know these things for ourselves today!

Ultimately, while some may criticize Joseph Smith, I know that it is probably because they misunderstand his character and role in God's plan, like I did. But I have come to know that he was a man of integrity and he only did what he was inspired to do through revelation from God. He did not glory in himself. I know now he was truly a prophet of God because the fruits of his labors have truly blessed my life! Anyone can also come to understand the role of Joseph Smith and other prophets in the work of the Lord if they just study the scriptures and pray to know it to be true for themselves.

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

You know, its funny, I studied about how to make family relationships healthy for four years in my undergrad degree, but the main thing you can do to keep your family strong is fundamentally just to love them. Show them love through acts of service, through kind words, by having fun. Right now my family has a lot of complex situations to deal with, but the thing that gets us through is kindness, generosity, selflessness, and a sense of humor. Randomly doing the dishes for my mom, sending a nice note to my sister, being willing to stay home with my autistic little brother while my mom goes on errands, and just being positive is really all that I do. But it works- you should try it.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

In the Old Testament, Elijah the prophet talked about how the "hearts of the fathers" would be turned to their children, and that the "hearts of the children" would be turned to their fathers. As I mentioned before, the purpose of life is to live as an eternal family- meaning that we are preparing to live with our ENTIRE family- past, present, and future, forever. Although we have been separated by time, we are each connected to hundreds of lines of relatives- and we want to live with them again! This can only be ensured through God's commandments and ordinances (sacred work that is performed His temples)- which have been fully restored in the latter days. We do genealogy work to find out about our past families- to understand who they are, how they lived, and find out what opportunities they had in regard to the Gospel. We believe that our ancestors are now living in heaven, and if they did not have opportunities to receive the blessings of the gospel on Earth, then we can reconcile that for them in His temple. God has provided that gift for them- and we need to perform His work.

Here is a URL if you would like to see a Mormon Message about temple work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLXYxmaHWQs

How I live my faith

I attend a young single adult congregation and I serve as a ward missionary and visiting teacher. I help reach out to members of the ward who have not been to church for a while or who just need a friend. Occasionally I help the prospective missionaries get ready to teach out in the mission field by listening to their teaching methods and giving them advice. As a visiting teacher, I visit a few sisters and we strengthen our friendship and discuss the gospel. In my spare time I try to be an advocate for decency in the community and help educate people about the harmful effects of pornography use. I also love to serve in any capacity that will strengthen others (whether or not its church related), because I end up learning so much from other people. The Savior has said that we need to serve one another- and I believe its because it helps us understand the true worth of people. I am grateful to serve because it helps me have more charity for my fellow brothers and sisters. By serving and keeping the commandments, I learn to live the way the Savior would have us live- and it strengthens my faith in Him. He is my Lord and Redeemer, and while I learn to live His ways, I am able to rely upon His grace through my strengthened faith.

How are modesty and chastity related? How can parents teach their children to be modest in dress, language and behavior?

Stephanie answered...

God has taught as that our bodies are meant to be special, even sacred, like temples. Modesty is a way that we show respect for our bodies and reminds us that our bodies are meant to be used righteously. When we dress modestly, it tells those around us that there is more to us than just physical appearance, and that encourages respect and more of a focus on the soul of a person. If we send messages through our dress and attitude that we are lax about how we display ourselves physically, then people are bound to assume that we are lax about how we use our bodies.

Encourage youth to decide on how they want people to perceive them, and teach them that it directly relates to their dress and appearance. Help them find a role model that has dressed modestly and has achieved great things in their lives. Often youth dress and act immodestly because they both want to be accepted and stand out. Help them understand that they can become unique and a role model to other through modest dress, and be respected in their own way for being an example.
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Brittney Michelle answered...

Modesty is almost a precursor for chastity. They are the built upon the doctrine of the sanctity of our body. By being modest in our actions and dress we outwardly show our understanding that we, as a soul, are more than just an object to be flaunted. Our body is a gift from God and he has asked us to save intimacy until after we are married. We show respect for him and ourselves if we hold off until marriage and always dress and act modestly. This principle can be taught to children through example, first and foremost, but also by being honest and explaining to them the importance of it and why we are asked to live it. Use the Holy Ghost as your guide as you teach your children.

How can we stop the spread and influence of pornography?

Jocelyn answered...

I believe that Mothers have the power to combat the evils of our day, one child, one bedtime story, and one encouraging conversation at a time. When we teach our children about their worth as children of God, they will find confidence in themselves, and they will be armed with the power to make correct choices and the wisdom to recognize that following Jesus Christ is the path to true happiness.