Hi, I'm Jana!

I'm a sister. I'm a daughter. I'm a college student. I'm a reader. I'm a comic. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm the oldest of 6 kids--one younger sister and four younger brothers. I can't call them little, all but one are taller than me! I am working on a degree in English, planning on editing and writing. I love to read, especially science fiction and fantasy Artemis Fowl, anyone?. I love music! I play the piano all the time, as well as the trombone. I love to make my family and friends laugh, sometimes with my quick wit and sometimes with a classic klutz moment.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents are Mormons, so I was raised with it, but I found my own testimony too.

I loved church when I was little. My family moved around a lot, but church stayed a constant. Even though the people were different, the songs, the teachings and, most important, the feelings were all the same.

When I was 16 or so, I was trying to figure out who I was and where I fit in life. Mom and Dad were starting to feel restrictive with all the rules at home, and I wasn't feeling all the feelings I used to feel at church.

One day after I forgot my backpack, missed the bus because of it, and had to wait for my dad to come and get me, I was feeling very mad and lonely. I surely had plenty of time on my hands I started wondering again if God really was there and if He cared about me. I started talking to God, I don't know if it would really count as a prayer, but it became the most fervent prayer of my life. I needed to know that God was there! As I prayed some of the songs I loved from Primary came back to my mind and my heart. "Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child's prayer? Pray He is there. Speak He is listening. You are His child, His love now surronds you." A Child's Prayer.

I felt an overwhelming feeling of love, almost too big for my heart to hold. Peace came over me, reassuring me God did love me, He understood how frustrated I was, and He was going to make everything better in time.

Since I knew for sure at that moment that God did love me and that He answers prayers, I started asking more questions about church. I had been taught the answers to these questions before, but this time, I was being taught by God and I KNEW without a doubt it was truth. I knew God wouldn't lie to me and that everything He told me to do was to help me be happy.

I can't say that since then I've never doubted or questioned things about God's plan, or that I've stayed perfectly on the path, but I can say that I have never doubted God's love.

Personal Stories

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

We all have a gift from God, the ability to choose. He will never take it away, even if our choices negatively affect ourselves and others. However, He always warns us of the consequences of choices through scriptures and prophets and that little light inside you, that thing that helps you know without anyone having to tell you that killing someone is wrong. We call it a conscience.
Making right choices leads to more right choices for two reasons. First, in a lot of ways, life is like a maze. There's really only one way out. And if you make a wrong turn, eventually you will land yourself in a dead end, with only two options stay there, or turn around and go back. But if you make a right choice, you have more choices to make that will eventually lead to the exit. The more right choices you make the easier it is to find the exit.
The second reason right choices help us make more right choices has to do with that little light inside all of us that helps us know what is right and what is wrong. We are born with it, but we have to work to keep it. It's like a little campfire. Right choices are like putting another piece of wood on the fire--it gets brighter and it's easier to see. Wrong choices are like throwing a shovelful of dirt on the fire--it goes out a little and it gets harder to see. Too many wrongs choices, and the fire might just go out which is why there are people like Hitler in the world.
I've seen for myself that the more right choices I make the more options I have and the easier it is to see what options are good. I'm so grateful that God gives us that little light inside of us conscience and that He gives us prophets, scriptures, and parents to help us know what choices are right.

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was baptized when I was 8. My dad performed the baptism, which was very neat for me. It was a big family affair, my mom and sister helped with the music, my grandparents gave talks about why baptism is important and what the gift of the Holy Ghost means, and many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins came to witness my baptism, along with members of the congregation.

I didn't fully understand everything I was getting into when I became an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I definitely understood that I was making a promise with God to always remember Jesus and to do my best to keep the commandments, and I knew that I was becoming part of Christ's family. And I knew that in return, God was promising that He would forgive my sins, help me be reborn and that He was going to give me the gift of the Holy Ghost to help me know right from wrong, to comfort me, and to help me stay clean.

I felt so wonderful when I came up out of the water! I knew that God was pleased with me, and it was easy to see that my family was too. I'll never regret making the decision to be baptized.

How I live my faith

One of the most recent ways was as a missionary in Georgia. I felt so good as I tried to share the love of God with my brothers and sisters. I learned so much, and my favorite part was seeing the light that comes into someone's life as they understand a little better just how much God loves them and the purpose of life on earth. When someone receives a witness from God that the Book of Mormon is true or that Joseph Smith was a prophet, it made all the rainy days, crazy dogs, slammed doors and sleepless nights just disappear.
Another way I live my faith is by being willing to help in church. There aren't any paid anythings, so I volunteer often to play the piano for meetings. I also will speak in church or teach a Sunday School class when asked to.
Most of the time I live my faith by keeping the commandments. I strive to be kind to everyone and choose the right all the time. I know I'm not perfect at it, but I'm getting better every day!
I also strive to read my scriptures and pray everyday. That, for me, is the key to living my faith. There is a close personal connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus that comes as I communicate with them every day.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Jana! answered...

The Word of Wisdom is a health code. We know that in the Bible God told Moses that there were some things He wanted His people to keep out of their bodies, and in our day, God has given us similar advice. And science is slowly proving what God has already warned us about: alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, coffee, tea, and anything else addictive should be kept out of our bodies. He also told us that eating right (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, etc.) will help us be healthy.

Just as He always does, God promises blessings to those who follow His commandments. I've seen how living the Word of Wisdom has helped me have "a clean body, a clear mind, and a spirit in tune with the Lord" (to quote a song from the Primary Children's Songbook). While it may seem like a long list of "don't"s, the Word of Wisdom is actually a "why-bother-with-these-nasty-things-when-I-have-so-much-more-to-offer-you" list from God.
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Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Scott answered...

Perhaps because they see how close-knit we are as a community, and it can be somewhat hard to understand this support network if you have never been part of something quite like it.

Sometimes we hear that some others may perceive or presume that members are 'brainwashed' with information and forced to conform to some standard. To those I would say that is exactly the opposite of what actually occurs under the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, Satan's way is to force people to conform. Study the life of Christ and you'll understand that He never forces, but instead always invites.

Freedom to choose is something that we believe is one of God's greatest gifts to mankind, and is fundamental to our faith. All people (Church member or not) are always free to choose what to believe and how to act (we call this agency) and are encouraged to seek understanding of the reasons for any invitation that Christ or the living Prophet extends to them.

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Joseph Smith

As is the case throughout history God has communicated to His children through prophets. God used a humble man as a prophet to restore His Church on earth who ultimately died defending His faith.

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