Hi, I'm Nicole

I love soul/mo-town music, essential oils, tap dancing, And you bet I'm Mormon!

About Me

I am in college in Idaho studying voice and acting. I love both of these art forms so much because they help me feel close to the Spirit. I feel like there are so many miraculous things humans experience on this earth. Some are very hard, and some are very overwhelming, and all of them are such wonderful opportunities for us to grow closer to our Heavenly Father God. I like sharing stories that have positive life messages because it helps me realize how blessed I am, and I want everyone else to know that the Lord's hand is in their lives. We have all been so blessed, and it has been my experience that watching or participating in a performance of some kind can help us to realize that truth. Performing makes me happy because I feel closer to to God and I always gain a stronger understanding of the Atonement, freely given to us by Jesus Christ.

I also love to hike, tap dance, yoga, and do step aerobics! I do all of these things because I think they're really fun, they help me stay healthy and aware of my body, and also I think they teach me an important value: perseverance. Sometimes when I get to that really hard part of my exercise like a really deep warrior pose, or that place in the hike where the trail is narrow, and it's like using a stair stepper, pulling through and finishing the climb, or holding out until the class is over is always so worth it. In the heat of the moment, my muscles may ache I may want to just sit down, drink a big jug of water, and throw the towel in. But it has always been so much more satisfying when I've stuck in there and finished the class or reached the top of the mountain. Life throws all kinds of things at us that make tired and it's certainly not always easy. But it is worth it. Our hearts may ache for a season, there may be plenty of things on this earth that bring us pain, but the Savior, Jesus Christ can heal all of it, and His gospel helps us understand that every experience on this earth is for our benefit. It refines us, the way a refiner's fire turns a piece of dusty coal into a stunning diamond.

Why I am a Mormon

My mother and father were going through a three year divorce process when I was almost seven years old. I was living with my mother for the first year and she was a catholic, then a baptist until I was about 15. I would often attend church with her, but besides having been baptized as a baby, I was never baptized into either of those religions. My father never attended church with us until after the divorce began.
My father had once wanted to be a pastor for an episcopalian church in his life, before I was born, but felt skeptical about religion in general. However, during the year I was away from my dad, he was visited by two missionaries during this hard time. He could not get enough of the gospel. He wanted more and more. He knew it was true and was baptized.
The first time I had seen my dad after that first year of the divorce, I noticed that he didn't have a pony tail anymore or a beard. Or a Lynard Skynard shirt on. He was in a nice gray suit, his hair was cut short, and his face was clean. He looked very nice. I also noticed he had a most unusual smile on his face. I had always known my father to be a happy person, but this smile was different. His countenance was more joyful, even though he was going through a very hard time. He hadn't even told me about the church then, but I knew something special had made him turn his life around.
The first time I went to church, I was only seven, but to this day, I still remember that the Spirit had very quietly testified to me that there was something very worth while being taught at this church. I remember nothing about those three hours in church, except the feeling of peace and safety I had, particularly when we sang a song in primary the children's class called "Search, Ponder, and Pray." The message was that if we seek answers on who we are, our purpose and why we're here we think through it in our minds and then we humbly come to our Heavenly Father that we will find truth. The Spirit will testify of it. I did not know everything about the Church of Jesus Christ. But the Spirit did testify to me that day that I should continue to come to church. And every time I came, I felt comforted. I felt safe. My soul hungered for peace, and I was able to find it through the love I have felt and learned as a a member of Christ's church. My understanding of the Lord's plan for me and all humanity has made every beautiful thing more beautiful, it has made everything full of light brighter. I am so happy with the gospel in my life. I know that hope exists, and it is eternal for us to find rejoice in because of the Atonement of the Savior.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

In the New Testament which is found in the Bible, Paul gave an excellent metaphor of how each person in the church is important. He said that as members of Christ's church, we are of one body-- Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12. All parts of the body are important, whether or not we can tell. They all have a function. Paul said in verse 20-24 that "...the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked."
I have won several awards for singing and acting. I have sung many times in church, and have performed in several gospel-oriented plays. As I have stated before, music and sharing stories can teach us so much, and can bring us closer to the Spirit of God. I have been able to bless many people with my gifts, and I have also been so blessed by sharing them. It brings joy to my soul when I can make others happy, and also when I can exercise a hobby that makes me feel closer to my Heavenly Father.
Singing is an obvious talent. But whether your talent is singing, or you're a good listener if it's a natural inclination to be patient or if you're a math wizz, you're important to the Lord. You are loved, you are important, and Heavenly Father wants to strengthen your talents and gifts, and then give you more!

How I live my faith

Regular scripture study and prayer has really strengthened my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has confirmed to me truths I have always felt and has also given me a greater understanding of His plan. I have come closer to him through this practice and the commandments He has laid out for me to follow.

I have been a youth group leader, a teacher, and have visit taught. I am humbled that I was able to contribute help to others through these callings. They have taught me a lot. They have also helped me find a greater desire to choose the right. Visiting teaching is a way for the women of the church to uplift each other and create important friendships as sisters in the gospel. Every woman is asked to participate in visiting teaching, and you are assigned to specific people to visit teach. I am only a year out of high school, but in my first area, I was assigned to teach three women who were much older than me. At first I was a bit intimidated by the fact that I was teaching women who had so many more life experiences. But I realized that I was learning so much from teaching them, and they were also touched by the feelings and impressions I had to share. I realized that it doesn't take someone with a million experiences, or a million degrees in religion to teach what the Lord would want you to teach. It is good to have knowledge, and I think it is important for people to search things out and ponder over them. But ultimately, it comes down to listening to the Spirit and acting upon it, by coming to the Lord with a prayerful heart. A trusting, grateful, and humble heart.

Like all of us, I find myself in hard situations. But after I have done all I can, and I've done it as right as I am capable of, I pray to my Heavenly Father and he makes up the difference. I walk through all of my life experiences with gratefulness and happiness. Living my faith makes me so happy.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Nicole answered...

Receiving baptism by the power of the priesthood, or the authority and power of Jesus Christ, is important because one gets baptized to dedicate him/herself to Christ's will. It only makes sense that if one is to be baptized to dedicate him/herself to the Lord that they do it through his power. Today, since the gospel of Christ has been restored to the earth, the Lord has given worthy members of the church the Priesthood, or the authority to use the power of Jesus Christ for His will.
It is preposterous to think of receiving a speeding ticket from someone driving an ice cream truck. Just like receiving a ticket from someone who is not authorized to give them out, it also makes sense that we do not make covenants or two way promises with our Heavenly Father through baptism unless its through the proper authority.
Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.

How can we stop the spread and influence of pornography?

Richard. answered...

I frequently hear people say that we need to protect children from pornography. That statement is true, but it forgets that adults are also damaged by the self-gratifying attitudes that pornography depicts. Pornography changes how we view each other. We should be politely vocal about our desire to avoid pornography. Pornography should not be forced upon us by our friends, government, employment, or entertainers. But it will be if we don't speak up about our values.