Hi, I'm Tayler

I'm a wife, My desire in life is to be a mother, I have a disease called Cystic Fibrosis, And... I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I live in California with my husband. We've been married for 2 years and are in the process of trying to expand our family. We're very excited. I love to dance, blog, and shop. :) I work as a caregiver for a friend who is handicapped and it's a great job. It's flexible/great hours which is awesome for me. One reason it is so perfect is because I also have a deadly disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Of course this part of my life is very time consuming and a full time job in and of itself. Between taking pills, doing treatments, making sure I'm eating plenty of healthy food and getting lots of rest I'm pretty busy but life is good and I love it.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in the church so that may have been why I started out as a member but it's not why I decided to stay one. Living the gospel brings a joy and contentment to my life that I could receive no other way. As you may have read in my "about me" I have a deadly disease called Cystic Fibrosis (C.F). It is genetic so I was born with it and will have it until I die. Having this disease has been extremely difficult at times in my life. I have a lot of pills and treatments and occasionally I'm admitted into the hospital for "tune-ups" to receive some more aggressive treatments. I know that I may not live as long as the normal person and at time all these things can be emotionally and physically debilitating. I guess I could be mad at God for giving me this disease but I know I have it for a reason.

Part of my testimony is knowing that I am on this earth because I need to become more like God so I can eventually return to live with Him again. I know I can only become more like God by going through these earthly trials that can give us the strengths and attributes we need to become more like Him if we let them. Because I know these things I also know that through the challenges and trials of C.F I am becoming the person I need to be to live with my Father in heaven again and for that I will forever be grateful for my C.F. I also know and feel the Lord (through the Holy Ghost) giving me strength and courage to get through this trail every day. Even though I am grateful for it, that doesn't make it easy and I need His help every day, every minute, every second, to keep myself positive and motivated! The world may think I have a lot to be sorrowful about but I am so blessed that I can not have room in my life to mourn. There is nothing else that makes me this happy. I love the gospel and know that this is the true church on the earth. I feel the spirit burning inside of me telling me it is true and I know it is. I have had too many conformations to my prayers and blessings to deny it.

How I live my faith

The third Sunday of the month I teach a group of women at church. It is a time for us to grow and learn together as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends, about the principles and teachings of Christ's gospel.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Mary answered...

I have many homosexual friends, and I have best friends who are gay rights activists. They know my stand on same-sex marriage, and I know theirs, but guess what? We are still friends. I hope you and I can be friends too, as I try to explain a portion of what I feel about the issue of same-sex marriage.

According to principles that I believe were established by God to protect both men and women and provide for their temporal and eternal welfare, only marriage between a man and woman is allowed. This marriage must entail complete fidelity from both parties. Just as post-marital sexual desires and impulses should be controlled, pre-marital ones are equally tameable.

The LDS Church penalizes no one based on their sexual orientation. What someone feels is not equal to what they do. Once someone acts on same-sex attraction, they are committing sin. Merely being attracted is not a sin. It is not easy or simple or enjoyable to suppress one's physical appetites. Frankly, I'm not even sure of all the reasons it is commanded that we do so (though I know of the basic reasons). What I do know (and believe me when I say I do know this) is that God has ordained marriage between man and woman. He always has reasons, and we usually don't understand them for quite some time. But I know with all my heart that it is for the good of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, that marriage only be permited between a man and a woman.
Paul answered...

The Church considers homosexuality a sinful practice that is engaged in via the agency of the individuals involved. What I mean is that those who participate in homosexual activities make the choice to do so. No one is born gay as that would be contrary to God’s plan of happiness for His children. Nor would He (God) place someone on earth who was wholly incapable of keeping His commandment pertaining to sexual conduct. Our Heavenly Father has revealed that sex (all forms of intimate relations) are to be exercised only between a man and a woman who are legally married to one another and in no other forum. The genders of the two parties and the exclusivity of their participation in sexual activity is central to acceptable obedience to God’s commands in this area. Additionally the first commandment given to Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden was to “multiply & replenish the earth”. This important commandment is thwarted by homosexuality. While it is no secret that many (including members of the Church) struggle with feelings of same sex attraction this does not (nor will it) change what God has revealed. As a result the Church has (& will continue) spoken out on this subject all the while insisting that the “one man, one woman, married” paradigm is God’s design for the happiness & destiny of all of His children. As far as the importance of the topic goes it is certainly relevant as numerous members of the Church struggle with homosexual feelings or actions.

It is my understanding that as long as an individual does not act on homosexual feelings or tendencies (there’s the agency again/the ability to choose) and conducts himself or herself in accordance with God’s commands no disciplinary measures are taken and standing within the Church is maintained. Members who engage in homosexuality on the other hand face disciplinary measures that may restrict their membership in the Church or remove their membership altogether.

Many people are aware the Church has been active in causes that support marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This institution supports the traditional family composed of a father, a mother, and children. Since we believe the family to be the basic unit of society and the foundation upon which good communities and nations are built we are concerned with any institution that strikes against that model. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage is incompatible with our understanding of the plan God has for His children. A great summary of the Church’s view on families is encapsulated in The Family: A Proclamation to the World (on the Church web site)

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Tamara Forsyth answered...

We are all saved by grace no matter how we have lived our life, as long as we believe in Christ and believe that he is our Savior. Most Christian religions believe that this is all there is to being saved. Mormons believe this for the part of being saved in which the body of flesh is reunited with the spirit. For this part of being saved, yes, Mormons believe that all people, no matter how they have lived their lives, will be saved and have their body reunited with their spirit at the resurrection through the grace of God. However, Mormons also believe there is another part to Christ's atonement and being saved, and that refers to his taking on of our sins. To be saved from our sins, and take upon us the name of Christ such that his atonement will wash away our sins and we will have everlasting life in God's presence, we must repent of our sins. After we have done all that we can do, then the grace of God will wash away our sins because of Christ's atoning sacrifice on our behalf.