Hi, I'm Franz

I was born in Italy but I live in England, UK.

About Me

I live in Norfolk with my wonderful husband and our two children. I trained as a graphic designer/illustrator but I teach modern foreign languages part-time. I love gardening, creating new recipes, reading, sewing, drawing and playing the piano. I love also using my Apple Mac computer to prepare lessons and presentations.

Why I am a Mormon

I met the missionaries in Milan, Italy, in 1993. They gave me the Book of Mormon and I read it cover to cover in a few days. What an amazing book! Finally another book about Christ! I just knew this book came from God, and therefore I joined the church and went on a mission to Greece after 1 year. After 17 years my love for the Lord's church keeps growing. Every principle being taught is correct, and when I apply it in my own life, I reap enormous benefits. The gospel has given me a clear purpose for my life and a specific goal to return to my Heavenly Father pure and clean.

Personal Stories

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

Spending time together, having family home evening with the children, reading the scriptures, praying together, to feel united.

What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?

Our television is almost always turned off! Too much bad language....sex, violence and so on. Same for music: we choose what is uplifting and promotes good behaviour.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?

Living the golden rule. The first time I read about it I thought, "I really have to apply this from now on: do unto others what I'd like them to do to me".

How has the Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

The Book of Mormon is written and translated in such a clear way that it is impossible to do the "Bible bash" with it. Every principle is there, clear, black on white. When I see what happened to the ancient populations mentioned in this book, I can see how their pattern of life can be compared to my pattern of life. I can see that life is not about becoming a famous actor, or making lots of money, or having a beautiful body through surgery.

How has attending Church services helped you?

It has helped me to focus my priorities. Instead of using Sundays to do shopping, work, cleaning about, or gardening, I go to church and meet people who edify me with their presence and their comments during the lessons. In the afternoon I enjoy some rest with my family. I found out that it is not necessary to spend money to enjoy each other's company, and I don't mind at all refraining from doing business, shopping, work or anything similar for one special day every week.

How I live my faith

At the moment I serve in two callings; one deals with helping members organising their food storage and emergency preparedness; the other is to serve as an assistant Director of Public Affairs, which means that I help the church to come out of obscurity using appropriate media. I have also served as a Stake missionary in my local congregation. Many years ago I served a 19-month mission in Greece, and that was the happiest time of my life. I love each opportunity I get to serve in the church; in this way I learn more about the Gospel and how to apply its principles. Most of all I learned that when I remain humble, the Lord can teach me how to serve others even when I feel I am not up to it.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Franz answered...

It's a law of health which will bless those who obey it.
Not only it shows that we should abstain from tea, coffee, alcohol and any substance that is dangerous/addictive, but it has "do" instructions.
It teaches to eat wholemeal, fresh, seasonal produce, and to avoid meat during periods that are not winter/cold/famines. How many lives would be followed if everybody would simply eat natural and seasonal food and eat meat only sparingly....
How many illnesses are caused by eating junk food and not enough live, fresh food?
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Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Megan Cosgriff answered...

Latter Day Saints(Mormons) donate 10% of their income to the church because the Lord has commanded us too! In Proverbs 3:9 it says, "Honour the Lord with substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." This is talking about tithing, tithing literally means one-tenth, which is 10%. So when the Lord commands us to donate one-tenth of our increase(income) that is what we do. If you look at Malachi 3:8-10 you will see that the Lord is asking for us to give him our tithes (10%) and in return he will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings, so many that we won't be able to contain them. Wouldn't you want to receive innumerable blessings for just giving Him 10% of your pay check? It seems like a pretty fair trade to me.