Hi, I'm Nicole

I grew up on a farm. I write memoirs. I'm a mom. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

You'd think the wife of a doctor would fear losing her identity a little, especially since she stays home with her almost-2 daughter. Not so. I'll admit it's tough, but my favorite past time is writing, and I'm currently working on writing childhood memoirs of prominent family members. I'm also starting a bilingual preschool this fall, so things are busy. And fun.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm Mormon because I love feeling like I can read and know God's doctrine for myself and make my own spiritual directives from what I read. I love having a prophet--one person called to give direction to the church as a whole. It avoids confusion and false teaching. I love feeling empowered as a woman to raise children with confidence in my choice of employ.

Personal Stories

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

My favorite thing to do after everything else is read with my husband. And I guess that's where our "harmony" is most evident. I think just being together whenever we can helps us remain close because we're very involved in each other's lives and we actually care about what's happening. Someone once told me that the secret to his peace in his marriage was having as little contact as possible with his wife. That way, they never argued, and no one had any problems. But how boring is that! I think harmony exists when we make an attempt at being involved with each other.

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I actually got to serve a mission myself in Argentina! I lived there for 18 months and taught people from every walk of life about Jesus Christ and His gospel. I loved it and gained a love for cultures beyond my own. More than anything, I loved seeing people want to be happier and then finding that happiness from the doctrines we taught. No one person can give happiness--weighing all personal joy on a human being can be dangerous. But learning to understand meaning in living will naturally change sentiments. If my husband were to pass away, I would have an understanding beyond just immediate living to help buoy me up, and that's what I taught people--that the meaning of life goes beyond the people living in it now and that living well now will help join us all together in the next.

How I live my faith

Well, I wake up and take care of my daughter. I read from the scriptures before running my errands. I teach young children in church, ages 3-11, how to sing songs about Jesus Christ. I read with my husband and discuss truths that will improve our lives. I love this church because it infuses itself in all I do. It's a welcome intrusion.

How are modesty and chastity related? How can parents teach their children to be modest in dress, language and behavior?

Nicole answered...

I think I cared about how I looked because my dad did. He was very aware that his daughters would attract attention from boys as girls do, and he wanted to make sure it was for the right reasons. So we dressed modestly. And I'd say we looked cute all the same! We didn't grow up with a lot of money, but my mom taught me how to shop at thrift stores and make a smart outfit from it. And now my husband still appreciates that I'm careful in how I dress. I like helping him feel at ease, and I like feeling attractive while modest.
Brittney Michelle answered...

Modesty is almost a precursor for chastity. They are the built upon the doctrine of the sanctity of our body. By being modest in our actions and dress we outwardly show our understanding that we, as a soul, are more than just an object to be flaunted. Our body is a gift from God and he has asked us to save intimacy until after we are married. We show respect for him and ourselves if we hold off until marriage and always dress and act modestly. This principle can be taught to children through example, first and foremost, but also by being honest and explaining to them the importance of it and why we are asked to live it. Use the Holy Ghost as your guide as you teach your children.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Suzanne answered...

I don't know. Quite honestly when labels are used I think this comes from someone's desire to quickly explain away something that they don't understand. If they really took a hard look at the church it would be easy to tell that Mormons do not blindly follow any human being. I think maybe someone who might use that label could look at the level of commitment and obedience found among the members of this church and casually explain this away as blind obedience. They certainly do not see the personal struggles and the effort that maintaining a personal relationship with God requires. Like most Mormons I think, I do what I do out of devotion and love. It may start out as duty and habit, but as I have come to know God and His mercy and love (the big picture) I can't help but want to keep the commandments. I don't follow a person, I follow God and His Son and they help me every step of the way.