Hi, I'm Brynley

I'm a trained, clinical social worker, a first-time mother, and a dyed-in-the-wool East Coaster. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a clinical social worker with a passion for helping people and a particular interest in Hospice and Palliative Care. I've done a wide variety of things professionally, including hospice social work, autism behavior therapy, teaching English abroad, and running a surgical practice at a major hospital. In my free time, I enjoy reading, singing and listening to music, finding various outlets for my creative energies, and spending time in nature. I married my high-school sweetheart, who is a Jewish convert to the Church, and we recently welcomed our first child into our home. I currently have the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom, though I hope to get back into the workforce when time and circumstances permit. In the meantime, I am enjoying focusing on nurturing and raising our sweet, little daughter. Life is an adventure and I am grateful for the Gospel and how it has guided and will surely continue to guide mine and my family's paths.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a member of The Church because, through living its teachings, I have been able to develop a close, personal relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Through my membership, I have gained a sure testimony that God knows me, loves me, and is aware of and concerned about my individual life, as I have been carefully and lovingly guided through both the good and challenging parts of my life, and I have been blessed with grace, strength, and ability beyond my own. Time and time again, I have received personal direction about my individual mission in this life and the paths I must walk to fulfill that mission. Such revelation has helped me to better understand how much God loves all of His children, how much potential we have within us, and how we can eventually reach that potential by yielding our hearts and our lives to Him.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

Reading and studying The Book of Mormon has brought me closer to God by instructing me about His character and His teachings and by helping me to know what I can do to become more like Him and to feel His guiding hand in my life. My testimony of the Gospel really began with the Spirit I felt the first time I read and studied The Book of Mormon seriously. After feeling those feelings, which were unlike any others I had ever felt, I hungered for more. Happily, I learned that I could feel that same Spirit any time I wanted by studying God's words.

How I live my faith

I live my faith in both formal and informal ways. I have a formal calling to serve as a teacher in our Church Women's Organization, the Relief Society, but I also live my faith by doing simple and less formal things like praying and reading the scriptures daily, seeking to strengthen family bonds, regularly setting and striving toward spiritual goals, and providing service to friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who may be in need.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

Brynley answered...

The Mormon Church never endorses political parties, and it prohibits the use of Church buildings and telephone directories for political purposes. The Church encourages members to be educated about current events and issues and to be politically active, but it never dictates which party we should join. While the Church does occasionally speak out on moral issues that happen to be hot political topics, it always addresses the moral principle and never refers to the political parties which endorse or reject that principle. Mormon political views vary significantly and run the spectrum from liberal to conservative, as evidenced by such well-known LDS politicians as Democrat Harry Reid and Republican Mitt Romney.
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Fred answered...

No. Our leaders have always operated from the concept that if we teach one another correct principles, we will then make correct choices and govern ourselves. The Church encourages each person to carefully consider every issue and each candidate and to prayfully seek guidance and then to vote responsibily. We are encouraged to be involved with our communities and nation but the Church does not take political positions or endorse parties or individuals.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Mary answered...

I have many homosexual friends, and I have best friends who are gay rights activists. They know my stand on same-sex marriage, and I know theirs, but guess what? We are still friends. I hope you and I can be friends too, as I try to explain a portion of what I feel about the issue of same-sex marriage.

According to principles that I believe were established by God to protect both men and women and provide for their temporal and eternal welfare, only marriage between a man and woman is allowed. This marriage must entail complete fidelity from both parties. Just as post-marital sexual desires and impulses should be controlled, pre-marital ones are equally tameable.

The LDS Church penalizes no one based on their sexual orientation. What someone feels is not equal to what they do. Once someone acts on same-sex attraction, they are committing sin. Merely being attracted is not a sin. It is not easy or simple or enjoyable to suppress one's physical appetites. Frankly, I'm not even sure of all the reasons it is commanded that we do so (though I know of the basic reasons). What I do know (and believe me when I say I do know this) is that God has ordained marriage between man and woman. He always has reasons, and we usually don't understand them for quite some time. But I know with all my heart that it is for the good of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, that marriage only be permited between a man and a woman.