Hi, I'm Shelly

I'm a mom and wife. I love theatre and literature. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My husband and I have four children. After our first two daughters were born, we decided to go back to school. I wanted to follow my mother's example and teach my little girls that they should be educated too. I followed my heart and majored in theatre, where I achieved many of my goals including performing on the college stage. I've tried to teach my children to follow their dreams, try their hardest, and never give up on themselves. And even though I'm living a different dream (motherhood), I love endeavoring in new adventures with my family and discovering my own talents and interests.

Why I am a Mormon

I was blessed to be born into a Mormon family and baptized when I was 8-years-old. I grew up learning about the gospel, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the importance of prophets upon the earth. But it was my first year of college, the first time I ever lived on my own and without my family close by, that I truly realized my relationship with my Father in Heaven. I was struggling in school for the very first time. I didn't know what I wanted to major in, I couldn't afford school without a full-time job, and I missed being taken care of. Life seemed too difficult to handle. I knelt at my bedside one night, earnestly praying to Heavenly Father for help. I remember pleading, "Help me, Father. Help me, Father." The realization hit me that He is my Father. He loves me just as my father here on Earth loves me. He wants me to succeed. He wants me to be happy. He wants me to feel His love. And I did feel it. I felt the Holy Ghost wrap his arms around me and hold me during my time of pain and insecurity. No miraculous solutions happened that night. But I knew my Father was pleased with me. He loves me. And I continue to strive to please Him.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

My son was born with a heart condition called Pulmonary Atresia. Basically, his pulmonary valve developed, but the leaflets that push the blood through the valve didn't form correctly, leaving this valve sealed shut. We caught the problem through an ultrasound, just a few months before he was born. And although he would eventually need this valve to function, the human heart can bypass this valve for a while. My son was born 8 lbs 4 oz, by far the largest baby in the NICU. But his life hung in the balance just as much as the smaller babies.
After two balloon-catheter procedures, he was discharged and we brought our two-week-old baby home. Eventually, he wasn't dependent on medication. He had two more balloon-cath procedures. Finally we were advised to take more aggressive action and his first open heart surgery to repair his valve occurred just after his first birthday. Unfortunately, it was too aggressive and he required another open heart surgery about a year later. This one replaced his heart valve and changed everything. He will have to have open heart surgery to continually replace this valve throughout his life.
Seeing my son, my baby, in pain hurts my own heart. But he bears his burdens willingly. He asks me to pray for him.
I know the opposite of faith is fear. It's so very easy to fear when your young son has to face his own mortality. It's easy to fear when his innocent eyes turn to you and he says, "Mom, will you please ask Heavenly Father that if I have to die, that it won't hurt." It's too easy to let that fear cripple you.
But I am learning (and sometimes relearning) that if I have faith in Jesus Christ, all will be well. My son will have the peace he needs in his heart. And the rest of our family and I will also. Only by letting go of that fear and grasping the hand of our Savior can we truly feel the happiness that stretches beyond this moment of strife. He wants us to be happy. And He protects ALL of us.

How I live my faith

I get to help start a new Cub Scout pack. We're beginning from scratch and I am excited to see these young boys fulfill their goals and achievements. So far, I've been so impressed with them. The packs in our area were put on hold while this new pack was being formed and yet several of the boys accomplished many goals over several months without any help from their pack or den. They worked these achievements on their own and with their families. They have been dedicated to bettering themselves and those around them. They inspire me and I can't wait to help reward them with their badges, belts, arrows, and other such awards.

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Kim answered...

No! The practice of polygamy by faithful Mormons ended September 24, 1890. Mormons today do not practice or preach or in any way condone the practice of plural marriage. If you hear or read about any group of people practicing polygamy you can be absolutely certain that they are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any LDS church member practicing polygamy today would be immediately excommunicated from the church.

QUESTION: Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

This is a good honest question that deserves an honest answer. My great-great-grandfather who joined the church in 1835 was a polygamist. If you are a Christian that believes in the Holy Bible and ancient prophets, you believe in and accept the fact that God has the right to authorize plural marriage when He sees the need, and He has the right to revoke that same commandment when He sees the need to do so. Many of the ancient prophets had plural wives such as Moses, Abraham, and Isaac. If you believe in the Holy Bible, you must accept this fact. But you also know that for most of human history God commanded men to have only one wife. The key here is to do what God commands, and don’t do what He forbids.

The period of time when Joseph Smith (1820-1844) was called of God to restore the “fullness of the gospel” to the earth, many important laws and ordinances were revealed and restored to the earth that had existed anciently. The power of the priesthood, temple ordinances, and the practice of plural marriage were part of that restoration.

But in 1890 the Lord directed the living prophet Wilford Woodruff to end the practice of Plural marriage. Since that time the Mormon Church has not authorized any such practice. This is a great example that demonstrates how important it is to follow living prophets who receive direction from the living God for our day.
Shannon answered...

No, Mormons or members of The Church of Jesus Christ do not practice polygamy. The church has nothing whatsoever to do with the practice of polygamy. People who practice polygamy are not Mormons or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If any members of the church are found practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, which is the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Casey answered...

For me, God's plan for us is about families, a husband and wife and kids. But all people are children of God who deserve love and respect, including those who have different views about same sex marriage. However, when I really don't know, I turn to what prophets of God have said.

“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.

“We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families” (Ensign, Nov. 1998, 71).

When I think of how hard this must be for many, I think of our faith in Jesus Christ. He loves us and has given us guidance through prophets, we just need to follow.