Hi, I'm Stephanie

I am the youngest of six children. I am from Florida. I am a redhead. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Currently, I am a student. I graduated in August, but I am working on taking classes that I need for graduate school. Hopefully, I will get into graduate school.

I like doing a lot of things. The summer is my favorite season because I love being outside, and I hate being cold. I swim, bike, climb mountains, run rivers, jump out of planes, and strap myself to boards for a ride.

I am a terrible person to watch movies with, my friends will attest to that. I get very nervous, and I hate not knowing what is going to happen--even if the plot seems fairly predictable, I just want to KNOW!

My friends and my family are everything to me. Having the gospel in my life is what gives everything that I do purpose. It colors my life with joy, and I am grateful to be healthy, happy, and to have people to share these moments with.

Why I am a Mormon

Having the gospel gives me perspective and purpose on all things. Faith is important to me. It's everything. It helps me keep things simple when I make things too complicated. It helps me remember that God loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to keep us that way. Struggle is inspiring. Life is inspiring. I'm going to stop trying to make sense of everything--and keep it simple. Keep it happy. And the gospel of Jesus Christ, helps me to be happy. Not only now, but forever. This gospel elevates my perspective and anchors my soul in hope. Although my soul is anchored in hope, it helps me feel like I can soar.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

I graduated in August with a degree in psychology. Right now I am applying to grad schools. The process has been a bit of a challenge for me. I was in a car accident a year before I served as a full-time missionary for my church. I was actually working on my papers to turn in to go through the process of finding out where I would go when I decided to take a trip to visit my sister in California. A few friends and I made the long drive, and never made it all the way. My friend was driving and lost control. I have absolutely no memory of the accident, or the weeks preceding it. While I was in the hospital my doctors would talk to my sister and my friends about my new condition and new limitations. I had a severe brain injury, and I had lost most of my cognitive abilities and nearly all of my short term memory. Ever seen 50 First Dates? I was Ten Second Tom. Anywho, long story short--they told me I would never be able to return to school. Which also meant, there is no way I would be able to serve a mission.

I have trouble accepting defeat.

So, I signed up for classes the following semester. I took a lighter load. I don't think I ever really let it set in how much the accident affected me, I had goals and I wanted to reach them. I knew Heavenly Father wouldn't give me a dream about something if I couldn't accomplish it. The ONLY thing I have wanted to do since I was three years old was serve as a missionary. That's it! I had no dreams of being a princess, or marrying rich, or being some Nobel Prize winner--I wanted to go on a mission. At a very early age I felt very blessed to have the gospel, and it was as if I couldn't bare to not tell everyone I could about what this gift has done for me and can do for them.

So....when I heard I wasn't going to be able to serve a mission (or finish school) my whole world fell apart. I knew I had to prove that I could do it. I went to school and lived in my specialists' offices--speech therapy, neuropsyhology, neurologist, occupational therapy--the works.

Blah blah blah, one year later, and after a six month process of putting my papers in for approval: I got the green light. I left three months after that.

I thank God every day that I was able to go to Texas. I love the people of Texas. I miss them every day since I have been home.

The challenge is that now that I have graduated...now what? I learned that I can do what I put my mind to even if everyone around me tells me it's impossible. After I graduated, I started to let those voices take root in my own head. I worried about how I was going to support myself. Learning is hard, and I know that I have to accept certain limitations so that I don't set myself up for failure. Getting into grad school seemed impossible and seemed insane.

I haven't gotten in anywhere yet, but I have had the sweet assurance that I am in Heavenly Father's hands. This is a peace that I feel that I cannot really explain. I have to let certain things be. I have to trust His time. I have to keep moving--even if I don't always know what I'm moving towards. I know He'll direct me on my path.

How I live my faith

I just try to be the best I can be, because that's all that is asked of anyone. Do the best you can, but be sure it is your very best.

I try to do better every day. I try to love more and help more and do more.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Stephanie answered...

I think this is the question that I am most frequently asked. And as a woman and a member of this church, I consider myself an expert on the subject.

Mormon women are like any body of women--we're all different. We have different goals, we have different backgrounds, and we all have our own and very different struggles. But, there is one thing that unites us: and that is the love we have for the gospel, and the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. We are His daughters. We are oh so special to Him. We have been sent to this earth with talents and abilities that He knows only we can fulfill. These are things that build His kingdom--that lift, inspire, and strengthen those around us.

We believe that we are created equally. Women are not more special or more important than men. Men are not more special or more important than women. We are equal--but just because we are equal doesn't mean the things that we do are going to be the same, or even have to be the same. We work together in equality and together we accomplish what needs to be accomplished--and that can only be done as we work together.
Michael answered...

My wife is a Mormon, and I love her with all of my heart. She is devoted to serving God, and raising a righteous family. We are equal partners in God's eyes, and her happiness is my enduring goal in life.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Leeny answered...

This is a question I had to really consider before joining the Church. My mother is a non-denominational chaplain, and both my sisters are pastors. Female leadership in church settings is very important to my family.

It is to me as well. I think many people become offended when they learn that only men hold the priesthood because they misunderstand it. The priesthood is a tool given to men in order that they might serve others more. It does not in any way give them power or dominion over women. Those people who suppose the priesthood is a way to control others are deeply mistaken.

My husband is a priesthood holder, this means I am too. I have claim on my husband's priesthood power. Even more than he does. If I am sick, discouraged, or in need of help I can call upon my husband to give me a blessing through the priesthood that he holds. I then recieve many blessings because of my husband's worthiness to work in behalf of Christ. My husband is never able to give himself a blessing though. If he is sick or discouraged he must call on other priesthood holders to administer to him. My husband holds the priesthood so that he can bless me and our child - never himself.

The priesthood is the power of Christ on the earth. It allows those who hold it to serve their families in the same way Christ served the Church. Did Christ do any deed for himself during his earthly ministry? No. Christ spent all his energy serving the people. This is what the priesthood does for my husband. It infuses him with Christ's compassion and ability to love, and then my husband is able to use that celestial love in our family.

Why don't women also recieve this special gift then? The simple answer is women don't need it. As women we are innately endowed with compassion, selflessness, and love. Think about the way a mother loves her child. I believe there is nothing more pure and similar to Christ's love for us, than a mother's love for her children. Women naturally have the ability to love as Christ does.

In an ideal situation, which is what God always intended for us, there are two partners in marriage. There is the husband and father, a priesthood leader who can be called upon to administer blessings and serve in Christ's name. And there is also the wife and mother, who is blessed with the ability to love as Christ loves and sacrifice for her family. These are two seperate and divinely appointed roles. Each complementing the other. Both make a complete home.

Women do not hold the priesthood because they do not need it. Women have other God-given powers that raise them up to the task they are called to. A man is appointed to serve his wife and children - it is the power of the priesthood that enables him to do this.

I am grateful to have a husband who is worhty to use the priesthood in my behalf. It has blessed me many times and I know that it is a special gift from God - not only to my husband, but to me as well.