Hi, I'm Kasi Michelle

I live in Indiana with my husband and four children. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a stay at home mom, but am starting school next month, hoping to become a Registered Nurse. My husband was recently diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, and I am hoping a career in nursing will not only help provide for our family financially, but will also assist me in caring for him. I also have a small photography business.
I have four children, ages 2 to 7. My oldest son is Autistic. My life is busy, a bit chaotic, and at times hard. But overall, my life is rewarding, joyful and full of laughter.
When I have time, I love to garden, refinish thrift store furniture, and pretty much do anything creative.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a mormon family and baptized at age 8. I lived in Utah, and all my friends and family were mormon. Being a mormon was never something I questioned. Until I turned 13.
My parents divorced. My father left the church and married a woman who had bad feelings towards the church. My new step-father was emotionally abusive. So I made friends with who I could, and found love and comfort where I could. Unfortunately, that led me away from the church.
When I was 15, my parents intervened and pulled me off my path of destruction. I was sent to an inpatient treatment program. Before I entered the program, I was given a priesthood blessing, which I didn't pay attention to or believe in. As I went through the program, I began to see that the choices I was making were making me unhappy. I tried to read the Book of Mormon, but I felt that there was no way that I could be forgiven of my past mistakes. I prayed, but still felt that I could never be forgiven, and that I was unlovable.
Towards the end of the program, I was given another blessing. I wanted so badly to believe, but I didn't know if I could. As I listened to the blessing, I was overcome with so much joy and peace. I suddenly knew! I knew that God loved me! I knew that I could be forgiven! I knew that God knew me, He knew me before this life, and He was aware of me now. I knew in a way that could not be denied.
I didn't change overnight, but I started on a path that led me back to full activity in the church and a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the gospel. I wish I could say that I never questioned again, or never faltered, but I did. Over the years I have had to rely upon that memory several times, but also strive for new experiences and witnesses that the church is true.
Several months ago, I was questioning. My husband was seeing doctor after doctor, with no real answers. I was depressed, and scared. I knew that I needed to pray more, read more, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
Then one day, I just did. I picked up a religious book and started to read. As I read, I felt the spirit. I listened more when my husband and I read the scriptures together. I prayed more. I finished that book, and wanted more! I read every church book we own. I read the Ensign and listened to General Conference. And almost without me realizing it, I wasn't questioning at all anymore.
But the biggest miracle to me, has been the disappearance of depression and fear. I have felt peace unlike anything I have ever felt in my life. I have felt hope, and joy and a desire to do all I can to return to God someday. I have felt a greater love for those around me. I have come to understand things I never have before, and to trust in God regarding those things that I don't understand. I truly feel joy, during what most would think is the hardest time in my life. I know that it comes from God. I know that God loves me. I know that I am happiest when I am reading my scriptures, listening to the prophet, saying my prayers, going to church, taking the sacrament and following the teachings of the church. I know that the church is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. And I am more grateful for these things than words could ever express.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I could never list all the instances that my prayers have been answered. Sometimes my prayers are answered through someone else offering advice, help, or setting an example. Sometimes my prayers are answered through feelings of peace, a change of attitude or a personal realization. Sometimes my prayers are answered through reading the scriptures or the words of the prophets. Sometimes my prayers are answered miraculously, such as an unexpected check in the mail, or another person's change of heart.
Sometimes I don't get what I pray for. But I have come to realize that just as my children don't always know what they need or want, I don't either. But Heavenly Father does, and when I pray that His will be done, I am blessed in ways that I never imagined.

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

It has brought me peace. I never knew that I could feel such peace in the midst of such turmoil in my life. But I know the final outcome. I know that if I follow the Savior's plan for me, I will be with my family and with my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

The more we focus on the Gospel, the more peaceful our home is. When church hymns are playing in the background, when pictures of Christ and Temples are displayed in our home, and when we daily gather for prayers and scriptures as a family, contention and anger decrease in our home. It is a constant struggle, because I have four young children! The temptation to yell or to react badly to something they have done is something I face daily, and I don't always resist it. I have learned that the better my relationship is with my husband, the better the feeling and harmony in our home. In order to keep our relationship good, we read and pray together. We spend as much time as we can together. We talk, we serve each other, and we speak kindly to each other. When we disagree or have a problem, we try to fix it as quickly as possible. I have found that there is no room for pride in a marriage, and I try to apologize quickly.
The more time we spend together as a family, the happier we are. We work together, we worship together, we learn together, and we play together. We don't let certain movies, TV shows, music, books or images into our home. We try to speak to each other respectfully and don't swear. We try to focus on the Savior as much as possible. And we constantly re-evaluate what we are doing, repent of our mistakes, and try to be better.

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

As my testimony has grown, my anxiety and fear have diminished. I know that as long as I follow Jesus Christ, I have nothing to fear, nothing to be anxious about. As my faith has increased, my ability to love others has increased as well. My peace and happiness continue to increase. I have experienced forgiveness that can come only through the Atonement.
Every blessing in my life comes from my faith in Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

Living my faith is a day to day, almost hour by hour part of my life. Most mornings before my oldest son leaves for school, we gather as a family to read The Book of Mormon and have a family prayer. We pray before each meal, and at night before bed my husband and I read in the scriptures (we are currently reading the New Testament) and pray together. Each Sunday, we attend church. As often as we are able, my husband and I attend the temple together.
My husband works with the young men in our ward, ages 12-17. Each week he attends an activity with them during the week, and either teaches or participates in their Sunday School classes.
I coordinate events and meetings for the women in our ward. We meet together monthly to learn new skills, be spiritually taught and uplifted, and to foster friendships with and offer support to each other.
We try to participate in any ward activities or service projects. We pay 10% of our income to tithing each month. Periodically, we are assigned to give talks or lessons at church.

Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?

Kasi Michelle answered...

My husband and I were sealed together in the Salt Lake City Temple over 7 years ago. Because of this, I know that we will be together forever. I know that regardless of what happens in this life, we can be assured that we will be together in the next life. Our children are also sealed to us, and I have complete faith that we will all be together in heaven. It is one of the most comforting aspects of the gospel to me.
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Amanda answered...

YES!!! This is one of my favorite parts of the gospel. I believe that my family will live together in heaven. I will know my family as my family members. My husband is my husband for now and for all eternity. My children are my children here on earth and for all eternity. I know that if something happened to one of us that I will see them again. I love this about the church. Before joining, I always had a question about this concept and when taking the discussions from the missionaries this came up. Makes me love the church more and more.

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Katia Maria answered...

No. I am aware that there is a religious sect that does practice polygamy, however, our doctrine is definately about a one man and one woman relationship within marriage.