Hi, I'm MariLou

I live on the island of Saipan. I have a great family. I do volunteer work in my church and community. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a 50-something mom living in paradise! We moved here from Maine after my husband was hired to do the engineering at the local hospital. It was hard to leave our extended family back home, but we were excited about the adventure and it was only a two-year contract. That was over 11 years ago! Originally, we had all 8 of our children with us, but 5 of them have now live back in the States. One of our sons spent 2 years in Hawaii on a mission for the Church.

Why I am a Mormon

Ultimately, I am a Mormon because the "Mormon" interpretation of scripture, the belief in an open canon, and the doctrines perpetuated within the Church speak truth to my soul...it feels true. That feeling is something I can't ignore, nor do I want to.

Just a word on being "a Mormon". I think a better description is that I am a Christian who adheres to the doctrines and belief structure found within the Mormon religion. Actually, belief in the principles of Mormonism--all based on the concept that we have a God with a passionate interest in His children--us--who works for their good and leads and encourages them to progress and grow like any good and loving parent--is the easy part of being a Mormon. I think that is what most people would like to believe whether they do or not. Being a Christian--to truly be a disciple of Christ not just in word, but in action--is the hard part! But that is the way isn't it? To be like him, to follow his way as he followed his Father, and to become, as Paul said, "joint-heirs with Christ".

Personal Stories

Could you talk about your baptism?

My mother and sister and I started meeting with the missionaries when I was 11. My mother and sister were baptized within a few months of starting the lessons, but I was a fairly prideful young girl--my mother called me "contrary"--and I would not join. The more people encouraged me, the more I mulishly dug in my heels. I enjoyed going to church with them, and I even developed a testimony that the Church was true, but I kept up the resistance effort for over two years when something traumatic happened. One Sunday evening the home of one of the church families burned down and in it they lost their 5 year old daughter. I had just seen her at church earlier that day. I finally accepted that life was not a game to be played with--I was baptized a few weeks later.

How I live my faith

First and foremost I live my faith by learning about Jesus Christ so that I can know what I need to aim for. I couldn't really be a Christian without knowing something about his life, who he is, his teachings, and his objectives. So I study the scriptures--the Holy Bible Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Doctrine & Covenants a book containing revelations given by Jesus Christ to prophets of the Church, and the Pearl of Great Price other revelations from God given to prophets both ancient and modern.
I teach the things I learn to my children and try to incorporate them into my daily life both within and without the walls of my home. I try not to separate these beliefs from any other part of my life--if it's true, it's true everywhere and for everything and everyone.
I am also a volunteer teacher in a program within the Church called "Daily Seminary." Seminary is a four-year course of scripture study open to high school age students. It is taught on school-day mornings before school begins. Our class starts at 6 am. I have taught in this program for 12 years and I love it! Here on Saipan we have a multi-cultural class that typically ranges from 18 to 25 students, although I have had as many as 33 in the class!

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?

MariLou answered...

I noticed there were a couple of FAQs regarding women--What are Mormon women like? Why don't women hold the priesthood in the Mormon Church? etc.

Of course, Mormon women are as varied as women anywhere of any religion, but there is a common thread--we believe that we are daughters of God and have been given special abilities and purposes by Him. Literally. Daughters of the King of Heaven. Think how that belief affects us. And we are here not by chance, but with a God-given purpose to lift and teach and nurture.

Why don't women hold the priesthood in the Mormon Church? Well, the quick answer is God's priesthood, God's rules. In reading the Holy Bible you can see that the priesthood of God has always been exclusive--in the Old Testament it was only the tribe of Levi.

I've heard lots of speculation on why women don't hold the priesthood over the course of my years in the Church, but I still think that the quick answer is only one we know for sure right now.
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 you have 12 Apostles? They were just meant to be around for the time of Jesus Christ, not to be replaced with new apostles.

Becky answered...

Our church is the same church that Christ instituted while he was here on the earth. It is Christ's church and is called after him. Just as he had 12 Apostles, we have 12 Apostles and, as Peter was President of the Church after Christ ascended into heaven following His ressurection, we have a living prophet. Christ is the head of the church, but the prophet and apostles act for him and in his name. They have the same Priesthood power that Christ gave to Peter and the other apostles at that time. The prophet and apostles today are also called as seers, revelators, and special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Theirs as in the time of Christ is the duty to handle the affairs of the Church, to travel to different countries and bear testimony of and administer in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity every 6 months in a General Conference of the Church, broadcast over television, radio, and internet all over the world, to hear them speak about Christ, and to teach us how to become more like Him. They are important in their ministry as well as in the organization of our large, worldwide church membership.