Hi, I'm Shelby Lou

I grew up in Las Vegas, I attend church on my own, I'm 20 years old and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a 20 year old girl with dreams of a full and happy life. I am currently living at home with my parents after moving away twice, to pursue life changing events. I'm not a student, and haven't been very good at being one, but I have big plans for my life. I want to write a book about my life, journey to places I've never been and serve the Lord. I love to learn from real life, and I hope that I can make a difference in other's. I blog a lot, and I try to always tie the gospel into all my situations. I love to have fun, ride bikes, hike, go camping, and talk until my lips fall off!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because it brings me peace. I was baptized when I was 8 years old. My mother is an in-active member of the church who wanted her children to have strong values. My father is Catholic. I have two older sisters who have been raised in the gospel also. As of right now, I am the only completely active member of my family.
This church is true. It has the light of Christ in it, and it has made me a better person. I know this church is true because I have witnessed it through the Holy Ghost. I have felt the presence of my Heavenly Father and I know that through the atonement I will live with him again. The concept of Eternal families helps me to love the gospel even more. Knowing that through a righteous life, I can live with my family for eternity helps me to achieve my goal of eternal glory. Joseph Smith is a true prophet, who restored this church through God, to the earth. President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today, he is guided by Christ. This is what I know to be true.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

The blessings that have come to me through my faith in Jesus Christ are simple. Repentance. As a member of this church, I believe that Christ died for my sins, and my sorrows. He suffered pain beyond measure that through repentance, I can be made whole again. By having faith in his atonement, and in him, I have been blessed with a life full of love. It is not always easy, but I know that I will be happy if I do the things which he has commanded me to. If I believe in Christ, and trust in him with all my heart, all the good that comes into my life is because of that. I owe everything I am to Christ, my Savior and Redeemer.

How I live my faith

In the past, I have had the opportunity to serve my ward through many different things. When I lived in Utah, I served in a single adult ward as a committee member for Ward Prayer on Sunday evenings. It was a great time to get our small ward together to say a prayer as one, for a good start to the week. I have also put together a ward directory, matching faces to contact numbers so everyone can stay in touch. My biggest opportunity to serve came when I was the hub of communication for my ward. I made sure everyone knew what activities where going on, and when. It was a great experience.
I hope that in the future I will be able to serve the members of my community and ward, it is a great feeling and it makes for a happy soul!

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

Shelby Lou answered...

The answer to this question is an obvious no! Mormon members help anyone in need. Service is a big part of our church, our values, and our happiness. The only sure way to be happy in this life is through service to others, no matter their religion, background, or standards.
Robert answered...

Absolutely not! I grew up in the church and I'd say the number of people that I've helped in the church is significantly smaller than the number of people I've assisted out side the church. This is not to say I don't help my fellow church members. We believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. And by that reasoning we are all brothers and sisters. I take that to heart and when I see someone in need I try to help to the best of my ability and training. Organized service projects aside, I've helped several stranded motorists on the side of the road. I give food to people I've seen that appear to be hungry on the side of the road. And for a long time, when I was growing up, my dad and I would do Meals on Wheels for those in need. I've volunteered at soup kitchens more recently. And during times of widely known hurricanes, I've volunteered on clean up crews multiple times. There is a song we have in our church called "Because I Have Been Given Much." I don't want to post the entire lyrics here, but they are available on a popular search engine. That song is very poignant to me and has always been near and dear to my heart. Also being a former Boy Scout, I have tried to uphold both the Scout Law and Oath to this day. I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my fellow man and want to do all I can to help others in any way I can.

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

James Bowen answered...

At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1). At other times the Lord has given other instructions. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” (Jacob 2:27-30).

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage (Official Declaration 1).

The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise to help establish the House of Israel (see Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 3, pp. 1091-1095).