Hi, I'm Karen.

I'm a wife and mother. I'm an early childhood educator. I'm the creator of a collaborative food blog. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and taught Kindergarten before becoming a mother. My husband and baby are my joy. I love spending each day with my daughter, watching her grow and learn! I love to cook and try new recipes. I especially love finding delicious recipes that are healthy and sharing meatless recipes on a collaborative blog I created. I also love to organize. I love feeling the peace of knowing where things are and that there is a place for everything.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up as a Mormon. My parents never forced me to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I wanted to be a member. Once I got to college and was on my own I really solidified my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus is our Savior. He Atoned for our sins so that we might repent and return to live with him and Heavenly Father again. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel to the earth and that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet today. I know that because of that restoration the sealing power to bind families for all eternity is again upon the earth.

How I live my faith

Everyday I try to remember the covenants I made with my Father in Heaven by praying, studying my scriptures, and seeking out the positive and uplifting things in this world. In my ward I serve as a primary teacher. I have been assigned to teach the 7-8 year old children. I help them prepare to be baptized at the age of 8. I am also a visiting teacher. That means that I have been assigned four of the women in my ward to contact at least once a month. I share a Gospel related message with them and seek out opportunities to help and serve them.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Karen. answered...

We believe that the family is the most sacred and important unit in society. It is literally the building block of society. We believe that fathers and mothers have a sacred obligation to rear their children in righteousness. We believe that our families can be united eternally in holy temples, extending our relationships beyond the grave.
Bradley. answered...

The family is a key component to support us in God's plan for gaining immortality and eternal life. All of God's children (all the inhabitants that lived, are living, and will live on Earth) are inseperably connected to each other, both (physically) by our Earthly families and (spiritually) by our Heavenly Father.

Families help us to understand our divine heritage. In this, life takes on purpose and meaning. Our immortal spirits were created by our Heavenly Father before Earthly existance, and we are directly connected to Him in this way. As a spiritual family, our collective purpose on Earth is to follow the commandments of God that lead us to live in heaven with Him again.

Our spirits need to progress, learn, and grow. In order to achieve that, Earthly existance was created as our test. Our Heavenly Father knew that being exposed to opposing forces on Earth was the only way for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.

However, we will not always choose righteousness, and so our Savior, Jesus Christ, is that great mediator to pay the debt of our mistakes. He is the only way by which we can be saved from our sins and transgressions. He is the ultimate example by which direction we need to live our lives. With the support of our earthly kin, we can learn from each other, serve each other, and strengthen our mortal weaknesses by being disciples of Christ. Our families are a gift from God, and we can be together forever.

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Katie answered...

I used to play in a Balinese Gamelan ensemble here in Washington, DC on weeknights and had some of my friends ask me this question. First, I pointed out that anyone can go into the temple during the open house to see what it is like. After it is dedicated, it becomes holy ground and you have to make yourself clean or holy to go in. I told them that EVERYONE can go to the temple, as long as they are wiling to go through that process of becoming clean. I reminded them that you can't just waltz in to the White House either (much to the chagrin of many tourists here). You have to go through a background check that takes 6 weeks and that is just to get into the East Wing, the West Wing requires a job and security clearance. Our protectiveness of the temple is not a sign of secrecy, it is more a manifestation of how special and important the the building and its rituals are.

And I hope people don't get intimidated by the word "ritual", everyone who has gone through a school graduation has experienced a ritual. It just means that we are participating in life-changing experiences that turn our hearts to God, our families and our fellow men. The real difference is that we believe that process of making devotional promises to God in a sacred place is necessary for our salvation. That is why we encourage everyone to join with us and make their way to the temple.