Hi, I'm Val M.

I'm a Mormon! I live in Tennessee and I love my church.

About Me

I have been married for almost eight years. My wife and I are parents to two girls and two boys. I teach music at a local elementary school. I just graduated this last weekend with my masters in education. I am a songwriter and working on writing my first book.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into this church. Both of my parents were raised Mormon and in turn raised my six siblings and me as Mormon. Growing up our home was filled with early morning scripture reading, family home evenings, and racing at break-neck speed to get to church on time each Sunday. I struggled a great deal with myself as a teenager and questioned everything, including my church. I eventually gained a knowledge of this church through several experiences that have led me to where I am in life today. Because of the decisions I have made I now have a loving wife and four wonderful children that I will now raise as Mormon and hopefully pass along to them the things that I know and the testimony that I have gained of this wonderful church.

Personal Stories

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

Sometimes people think that following Heavenly Father's commandments puts limits on how they are able to live their life. In reality keeping the commandments gives us more freedoms in life than disobeying our Heavenly Father. Those who drink, smoke, do drugs, or view pornography are hindered by their addiction to whatever their vice may be. As they choose to make daily decisions they must be sure to incorporate those addictions into their day, whereas a person without those addictions has complete freedom. As you notice the reasoning behind your freedom, you will be more inclined to make right choices in your life, allowing yourself to maintain your freedoms.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith is my personal hero. My testimony of this wonderful gospel is found within his life. He had such a fantastic life that even he once said that if he hadn't lived it himself he wouldn't have believed it. To know that he personal spoke with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ lights up my heart every time I think of it. When I think of all the personal sacrifices he made I can't help but think that I can do more in my life. Knowing that he died as a testimony to the truthfulness of this work strengthens my testimony. He was truly of God.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

My prayers have been answered through so many different means. Although my prayers are not always answered in a manner that I want them to be answered, they are answered nonetheless. Heavenly Father knows what we need and how to best provide us with what we need. The greatest blessing I have received through prayer is that it allows me to speak with my Father in Heaven and know him on a personal level than any other way possible. Because I get to know my Heavenly Father more I know understand what I should pray for in this life.

How I live my faith

I am a home teacher and the ward clerk in my ward. I help out in any way I can. I usually help out with any music that is needed.

Are Mormons Christians?

Val M. answered...

Yes, Mormons are Christians. We love Jesus Christ. The official name of our church is The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. We recognize our Savior in everything that we do as a church. We love Him and revere Him to be the Son of God. He is the center of our faith, our homes, and our families.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Charlotte answered...

Living in a place where Mormons are a small minority, this is probably the question I get asked the most. For me, nothing is more sacred and personal than my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe he was born of Mary and is the Son of God. I believe he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and died on the cross on Calvary so that all of us might be saved by the gift of His atonement. I believe he was resurrected three days later and that he will come again. I absolutely whole-heartedly believe in and love Jesus and am teaching my children to do the same.

Generally though, I've found that when people ask me this question more often they are asking what makes Mormons different from other Christians. There are 3 major differences: 1) We believe that God, the father, Jesus, his son and the Holy Ghost are distinct beings (the first two having a body of flesh and blood, the third being a spirit) that are united in purpose. So, we don't believe in the concept of the "Trinity." 2) We believe in an open cannon, meaning that God still reveals scripture. We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God but we have companion scriptures as well that we believe are holy and inspired, most notably "The Book of Mormon." It is another testament of Jesus Christ, in addition to the Bible. 3)We believe that God still talks to man. Revelation didn't stop with the prophets in the Bible. When Christ's church was restored through Joseph Smith, prophets once again returned to the earth. We having a living prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, to whom God speaks. In addition, we believe in personal revelation. Rather than telling people they must follow unquestioningly like sheep, Mormons are encouraged to ask God themselves about doctrine, actions and anything else they are concerned about. He answers prayers.

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

John Odell answered...

Of course the Church does not endorse political parties. Political parties do not represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But all the members of the Church are encouraged to participate in the political system and many have and do. We will be held responsible for our actions in the political arena just as we are in every other activity of our lives. I feel strongly that we have an obligation to support the Constitution of this land and that the Lord had a lot to do in its founding and in the freedoms that we receive from adhering to its principles. The Founding Fathers were inspired by God and we should be inspired by them. There are many criteria that we can use to choose political candidates but none are of more value than that recommended by modern scripture, namely, to search after honest and good men. I love our American Republic and our Constitution and try to support men or women who support the ideas and principles found in that document. According to the Declaration of Independence we receive our rights from our creator and must be ever aware that we do not turn our rights to the whims of men, however well meaning they may be. I am not a fan of political parties and consider myself a Constitutional conservative and very independent.