Hi, I'm Rachel.

I teach 3rd grade. My camera is always within reach. I love to play outside. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a twenty-five year old, happily married to my best friend. I have been teaching third grade for three years, and I am currently working on my graduate degree in reading education. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, blogging, and playing the piano.

My husband, a recent college graduate, is a builder by trade. Together, we like to play outside, read young adult fiction, watch movies, and host game nights at our place. We met in a bustling Arizona city, but have opted to settle for the slower small-town life here in southeast Idaho. We are anxious for the growth of our little family!

Why I am a Mormon

I have often reflected on how unbelievable the beginnings of the church are. A fourteen year old boy prayed and God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him?? How do rational, intelligent people believe this stuff?

However, I have felt countless, unmistakable assurances from the Holy Spirit, that the gospel of Christ is real and true. There is something about knowledge that comes to the heart in this way that in undeniable beyond any physical proof. I simply know. I assume that that is how 15 million people around the world have come to know as well.

Joseph Smith really did pray and see what he said he saw. Through the holy priesthood, he was then an instrument in the hands of God in restoring the ancient church to the earth.

The Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ. I have read it many times myself and felt the Spirit testify of its inspired, ancient origins.

I don’t believe that God has stopped communicating with his children on the earth. What a blessing it is to know there are modern-day prophets to guide us and act as the mouthpiece of the Lord. This church is led by heaven and not by man.

The scriptures promise that “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” I have seen too much good come from this church to ever believe it to be a fraudulent organization. The Lord’s hand is ever present in its management. And I am always happier, as I choose to live my life according to the commandments of God.

I love that the church never apologizes for its truths. Truth is truth and should remain constant. It should not change with the ever shifting values of the world in order to remain popular or keep up with the times.

We want our kids to grow up with strong, moral values and be strong in the face of temptation. We feel that the doctrines of the church will aid in our goal to create a strong, successful family despite living in this crazy world.

How I live my faith

I serve as a counselor in the Relief Society of the ward that I attend every week. The Relief Society is an inspired organization that encourages women to serve one another,strengthen their families, and come unto Christ. My role is to help plan activities, conduct meetings, teach lessons, and organize service for the sick and needy. My husband serves in a bishopric of a ward of young single adults.

At home, we seek to live our faith by holding daily scripture study and prayer, individually and as a family. We also hold a weekly family night where we share a spiritual thought and enjoy a fun activity together.

We give gratitude in prayer before each meal, regularly attend the temple to worship, and faithfully set aside 10% of our income as tithing to the Lord. We also seek to be honest in all our dealings and kind to those around us.

We are certainly not perfect, but we seek to improve ourselves through daily repentance and and modeling our life after the life of our Savior.

What is the Book of Mormon?

Rachel. answered...

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as long as it is translated correctly. We also believe The Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ's ministry. A family in Jerusalem was warned by God to escape the wicked city before Babylon conquered it and took its inhabitants captive. This family was led to the Americas and eventually became a great civilization. After His crucifixion, the Savior spoke to the Jews saying:

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd (John 10:16)."

He was speaking of these inhabitants in the Americas. As a resurrected being, Christ appeared to this people and organized a church in the same manner as in the Old World. The Book of Mormon is a record of this event as well as words of ancient American prophets.
Ben answered...

We believe in a loving Father in Heaven who desires all of his children to have His precious word. "Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?" (2 Nephi 29:7).

Of course, with any thing concerning God, it is important to find out, personally, if the work is true. What better source can we trust than God Himself? Through prayer we can know, independently of anyone else, where the truth lies concerning any matter.

In the introduction to the Book of Mormon we read: "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost." I testify that this pattern of revelation is true. If we take the time to study it out in our minds, ponder upon the truth and ask God, in faith with desire to act upon our answer, that we will receive. He has answered me, and He will answer you when you ask in faith.

Do you really believe there is a prophet like Moses alive today?

Tom answered...

I do believe that there is a prophet alive today. This was a concept that I struggled with when I was investigating the Church because I was skeptical of ancient prophets, much less a living prophet. As I worked with the Bishop and Stake President (local Church leaders), I began to see that they could receive revelations for my benefit as well as other Church members for whom they have responsibility. Seeing God's power through these good men that I came to know personally helped me realize that our Heavenly Father directs his Church through modern day prophets.