Hi, I'm Katherine

I grew up in Idaho. I am a music teacher and I recently married an organist. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I have an invisible illness -- one that causes regular back pain and difficulties maintaining as active a lifestyle as I would like. This has been a journey in humility and in learning to explore what abilities I can use for personal success.
I have a Master's Degree in Music, play the piano and cello, and I love teaching.
I enjoy hiking in the outdoors with my husband, and fishing on the Pacific coast with my dad.
I also enjoy making crafts, cooking, and reading.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because it feels right, and being a Mormon being the best person I can be. As a worthy member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I receive manifestation of the Truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by continually seeking its truth.I get these feeling when I'm reading the Book of Mormon, when I'm living morally and striving to be pure or when I'm listening to or sharing a sincere testimony of Jesus Christ our Savior.

I know that God lives, loves us, and watches over us as a loving father does each precious child. The Holy Ghost manifests this to all sincere seekers of light and truth. I've belonged to several other religions and churches. I went from being Mormon then Agnostic, then a Unitarian Universalist, and finally a Buddhist before making a full circle over the 8-year search for total identity with religion. From striving to understand religions of the world, I gained insights and compassion that helped me greatly improve my life. The 6-months I spent reading and studying the Book of Mormon, were the greatest turning point for my young adult life.

Any individual can begin his / her journey on a path of discovery, repentance and faith so great, and increase their faith with a relatively simple tool, the Book of Mormon. The book is not easy to understand, even if you're very smart. It requires study and discussion, as well as sincere prayer. A testimony is possible for anyone to achieve, and a life might change for the better, as mine has. Mormon.org gives out free Books of Mormon.

I honor my own heritage, although for so long it was taken for granted. I rejoice that the gospel has been preached to me, so that I now understand more personally how my forefathers lived by prophesy, at times in extreme happiness. The persecution comes, especially as the world ridicules all that is sacred, holy, moral and principled. We all live in a fallen world, but all of God's righteous children will attain a happier state.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I have always hoped that my love for music could help bring joy to others. Often, I am invited to play the piano or organ at church, at meetings, for a choir concert, or some other occasion. I also have put on cello recitals with friends and students, and recently wrote and performed a solo version of the Hymn "Love One Another" for a family funeral. Each week I work with Elementary students in Music class, where we are learning the basics of theory, appreciation, and performance. When I was courting my husband, we enjoyed going to the Theater where he works, to play duets on the organ together. My husband and I feel it a blessing to have music so central in our lives, and we share it every day with each other and others.

How I live my faith

This year I have been a teacher in two different Sunday School classes. One was an Old Testament class for Young Single Adults, ages 18-30, and after moving to a new ward recently, I've begun teaching 13-14 year olds on "Preparing for Exaltation." This class covers such topics as Faith in Jesus Christ, the Power of Personal Prayer, Mortality: a Time to Learn Through Experience, The Gift of the Holy Ghost, Remembering the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy, and many, many others. There is one lesson per week, and I try to teach from the Church Manual as closely as possible to provide correct doctrine. It is exciting for me to teach the youth of the rising generation.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Katherine answered...

Some believe that because we have one unelected leader, there is a risk that we are a cult following one tyrranical leader. However, there are also two counselors as part of the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that serve as additional witnesses to the Prophet. The heirarchy of the church includes so many leaders, all unpaid positions, that the needs of church members may be addressed at the local level.
Another characteristic of a cult is its ritualistic practices. The distinction between our practices and those of pagans must be made clear, based on the authority of all prophets since Adam. These are men who are followers of Jesus Christ, and leaders of true religion. The restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints includes temple ceremonies which are sacred in nature, and which were designed by our Heavenly Father to enable all of his children to return to His presence, according to their own agency.
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Kevin answered...

I suppose that new and different things have always been a challenge for some. It seems possible that the New Testament Christians might also have been called a cult: they were few in number, taught new, or at least different, doctrines and were lead by strong, charismatic leaders (a study of the early apostles like Peter or Paul bears this out).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the Mormon church) follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We do not worship our founding prophet (Joseph Smith) or our current prophet (Thomas S. Monson). We teach that men are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrice on the cross and that as we strive to follow Him and keep His commandments, that redemption becomes personal.

If others persist in defining the Church as a cult, in spite of our rather obvious Christian beliefs and doctrines, then we will simply have to agree to disagree.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Jonathan answered...

We absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believe that He was the God of the Old Testament. Under the direction of the Father, He created the earth. He spoke to the Old Testament prophets such as Noah, Abraham and Moses. He was born to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He walked among the people of Palestine, working many mighty miracles. He suffered and died for our sins. He rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to stand on the right hand of the Father. We believe that He appeared alongside the Father to the prophet Joseph Smith. Today, He is at the head of our church and leads it through the prophet and twelve apostles. He will come again to reign upon the earth with all those who have faith in Him. Through Him, and Him alone, we can be forgiven for our sins and receive eternal live in the Kingdom of God.