Hi, I'm Liz

I'm originally from a little town in New Mexico. I attended Stanford and now teach Biology. I live in California. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm an educator, a singer, and a lover of life and nature. On a given day, you'll find me teaching high school biology, going for a trail run in the nearby redwoods, and then singing with my a capella group.

Why I am a Mormon

I am Mormon because I have experimented upon the word of God, and I know the fruits of this Gospel are peace and joy, even during times of sorrow. My testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints grew first from questions I had about life after death when I lost my grandparents in a tragic car accident in junior high. Since then, I have felt the love Heavenly Father has for me and each of his children so many times when I have felt lost or alone. I have learned that Heavenly Father has prepared a plan of salvation, a plan of happiness, for each of his children. Part of this plan is to come to earth where we may gain experience and our faith may be tried that we will learn to trust in God.

Personal Stories

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is a belief in something that has not come to pass, but that will, and that will make life better. I hope for many things in my life, the biggest being that my friends and family who are not members of my church will gain a testimony of the Gospel. The word in Spanish for hope is "esperar", which is also the word in Spanish for "wait". When I think of hope, I think of waiting with patience, and trusting that Heavenly has wonderful blessings in store for each of us, if we will Trust in Him. We should work hard, endure well, and believe that life will continually get better as we become better people by coming closer to God.

How I live my faith

I currently serve as the Stake Music Chair in my area. A "stake" is our word for a group made up of several nearby congregations, which we call "wards". I love this calling and the opportunities it has given me to grow. Right now, I'm preparing over a hundred young men and young women to sing two songs for our upcoming stake conference. One of these songs is an arrangement of the hymn "The Lord is My Light" which I composed for the youth. In my version, I have the young women singing "The Lord is my light", the young men singing "The Lord is My strength", and both groups singing "He is my joy and my song!" I love to hear the testimony bourn in this song. I also love to serve in the temple, and work there several times a month. Finally, I find great joy in being a visiting teacher. In this capacity, I visit two wonderful sisters each month. I have a great testimony of visiting teaching--many past visiting teachees or teachers have become lifelong friends and I consider them my true sisters.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Liz answered...

While it's true that women don't hold the priesthood in the Mormon Church, we are blessed with the power of the priesthood through our participation in temple ordinances and have access to the priesthood through the men in our homes or in our wards if we are single. I have always felt that I had many opportunities to lead as an LDS women. I have served on Ward Councils for several years and have had the opportunity to voice my opinions and ideas for ward activities, projects, and programs. I currently serve as the "leader" of music activities in my stake, or region.
Leeny answered...

This is a question I had to really consider before joining the Church. My mother is a non-denominational chaplain, and both my sisters are pastors. Female leadership in church settings is very important to my family.

It is to me as well. I think many people become offended when they learn that only men hold the priesthood because they misunderstand it. The priesthood is a tool given to men in order that they might serve others more. It does not in any way give them power or dominion over women. Those people who suppose the priesthood is a way to control others are deeply mistaken.

My husband is a priesthood holder, this means I am too. I have claim on my husband's priesthood power. Even more than he does. If I am sick, discouraged, or in need of help I can call upon my husband to give me a blessing through the priesthood that he holds. I then recieve many blessings because of my husband's worthiness to work in behalf of Christ. My husband is never able to give himself a blessing though. If he is sick or discouraged he must call on other priesthood holders to administer to him. My husband holds the priesthood so that he can bless me and our child - never himself.

The priesthood is the power of Christ on the earth. It allows those who hold it to serve their families in the same way Christ served the Church. Did Christ do any deed for himself during his earthly ministry? No. Christ spent all his energy serving the people. This is what the priesthood does for my husband. It infuses him with Christ's compassion and ability to love, and then my husband is able to use that celestial love in our family.

Why don't women also recieve this special gift then? The simple answer is women don't need it. As women we are innately endowed with compassion, selflessness, and love. Think about the way a mother loves her child. I believe there is nothing more pure and similar to Christ's love for us, than a mother's love for her children. Women naturally have the ability to love as Christ does.

In an ideal situation, which is what God always intended for us, there are two partners in marriage. There is the husband and father, a priesthood leader who can be called upon to administer blessings and serve in Christ's name. And there is also the wife and mother, who is blessed with the ability to love as Christ loves and sacrifice for her family. These are two seperate and divinely appointed roles. Each complementing the other. Both make a complete home.

Women do not hold the priesthood because they do not need it. Women have other God-given powers that raise them up to the task they are called to. A man is appointed to serve his wife and children - it is the power of the priesthood that enables him to do this.

I am grateful to have a husband who is worhty to use the priesthood in my behalf. It has blessed me many times and I know that it is a special gift from God - not only to my husband, but to me as well.

Are Mormons Christians?

Rob answered...

Christ said that his followers would be defined by their adherence to his teachings. Growing up as a member of the Church, I learned that Christ is The literal son of God and that through His Atonement we can somehow be forgiven of our sin and allowed to enter back into the presence of God, if that is what we want. Everything I ever learned at church or in my home was centered on the life and ministry of Christ.

Several years ago, we moved to the Southeastern United States and encountered the idea that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints are not Christians. Although I don't understand the need to define certain groups in or out of Christianity, especially given The Lord's frequent admonitions not to judge the faith of others, I understand this idea is rooted in some esoteric academic objections to certain gospel principles such as our belief that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate individuals united in purpose and power. My experience has been that this idea is often passed on among those who have not met or do not have close relationships with members of the church.

Once people get to know what we teach and believe and how we live, they come to understand that we are Christians. While, The Lord has asked us to let our light shine so that others can see it and take strength from it, I believe that ultimately Christ, will judge our Christianity as individuals based on the thoughts and intents or our hearts.