Hi, I'm Susan

I'm a wife and mom, wannabe writer and I like to ride my bike. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a wife and stay at home of mom of three. I love lots of things, but what I love most is learning about new things. I enjoy reading, writing, photography, nature, riding my bike and spending quality time with my family. I have a blog at www.providentmommy.blogspot.com

Why I am a Mormon

In 2003 right after I graduated from college I looked the Church up in the yellow pages and left a message on their voicemail because I wanted to learn more about their beliefs. Before I knew it the missionaries were over and teaching me. A year later I was baptized and my outlook on life has done a 180! When you have knowledge of the Truth things just start to make sense and my life on Earth has new meaning. I am so grateful to have known the Truth when it was taught to me and for all those who helped me along the way. Most of all I am grateful to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for their love and mercy for me.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

Ever since I have been baptized I go to my Heavenly Father in prayer before I make any major decisions and through the Holy Ghost I am guided. I prayed to know about our decision to have children and through the Holy Ghost I had a confirmation that it was time to start trying. I have had 3 healthy babies, but I have had physical problems due to the pregnancies. At first I wondered why I was having these problems because I was doing His will and I thought with the next pregnancy I would be blessed with good health because of my faith. What I have learned is in some of our life's circumstances we may not understand why we have been dealt a certain hand, but through the Holy Ghost we can know He is there and He hears our prayers. He has us in our own refinement fire so we can become the person He intends us to be. I am grateful for my "circumstance" because it has brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and has allowed me to hear the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

How I live my faith

We go to Church every Sunday (as health permits) and I am the Young Women President. I am the leader of 2 counselors and young women the ages of 12-18. We have young women class every Sunday and we meet on Wednesday nights for activities. We have daily family prayer and scripture study and on Monday nights we have family home evening where we learn more of the gospel together and do fun activities. I also volunteer at a women's domestic violence shelter.

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.
Bryant answered...

Grace is the enable power of Christ to be cleansed of our sins. When I think of grace I like to think of a dam. Now the purpose of a dam is to create energy for a city, but how does it do that? The dam holds back the water and creates a huge amount of pressure. A portion of that pressure is released into a very large duct that flows down and spins large turbines. The spinning of these turbines is what creates the energy that we all use every day. Now without that water, could we spin these turbines by ourselves? No, manpower alone is not nearly enough to create the energy needed. There is just no possible way that a human being by themselves could turn those massive turbines. In this analogy Christ is the strong current created by the water from the dam. Without him we would be unable to turn the turbine to cleanse our lives, only he can do it! None the less we do have control of one part of this process, we can interfere. Sometimes in our lives we sin to a point that we have created so much filth to clog up the duct and not allow Christ's flow into our lives. We must be continually watching to make sure that we do not inhibit this process. Thus, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." see James 15 Turbines without the pressure from the water is completely useless. Our lives without Christ? "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." see Romans 623

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

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)