Hi, I'm Elizabeth

I'm a mom, a chocoholic, an avid reader, a past National Merit Scholar, and a part-time pancreas. I'm also a Mormon.

About Me

I live in a small town in Wisconsin with my husband and our four children, one of whom has both autism and juvenile diabetes. I'm a strong breastfeeding and babywearing advocate. I was a National Merit scholar and while I have two postgraduate degrees, I am blessed to be able to stay at home with our children.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in a Mormon family in rural Pennsylvania. However, in my early 20's I started to question whether I believed the things that I did just because they were what I'd grown up with or because they were true. I knew there was a God--despite my training as a scientist and philosopher, I couldn't question that. But did God want me to be a Mormon? I knelt in prayer with a non-Mormon friend and fervently asked to know what God wanted for me.

The next day I opened the Bible up to this passage in 2 Timothy:

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

I felt like I'd been hit over the head. God was telling me not to ask silly questions when I already knew the answer. The holy scriptures I had known since I was a child were not just the Bible. They were the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the words of modern prophets. They all testified of Christ. I already knew that they were the word of God--why was I questioning that?

Since that time if I ever find myself questioning or drifting I re-read those verses to remind myself of what I've known since I was a child.

Personal Stories

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

With four small children, harmony in our home is a work in progress. It helps me to remember that the words "discipline" and "disciple" both come from the same root. Discipline is meant to be teaching, not necessarily punishment. I've learned that my children usually respond better to silliness and songs than to harshness. That doesn't mean that I never blow my top, but I try to ask for forgiveness if I do react angrily to something. This applies not only to my children but also to my husband. Like it says in Proverbs, "A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger." Even if I was not wrong in the first place, in my mind I become wrong when I allow anger to take over my response. My biggest goal is every day is to make sure my children and husband know how much I love them and how much God loves them.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

This world is not perfect. My family is not perfect. I am not perfect. But I have faith that God is perfect and that His plan is perfecting. Without that faith, I really can't imagine getting up in the morning, never mind raising children in a world where I know that they will have to deal with physical and emotional pain.

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was baptized on my 8th birthday, which is the earliest possible age to be baptized in the LDS church. It also happened to be Mother's Day, making it an extra special day for my mother.

My father baptized me by immersion in a special baptismal font. I wore a white dress with heavy lining to keep it from becoming transparent.

It was a very exciting day for me because after my baptism I was confirmed a member of the church and was given the gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. That was what was most exciting to me, because I knew the Holy Ghost would be able to guide me and comfort me throughout my life. I also remember feeling like I had something to live up to now--I was supposed to represent Jesus Christ in all that I did!--and I wanted to share the experience with my frieds.

My oldest daughter was recently baptized, and her excitement leading up to that day mirrored the excitement I remember from those years ago.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I often find specific answers to my prayers through reading in the scriptures. I've also had prayers answered by the action of other people.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

We try to make spending time together a priority. We have dinner together almost every night, followed by family scripture time. We usually just read a verse or two, but we talk about what it means and how it applies to our family. Monday nights we spend the entire evening together and sing songs, play games, act out stories from the scriptures, bake treats, and have crazy dance parties. We also gather for prayer every morning before my husband leaves for work.

How I live my faith

I'm the president of our congregation's women's organization. I teach Sunday lessons, plan activities, and organize different ways for the women to serve each other, their families, and the community. I also participate in a nondenominational Bible study group in my town and serve as a moderator on an online Christian women's discussion board.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Elizabeth answered...

Grace is like being given a check. The check is a gift, but to benefit from the gift you have to endorse it, take it to the bank, fill out a deposit slip, etc. Once you have done those necessary steps you can benefit from the gift and get the money. Likewise, grace is a gift offered to all who take the steps to accept it. Ther first steps are to have faith that the Lord Jesus Christ can offer such a gift and to desire it for yourself. Other steps include repentance, baptism, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

To quote from the Book of Mormon, "It is by grace we are saved after all we can do." We can do very little to qualify for grace, but we can do much that shows our desire to accept grace.
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Kevin answered...

Mormons believe that grace is a vital part of the atonement of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do. The good works of an individual coupled with the grace of Christ can lead us to salvation. The grace of Jesus Christ is also an "enabling power" that gives us the strength to bear up under the burdens and trials of life. I have found great strength by relying upon the grace of Christ at times in my life when there was nothing else to provide it. Many times, I have been enabled to perform daily tasks, church assignments, responsibilities as a father and husband that were well beyond my personal abilities. I know that this was the enabling power of the grace of Jesus Christ. Grace is Christ's power to save me after this life and His power to help me while still here on the earth. I must always do my part through faith repentance and good works, but I know that in the end, it will be His grace that will save me.

Who is the Mormon prophet today?

Mark answered...

God through out the ages has spoken to His children through living prophets. We have a prophet today, named Thomas S. Monson. He is a prophet just like Moses, Abraham or Peter. My wife and I, were blessed to be personally called by President Monson to serve a mission. For 2 hours we sat in his office as he taught us. We felt his spirit and his love. I know that he is a prophet. This is the Savior’s church and He leads this church just as he did anciently through a living prophet. As we follow President Monson’s teaching and example we will be blessed to draw nearer to the Savior.

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Joseph Smith

As is the case throughout history God has communicated to His children through prophets. God used a humble man as a prophet to restore His Church on earth who ultimately died defending His faith.

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