Hi, I'm Karin

I am a wife, mother, musician, artist, sister, and friend. I grew up on a Midwestern farm. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My husband and I were married in 2008 and sealed for time and all eternity in the Winter Quarters Temple. It was cold! It was -10 degrees outside. I guess that is what I get for getting married December 20th. My husband and I both love music. We both recently graduated from a liberal arts school with degrees in music. He is a 5-12 grades instrumental music teacher while I play French horn professionally with a lower echelon symphony orchestra. I grew up on a small farm in southeast Nebraska. I love being outside and working with animals. I love to ride horses even though I haven't ridden in probably at least 7 years. I enjoy art as well. I like working with different mediums, besides watercolor. I enjoy making pieces to hang around our home as well as for other people. We also both love to study and discuss different religions and cultures. Besides the Holy Bible and Book of Mormon on our book shelf, we also have the Quran and Confucius Writings right next to them. My husband and I are new parents to a little girl. She is truly a blessing in our lives, even though it can be tough sometimes. Nothing can prepare you for mother/fatherhood. But I sure do love being a new mom. My little girl makes it all worth while.

Why I am a Mormon

I wasn't raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was raised in a protestant family and I would not trade my childhood or my parents and the lessons they taught me for anything. I joined when I was 19 years old. I was a freshman in college. My husband who at the time was just a friend of mine, was a member of the church and I had many curiosities about the church. He directed me towards the missionaries to make sure that all of my questions were being answered. Through the missionaries I learned the amazing plan of salvation that our Heavenly Father has for us. Also, as a child I had a difficult time understanding the Trinity as the God head three in one. The Mormon church's doctrine and their few on the Trinity was an amazing insight for me. It made sense and it didn't diminish the power of the Trinity at all. It was clear! Anyway, through the lessons and of course prayer, I was enlightened of the truth of this gospel. I love this church and becoming a member was the best decision I have ever made. I am filled with so much joy through this church. I am not saying that my life is perfect, but through living this gospel and by being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, both my husband and I have received so many blessings. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And that is why I am a Mormon.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith was and amazing man. He went through so many trials and sufferings for what he believed and saw. He went through so much to follow what Heavenly Father directed him to do. I wouldn't say he is more important than any other prophet like Moses and Abraham. I value all of the prophets equally. What Joseph Smith did that was so important, was restored the church back to the way Jesus Christ meant it to be. Because of Joseph Smith, we are able to have things such as temples and exaltation. Because of him we now have a prophet on the Earth today, which is currently Thomas S. Monson. This world needs the extra guidance that we receive from our prophets. As the years go on, this world is only getting more difficult to live in. Joseph Smith is a man of God and was a prophet. Because of him we are able to receive so many wonderful blessings of the gospel like being a family forever.

How I live my faith

I live my faith in a variety of ways. I do not drink alcohol and people notice. I wear modest clothing and I still keep the law of chastity and I was chase before I was married. Also, just I strive just to be a good person. I do my best to help people. I strive to make others happy, which is a simple concept. I mean, don't we all try to strive to be good people? I also try to be the best wife possible for my husband. When we disagree I try not to be quick tempered which can be hard. I am not perfect and try to discuss things with him. Also, we both try to effectively communicate and realize that we need to let a topic rest to let it rest. But, I never go a day without telling him that I love him and how grateful I am that he is my husband. That is just in my personal life. I also live my faith through my callings in church. I take them very seriously. I a class in Sunday School in Primary and my class was a bunch of cute six-year-olds. One of the things I did to help teach them was I built a puppet theatre. THEY LOVED IT! Through that I was able to teach them the principles of the gospel while entertaining them and having fun with puppets. I also helped the Young Women in the church ages 12-18 by teaching lessons and just being with them and helping them in anyway I can. I loved being with the young women. I learned so much from them and was able to connect with them. That is how I try to live my faith.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Karin answered...

Mormon women are some of the most astonishing and amazing people I know. The women of the church are nurturing, caring, compassionate, they posses a variety of talents, and they look out for each other. Sometimes, it seems that women are even treated a little better. In the church there are systems for the members to look out for each other through Home teachers and Visiting teachers. Home teachers teach the whole family. They are members of the church that stop by, teach you and your family a lesson, and check in to make sure everyone in the family is doing okay. Visiting teaching is through only the women of the church. Visit teachers stop by the home just to check up on the family, but also to check up on the sisters who live in that household. So, while men just have home teachers, women have home teachers AND visiting teachers. Which as a woman in the church, is really nice. I always know that I am being looked after and that if I need help with something I always have someone to go too. Not being raised in the church and learning of the church, I was nervous that men and women wouldn't be treated equally. Well, men and women are equal yet, one can not work without the other. It is not balanced if men and women out weigh each other. It is a big part of the church to have equality. The church as a whole can not run without women or without men. Men and women do have different responsibilities within the church and family, but they are treated equally.
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Stephanie answered...

I think this is the question that I am most frequently asked. And as a woman and a member of this church, I consider myself an expert on the subject.

Mormon women are like any body of women--we're all different. We have different goals, we have different backgrounds, and we all have our own and very different struggles. But, there is one thing that unites us: and that is the love we have for the gospel, and the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. We are His daughters. We are oh so special to Him. We have been sent to this earth with talents and abilities that He knows only we can fulfill. These are things that build His kingdom--that lift, inspire, and strengthen those around us.

We believe that we are created equally. Women are not more special or more important than men. Men are not more special or more important than women. We are equal--but just because we are equal doesn't mean the things that we do are going to be the same, or even have to be the same. We work together in equality and together we accomplish what needs to be accomplished--and that can only be done as we work together.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Garth answered...

I just saw news footage where a minister called the Mormon Church a ‘cult’ and the news commentator turned around and said it wasn’t. The news commentator was right. One definition listed for ‘cult’ in Webster’s Dictionary is “a religion regarded as unorthodox.” ‘Unorthodox’ according to whom? Catholicism and over 2000 churches who broke off of the Catholic Church or the original teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ? We believe some of the original doctrines contained in the original Church of Jesus Christ fell into apostasy and were changed by men. One example is the definition of the Godhead as laid out in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds that are widely accepted by most Catholic and Protestant churches today. We believe the Godhead is made up of three separate and distinct individuals that are one in purpose not in body. When I read about the atonement in Matthew 26:39 (KJV), “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” I believe God the Father, Jesus Christ, Peter and the other Apostles would find the teaching that ‘Jesus Christ was praying to himself’ as quite ‘unorthodox’. I choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the teachings of men…regardless of the names they choose to call us.