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Hi I'm Rachel Jones
About Me
I seem to be in constant movement. I love adventures like sky diving, exploring the world (or even my own city), fast roller coasters, high speed cars, and books that bring it all to my own room. I love people. I love learning from them and understanding why they are they way they are and what inspires and motivates them. My strength and confidence comes form the Lord and the amazing people He has placed in my life. I work as a director of sales for two Marriott hotels in Scottsdale, Arizona. I occasionally travel to other cities around the country to assist other sales teams to improve their hotels. I have a blast dating and staying active, through service, in my community. I love to laugh with my family and friends! I travel, read, sing, and dance any opportunity I get!
Why I am a Mormon
Life can be so difficult to manage all the good things and try to avoid the bad. I'm at the age and season in my life where I get to choose my career, education path, potential marriage and future family, and who I want to be. I need guidance and help to make these choices each day. Being a Mormon helps me focus on Jesus Christ and the plan God has for me. I have learned how to pray, recognize answers to those prayers, and how to receive the power and courage to make choices. By following Jesus Christ, keeping promises I made with Him through baptism, and carefully studying the words of His prophets each day, I am filled with happiness and peace. I know God lives and that He has provided a sure plan to help me have eternal joy. Jesus Christ is central to that plan to help me receive healing, cleansing from sin, and power to choose righteously. To give me added guidance and help, Jesus Christ directs living prophets and apostles to clarify and teach according to His will. The world gets so confusing and I lean on Jesus Christ and His servants to help me recognize a sure way to happiness. I am so happy.
Personal Stories
How has the Holy Ghost helped you?
I am consistently seeking guidance and direction from God, my Heavenly Father, through prayer. The way I receive answers to those prayers is through the Holy Ghost. When I am obedient to God's commandments I can feel the peace and companionship of the Holy Ghost. This is the greatest gift I have received from God after choosing to be baptized. Although my experiences receiving guidance from the Holy Ghost are simple and small, collectively, they are powerful and help me gain strength in my faith. One example of receiving help from the Holy Ghost was when my grandmother died. I needed peace and understanding that only God could give. I felt the peace and assurance that I would get to see her again, associate with her as her granddaughter, and know her as I knew her during her life. I could feel joy from the good life she lived and celebrate the way she blessed my life. In moments when I miss her most, the Holy Ghost calms and reassures me that my family is eternal and I will get to be with my Nana again.
In what ways have your prayers been answered?
Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. Often, answers come while I study the scriptures. The Spirit of God gives me understanding and a solution becomes clear. Answers also come when I am searching through past talks from God's servants, such as the prophet President Monson or apostles of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometimes, my prayers are answered through others. I try to surround myself with others that follow Jesus Christ, and I often am inspired or feel direction from their advice or lessons from their experiences. I can often glean insight from my family, who strive to follow the Lord, and feel their love in the counsel they give me. I keep a small diary with me to allow me to keep a record of personal guidance from God's Spirit, evidence of answers to prayers, and other inspiring things that help me remember Jesus Christ. Recently, I was frustrated because I did not feel I was getting an answer to a particular prayer. I took time to review my relationship with Jesus Christ, to ensure I was living in a manner that I could hear and understand the answer when provided. I realized that there were other matters that I had been receiving guidance on from God's Spirit, and I was assured that just because God did not see fit to answer that particular prayer at that time, He was still hearing me and He was guiding me in other matters, that I was prepared to act on. I realized that I needed to be patient and trust the Lord, that I would receive clarity on the matter, or that my question would change after additional experience and spiritual growth. At that time of reflection and learning, I received an answer to a prayer I had prayed over 2 years prior. I learned that if I had received that answer at the time I had prayed for it, I would not have accepted or recognized it as THE answer to that prayer. I needed time, experience, and additional learning to appreciate and recognize it. Heavenly Father answers in His wisdom and His timing.
What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?
We have literal harmony within our home because we choose uplifting music. Each family contributes to a spirit and literal harmony as we sing together in my Mother's home. My mother, Melodee, made it a priority for each of her children to learn the piano, sing, and develop musical talent. This has been the source of peace and unity within our family. Although, with many different personalities within a large family, our faith and our love for music has made our home a refuge.
Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?
My father chose to leave my family and the gospel, because of poor choices he had made, after 31 years of marriage. This was and is devastating to my family. My mother is strong and chose not to use unkind words, anger, or resentment towards my dad. This example of charity, disarmed others in my family from anger, unkindness, or resentment. This charity is truly a characteristic and example from our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have a gained a deeper understanding of the healing power of Christ's atonement. He knows and understands what it feels like to be 'despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief' (Isaiah 53:3). Those are the feelings that one feels when a family member chooses to reject them. This experience has caused a more deliberate searching for understanding of God's healing power. I have learned that LOVE is how the atonement heals. Not only did I feel God's love envelop me, carry me, and strengthen me since my Dad left, but I have felt that same love towards my Dad. My heart was healed because of the love I felt and continue to feel. It is so much easier to handle adversity when you are armed with the redemptive love that Christ has. It has changed me. My judgments are accompanied by the understanding of grace and mercy, through Christ's atonement.
Why do Mormons go on missions?
I don't know why every Mormon chooses to serve a mission, but I chose to serve a mission because I have a deep abiding love for my Savior and a deeper appreciation for the sacrifice He made for me through the atonement. I have felt the power of His atonement, through repentance and forgiveness. I understand the burden of sin and the heartache of others' wronging you. I knew that since I had found The Source of healing, cleansing, and strengthening, that I could not keep that to myself. I love people and I want others to feel the same peace and joy that I feel. I cannot keep my mouth shut. I have been given too much evidence, felt too much love, and witnessed too many miracles to stand still or keep quiet. There are some who will not receive this joy because they choose not to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. But I have to give them that opportunity to choose, because that is God's plan.
How I live my faith
I live my faith by striving to see and love others the way the Lord sees and loves them. I attend church and participate in activities with other single LDS people under the age of 31. One of my privileges is to teach a class reviewing the New Testament, each week, through a program called Institute of Religion. This class is outside our general Sunday worship meetings, and it engages people in improving their relationship with Christ, their knowledge of the scriptures, and allows them to strengthen others by sharing what they learn. I also visit other women my age to help encourage them and support them in their life. I support others who are serving by teaching, inviting people in my home to be taught by missionaries, singing in the choir, and serving in the temple.
