Hi, I'm Margaret

I am married, have 6 children, 14 grandchildren, am a cancer survivor and I am a Mormon

About Me

Two years ago, on my birthday, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, called Mantle Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. My oncologist told me that if I did the strongest chemo in the hospital and bone marrow transplant twice that I may live 3 years. I was guided through prayer to know what to do. I am now in remission. My number one doctor is God but I know that He inspires medical doctors and others in order to bless our lives. Many people have helped me through my 2 year cancer journey and I am grateful to be alive and well and able to enjoy a healthy life with my family and friends.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised a Mormon, but I was converted by the Holy Ghost. As a young teenager I read and studied the Book of Mormon, then knelt in prayer and asked God if the book was true. The Spirit of God filled my heart and mind and gave me a personal witness that it was true. I also came to know that Jesus is my Savior. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon are witnesses of Christ. The scriptures have been a tremendous source of strength to me in my life and through my personal trials. I feel a real power as I read and apply the scriptures to my life. I enjoy feasting on them every single day.

Personal Stories

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

The Book of Mormon gives me great strength. I read it every day along with the Bible. As I read, I feel the Spirit and gain power and strength to carry on and accomplish my life's work. I know the scriptures are the word of God. The Book of Mormon brings me closer to my Savior and increases my love for Him.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

I think the power of forgiveness has had great influence in my life. It's often harder to forgive someone who has hurt you than to repent. although both are important Jesus Christ forgave each of us and as we forgive we become more Christlike. It is a principle that is strengthening our family.

How I live my faith

I enjoy working with the youth, particularly the young women ages 12-18 in our community and church. I help them with their goals and challenges. I want each of them to know how precious they are and how important it is to stay clean and virtuous.

Why don’t Mormons have paid clergy?

Margaret answered...

We believe that our clergy gets rewarded with the 'Spirit of God' for their service. That is the best kind of payment.
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Craig answered...

Latter-day Saints are all expected to generously give of their time to serve in the church. Service opportunities vary greatly and can include being a congregation's pastor, teaching classes, helping congregants gain employment, or helping watch toddlers in the nursery. These volunteer opportunities are temporary and Mormons often gain a wide variety of experiences throughout their lifetimes. Specific assignments are not sought after, but rather delegated out to a congregation's members after those presiding over the congregation have prayed over the matter.

No one participating in this service is compensated financially, as we all are personally committed to help one another and assist in the church's growth. I believe that this way of organizing a church is ideal because it allows congregants to become closely acquainted with one another through service, frees up funds given to the church to go to more important projects such as building chapels and advancing missionary efforts, and greatly reduces any potential for corruption in the church by removing financial incentives.

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Kristen answered...

This is nothing new, nor is it exclusive to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Many faiths practice alms or a tithe, including Islam and Sikhism.

A voluntary religious contribution of 10% is a tithe or tithing. This type of offering is mentioned many times in the both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, chapter 28 verse 22, the ancient patriarch Jacob covenanted with the Lord, "and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

Everything we have, our lives, the earth and everything in it, have been given freely to us by a loving Father in Heaven. He asks only a small portion in return to help build his kingdom on the earth.

When my husband and I were first married, we decided to make paying a 10% tithe a top financial priority, and it has been a great blessing to us through the years. In Malachi, chapter 3 verse 10 it states, "Bring yea ll the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you thei windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." This has certainly been the case with us.

I realize that 10% of one's income can seem like a large sacrifice. However, when the law of the tithe is kept, it serves as a portal through which great blessings (both tangible and intangible) can flow. The Lord always finds a way to bless those who do what He asks them to do.