Hi, I'm Jen

I have a family, I'm a massage therapist and also a convert. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in the Midwestern U.S. and come from an Italian-American Catholic family. I love my family and truly believe the values I learned as a child helped me to accept the restored gospel as an adult. After being a member for just one year I was able to serve a full-time mission and I am so grateful for that opportunity because it changed my life and opened many windows of opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. Some of the opportunities I speak of are finishing my college degree and attending a vocational school for massage therapy. Even though I have studied other subjects I am a massage therapist at heart. It brings me great happiness and I truly enjoy being able to help others when they are in pain or have discomfort. The Savior is the greatest healer of all and He is my greatest example, especially in relation to my chosen profession. Having the fullness of the gospel in my life has blessed me in countless ways. However, I am most grateful for the knowledge I have of eternal families. My husband and I lost our second daughter, who was born with a serious neural tube defect, shortly after her birth. Even though she is not here with us, we know that she is a part of our forever family, that her spirit now resides with our Father in Heaven and that we will see her again some day. The hope, faith, and knowledge I have continues to bless and strengthen me in my daily life and in the lives of my family.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm Mormon because it just made sense to both my mind and my heart when I first learned about the restoration of the gospel. My journey was long, starting at 16 years old in a high school history class. I learned about The Book of Mormon and wondered why every church didn't have it. While in that class, I rose my hand and posed my thought as a question, but I don't think my teacher knew quite how to answer me. At 19, I was introduced to the gospel again and began to learn about the LDS church off and on for the next two years. While I was taking the missionary lessons, we began to discuss the restoration of the gospel and The Book of Mormon and the memory of my experience from history class came flooding back into my mind. I now know that it was the Spirit teaching me and bringing important truths, I'd learned before, to the forefront of my mind. I'm so grateful for the experiences I've had and the way the gospel has blessed my life. I know that I would not be where I am today without it.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Talents and gifts are a funny thing to me. Funny because, it's so easy to identify them in others and see how they have blessed the lives of others but it can be so difficult to identify them in ourselves. I've learned that I need to work at it. Some come naturally or are given and some we earn or work very hard for. However, I think some can also be both. I had to work and study very hard to become a massage therapist but at the same time, I've always just had the knack for rubbing out those stubborn knots. I really love having the ability to help someone when they have an ache or pain and I'm still, after many years, surprised by how effective I am. I know that it's because this talent of mine is really a gift from my Heavenly Father so that I can help his children, my brothers and sisters, to find relief from the aches and pains we all experience in this mortal life.

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost helps me on a daily basis. With three little children and a husband to care for, I don't know what I would do without his help! Many times we try to think of the more grand things that have happened to share with others but I'd like to share a simple and powerful experience. One day, not to long ago, I discovered that my purse was missing. This is a most dreadful feeling, which I'm sure most women can relate to. My wallet, my planner, etc. was all gone. I looked over the house many times. I checked all the closets, the car, the kids' rooms, and every other random place I could think of. My children like to play in my closet so I went to check it again just to make sure it really wasn't there. It wasn't so I stopped right in my closet and asked Heavenly Father to please tell me where it was at because I had looked everywhere and desperately needed to find it. As soon as my prayer was done, this thought came into my mind... "Check in the playhouse." So, I went downstairs to the playroom, where I had searched many times before, walked over to the playhouse, opened the door and there it was! I was so grateful that the Holy Ghost was able to communicate this to me and so grateful to know that my Heavenly Father loves me so much and will help me out even with the small stuff.

How I live my faith

I'm currently serving in our women's organization or Relief Society. I love the fellowship and opportunities I'm given to serve the sisters and families of my congregation. I love feeling like I belong and for the sisterhood I enjoy, especially since I have no biological sisters of my own. I've had many different opportunities to serve since I've been a member and I'm grateful for all the associations I've made through my service as well as the experience and skills I've gained with each opportunity.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Jen answered...

We believe that families can be forever families and not just until death. I am so grateful for the knowledge of this principle. My husband and I lost our second daughter shortly after her birth. We didn't have much time with her here in this life but do know, because of the promises we made to each other in the temple when we were married, that she is our daughter now and forever. Knowing this, gives us immeasurable hope and strength to carry on in faith. We look forward to the day when we will be reunited with her.
Bradley. answered...

The family is a key component to support us in God's plan for gaining immortality and eternal life. All of God's children (all the inhabitants that lived, are living, and will live on Earth) are inseperably connected to each other, both (physically) by our Earthly families and (spiritually) by our Heavenly Father.

Families help us to understand our divine heritage. In this, life takes on purpose and meaning. Our immortal spirits were created by our Heavenly Father before Earthly existance, and we are directly connected to Him in this way. As a spiritual family, our collective purpose on Earth is to follow the commandments of God that lead us to live in heaven with Him again.

Our spirits need to progress, learn, and grow. In order to achieve that, Earthly existance was created as our test. Our Heavenly Father knew that being exposed to opposing forces on Earth was the only way for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.

However, we will not always choose righteousness, and so our Savior, Jesus Christ, is that great mediator to pay the debt of our mistakes. He is the only way by which we can be saved from our sins and transgressions. He is the ultimate example by which direction we need to live our lives. With the support of our earthly kin, we can learn from each other, serve each other, and strengthen our mortal weaknesses by being disciples of Christ. Our families are a gift from God, and we can be together forever.

What does Mormonism teach regarding baptism?

Jerad answered...

For us, baptism is a two way promise or covenant with our father in Heaven. We promise to obey his commandments, take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and to always remember him ((D&C 20:77-78) and he promises to give us a remission, or forgiveness for our sins and his spirit to guide us (3 Nephi 27:19-20). However, we must keep our promise to maintain the blessings offered by our Heavenly Father. Baptism is preceeded by faith in Jesus Christ and then repentance. Once we repent of our sins and change our lives, we enter into the waters of baptism. We believe in being baptized by immersion, by someone holding the authority of God (3 Nephi 11:19-27), and at an age of responsibility, when we can recognize the difference between right and wrong (the age of eight is set as when we can do this) (D&C 68:27). There is symbolism in baptism by immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ and also the death of our past lives and a rebirth where we are cleansed from sin (Romans 6:3-6). Baptism must also be followed by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-6).The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a second baptism by fire and completes the baptism by water (Matthew 3:11 and John 3:5).