Hi, I'm Donna

I am a daughter of God, a mother, a grandmother, a caregiver, a southern belle, and I, am a Mormon.

About Me

I am a single mother of four adult children, one of whom serves in the Navy and Grammy to two precious identical twin grand daughters. I was blessed to care for my mother during the last few years of her life and I help care for my father today. I am one of the millions of converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been one of the greatest blessings in my life next to my children and family. I converted at the age of 14 and I have never looked back accept in gratitude. With many years of perspective behind me I can honestly say that the church has been the single most influential and stabilizing factor in my life. I find myself often as a volunteer in various aspects of community service, especially working with service organizations. I still play softball weekly, and tennis when I can. I love the out of doors, such as white water rafting, hiking, backpacking, the beach, gardening and sports. I enjoy a good Angel game, an uplifting movie, finding a great new restaurant, and cooking for family and or friends, but above all intimate conversation with good company. I also have a great love for family history and genealogy. I am a survivor of marital abuse and my family was victimized by marital infidelity. Although my life has not always been easy, I have always been blessed.

Why I am a Mormon

At the age of twelve I first learned about the Mormon Church or more appropriately the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I literally had never even heard the name before that time. But after reading the Joseph Smith story and some of the Book of Mormon all in one night, I concluded with my first vocal prayer. I was struck with a feeling of familiarity so strong that it can only be described as an emotional home coming. It filled me with such warmth and contentment I could barely speak. It was a visceral experience. I told my sister "It was about time that someone got it right."
Being near the age of young Joseph Smith following his first vision, I related to this amazing young man. Understanding what he and his family and followers had to go through, it is beyond comprehension to consider that anything but the truth could have sustained him through his life's trials. His wisdom, knowledge and human capacity to move forward doing the Lords errand and restore the church as it stands today, amid severe persecution, stands testament to his conviction to the Lord and to the kind of man he was. It was a very simple decision for me to make back then, and today I am honored to have had my testimony and my conviction never waiver. My parents made me wait for almost two years to be baptized at age 14, but I was a member in my heart from that first evening of prayer and reading. That memory has never diminished. It still takes my breath away with tender emotion. And while that moment was long ago now, my conviction is stronger and deeper and well founded in a lifetime of experiences and blessings that have made me who I am today.
I know that Christ is our Redeemer and is ever mindful of us, as his brothers and sisters. And through his sacrifice he has bridged our efforts in life, and as we sincerely repent our weakness he makes them strong unto us. He is my Brother, my Savior and my Friend.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I would like to share a simple story of prayer with you that confirms to me that our ancestors are listening and love genealogy. My grandfather was killed while working on the railroad when my father was a young boy of around 12. I believe that my fathers way of coping with this was to largely block out the memories of his Dad. When the day came that I asked to learn more about Grandaddy, he could not tell me much at all. So being about fourteen, I went to my room and said a simple prayer and told Heavenly Father and Grandfather that if I were to continue this work I would need their assistance. I ended that prayer and began homework. I heard the door close to the garage and about 4 minutes later my Dad called to me and jubilantly reported "Guess what I found?" He couldn't wait for my reply and he blurted, "I found my Dad's Bible out in the garage." Stunned I took the well worn book in hand, a book that had been loved and well cared for but used voraciously. "Dad, I asked, what possessed you to look for this?" "Oh, I wasn't," he said, I went out to the garage for something else and when I arrived I had forgotten what I had come for and a box of books sort of called my name." "I rummaged through it and found Dad's bible and I thought that you would like to have it since you have been asking about him." I held that Book close to my heart and thanked my Dad, and then I returned to my knees to thank my Grandaddy and my Heavenly Father. Inside the front and back cover, I believe my Grandmother had glued two obituary articles, one written by a coworker and one by my Grandfathers minister. I learned a great deal about the man I call Grandfather that day, but more important I gained a relationship with him. I know that our ancestors are aware of us and our efforts. If we call upon Heavenly Father, the heavens will give us all the assistance that we need. I LOVE this work! And I love the power of prayer!

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

I LOVE family history it fills my soul with JOY! I have discovered a journal from the War of 1812, personal letters from Ireland in 1807 to letters during the civil war. I have solved family mysteries. I have learned stories of alcoholism and learned that my mother overcame her childhood experiences and broke the cycle of abuse. She is one of my heroes! I found a journal of one ancestor who crossed the Oregon Trail. Doing my family history has made history come alive for me.
Roots of a tree spread out to stabilize the tree and its foliage. They nourish the tree with important water and nutrients in the soil. The leaves in turn gather light and nourishment from the sun. I think genealogy mimics the same process. Our ancestors are our roots. They have built the world we live in, given us our heritage, their lives, their stories, and their sacrifices help to stabilize us and to grow. We are the leaves, we could not exist without the roots, our ancestors, and yet they also need our help to grow and develop in ways that we cannot observe in this life. We take the knowledge and blessings of the Lords plan "the sun" He who is our light and life, and we give back to our roots in gratitude and love.
Genealogy work assists us to serve and provide an opportunity for our ancestors to progress in the next life. The Lords plan requires of us his children, things such as baptism which can not be done without a physical body. In the Lords wisdom, love and sense of justice he has presented a plan to allow even those who may never have been given this opportunity to have this chance. This plan is that of baptism for the dead, done by proxy. So a person is then baptized in their name and they are given the chance to accept or reject this act in Heaven. Personal free agency is so important to the Lord. We know that all of this will take place either now or during the millennium to come. It is a great work.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

While attending camp, at the age of 15, I had retreated to the woods to cry to the Lord about my woes. In my own limited emotional way I cried "Why me?". My answer came in a hand written letter from my Dad. It was simple in word, but the parallel of its message would alter my understanding forever.

Donna,
I wanted to write to you to tell you how much I love you and how proud I am of the young woman you are becoming.

I know that this year you have had some good things happen but along the way you have experienced some bad things as well. You know as your Father I want to protect you and if I could I would take all of those bad things and have them happen to me. I love you so much.

It may be hard for you to understand but it is because of my great love for you that I know that there are times I must let you struggle a bit on your own and not interfere. This is the process of learning and growth. It is these trials and experiences that will make you strong and teach you important lessons that will serve you in the future.

Know that I love you beyond measure. That I am always here for you when you need to talk, some advice or simply need a hug or someone to dry your tears.

I am so proud of you my girl.

Love your Daddy

I love my Dad. He has held up to his promises and I am so very grateful for the parents that I was blessed to have.

What changed my life was for the first time I saw my Heavenly Father as a literal father figure. He had been listening and hurting with me. He had been by my side and holding me and crying with me. But because he loved me more than comprehension he knew that I needed to struggle a little to become strong. Being a parent today I know how hard it is to watch your children struggle and make decisions that you know could have been better. But you love them, and support them, are always there when they fall to pick them up and send them on their way again. I will be ever grateful for two Fathers who love me beyond measure.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

His teachings are many but none are more powerful than the example of the life he lived. I ponder often of his example and sacrifice for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Israel if you ask to go to Gethsemane you are taken to the caves below the Olive Grove that most of us think of. The caves within maintain a constant cool temperature and are where the mighty olive presses reside. The oil of the olive is sacred to them for many reasons. Within the caves, the stone is very white. The olive presses are made with two very large stones similar to mill stones but larger. The olives are then put into a tightly woven bag of white rope and placed between the heavy stones. Their weight slowly crushes the olives and the oil seeps through the small openings of the bag. Within this room of white the oil appears red, like great drops of blood that drip down and drain into a prepared vessel. The symbolism is perfect. Heavenly Father could not have chosen a more perfect place for the Savior and his mission to be completed. He took upon himself, the sins of the world, and ransomed himself for you and I. He was crushed under the weight of our sins, to the extent that he bled from every pore. He drank of the bitter cup and bridged the gap for all of us to return to our loving Father in Heaven. All that we need do is repent, asking forgiveness, and go and sin no more. True repentance is a life changing event. There will be a change in your countenance, a light in your eyes, a warmth within your heart and peace within your soul. And the beginning of this process is simply in the asking, and the change of heart begins....and we begin to become at one with the Savior for he atoned for our sins.

How I live my faith

I live my faith one day at a time with the Lord's help and knowledge that he loves me more than I can know. I have received my bachelors degree in Human Services, so you will often find me involved with community outreach programs and charitable organizations. I have been an in-home care giver, have been an assistant counselor with court mandated drug and alcohol and domestic violence programs, worked in soup kitchens and initiated the development of a certification program to assist young individuals and or the homeless, with a means to gain job training and experience while volunteering and training in the kitchen. These are hard times for all of us. I have trained and volunteered on rape and crisis hot lines which was a very humbling and rewarding experience. I have been a coach to many of my kids sports teams or team mom. I was president of my community soccer association where we helped to organize and raise the money to build two soccer fields, and I have served as den mother for 8 years in Cub Scouts. No greater reward can be had than to have my young cubs come to me grown and give me a big hug. I volunteered in my children's elementary schools to teach art classes because I feel it is an important part of developing life talent, confidence and skills. I actively serve in my church and ward and my sincerest desire is to be an instrument in my Heavenly Fathers hands, to do his will. To be Mormon is to know that the Lord not only needs us to tithe our money but to also tithe of our time and talents so that the Lord's work can be done and his glory will shine unto the world. He needs us, how can we resist? If we listen to promptings we can become the answer to someones prayer for help, and we become "His Hands" through service.

What are some of the ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helps those around the world?

Donna answered...

The scriptures teach that we should bear one anothers burdens. The Lord needs us to be good shepherds. The Mormon church is a church of order and of organization. And when emergencies strike, we are able to mobilize our members quickly, often before the government responds or even the red cross. The church has wonderful service programs around the world, from medical aide, clean water initiatives, education, teaching self reliance through hygiene, farming, small business etc. The church offers humanitarian assistance to over 147 countries, spending 10's of millions of dollars annually. This is not a burden but a great opportunity to serve our "Brothers and Sisters" for we are all children of a loving Father in Heaven no matter what we as mankind call him throughout the world. And in so doing we lift our own soul with hope and love.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Collette answered...

Check out ldsphilanthropies.org for some of the official ways that Mormons help. Our help is directed to anyone in need, regardless of religious affiliation.

We believe in being 'anxiously engaged' in a good cause. I have enjoyed serving the people of Guatamala and Peru on serveral occasions, to help train dentists, provide dental work to people who have no access to it, and to deliver much needed humanitarian supplies to orphanages and churches. I have felt joy in serving my brothers and sisters in other lands. I hope to get a better handle on the Spanish language, and return again soon to Central or South America.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.