Hi, I'm Jayne

A native of the American South, I'm a teacher who loves my family, friends, and faith. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, sister, and friend who continues to find joy in the journey as she finds her way back home. I've been teaching psychology at the community college level for three decades and have written a couple of books, the most recent a collection of thoughts while my son was serving a mission in Torreon, Mexico. I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, visiting my grandchildren, hiking, and walking/jogging. I've participated in a few marathons with various family members, events that have reminded me to "endure to the end." My favorite place in the world is the beach, and I often think of how Christ too liked to spend time beside the sea.

Why I am a Mormon

I’m a Mormon because I’ve found all the answers to all the questions I’ve ever pondered within the teachings of the Church. Having been raised by “goodly parents,” I was taught me the virtues of honesty, kindness, fairness, charity, gratitude, discipline, and hard work. Although my parents were not members of the Church, I feel that they prepared me in such a way that I was able to embrace its teachings and instill them in my children. At an early age, my children learned to “choose the right” and that they were the children of a Heavenly Father who loved them. As they matured, they learned more about the standards of appropriate behavior, including specific guidance in dress, speech, and education. Like their parents, these adult children are members of divinely led organizations that help goodly men and women everywhere to be more charitable and to seek whatsoever things are praiseworthy and of good report.

Personal Stories

How has attending Church services helped you?

There have been times in my life when I wasn’t able to make it to church. It could have been a sick child that kept me at home, or perhaps I was ailing. Then too, there were Sundays when we were traveling, actually enroute to or from somewhere. I’d often feel a little twinge of guilt about missing church, and to assuage it, my mother would often say, “The church is not going to fall down if you miss one Sunday, Jaynie.” I knew that. What I also knew was that I’d fall down without church, not vice versa. Without the consistent drops of oil, I’d be lost. I go to church to learn of Him and to be edified and uplifted by my fellow worshippers.

How I live my faith

One of the differences between being a member of the LDS Church and others is that it involves a person's total lifestyle, not just his or her Sunday best behavior. How I dress, spend money, treat others, develop talents, perform my job responsibilities, speak to others, and interact with my family and friends all reflect what I believe my Heavenly Father expects of me.

To what do you attribute the growth of the Church?

Jayne answered...

I attribute the tremendous growth of the Church in the world today to its powerful and correct principles. In the perilous times in which we live, people are searching for peace, love, solace, wisdom, guidance, and understanding, all of which they can find within the teachings of this great church. In times of discouragement, it's wonderful to remember this scripture from Alma 37:37: "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good."
Angela answered...

I think the Church is growing because people see that there can be a better way to live, that they don't have to be bound by the chains of addiction, pornography, dysfunction and broken homes. We know that the most important thing in this world is the family and the future of this world is found in the lives of the children and teenagers we see on the street, in our malls and schools. The best thing we can do is teach them to be honest, upright and moral citizens who can contribute to the betterment of society. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the family is incredibly significant--so significant that God wants us to be families forever, even when we die. This is huge for many people in the world who realize that their children can really be with them forever. There is tremendous comfort in that, and I think this is why so many people are drawn to this Church. It provides hope and peace.

Are there restrictions based on race or color concerning who can join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have the priesthood?

Robin answered...

No there is no restriction. Heavenly Father made us all different but we are still brothers and sisters. We have a wonderful melting pot of races and colors. We only see our brothers and sisters.