Hi, I'm Sarah O.

I live in Utah. I'm a graphic designer. I enjoy running and hiking. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm just finishing a degree in Graphic Design. I love to organize things. I enjoy running and am training for three big races this year: a half-marathon and two relays. I enjoy hiking and made a goal to visit all of the US National Parks. I love spending time with family and friends.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because I believe the Book of Mormon is true and because I know the things I've studied and learned about the Gospel of Jesus Christ are true.

All throughout my life, I have had several small feelings and whisperings from the Holy Ghost that add up to an unmistakable witness that: I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is my Savior, Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who restored His church on the earth again, and we have a prophet that continues to teach us the things we should know and do in order to return back to God. I love the temple. It is a place that I learn, grow closer to God, and help my family become stronger.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

I have had many, many blessings that have come from having faith in Jesus Christ, from the (seemingly) insignificant to the very profound. One of the greatest blessings of faith is PEACE. I know that Jesus Christ is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can and will do what He says He will do. That helps me so much as I go through day-to-day activities and trials. I can trust in Him and rely on Him.

One of our church leaders told a story and used rock climbing as an analogy. He said that sometimes we as individuals go through life as if we are rock climbers trying to ascend a cliff alone (solo). We need not do it alone, because we have a lead - our Savior Jesus Christ. He will be our lead in life. That story helped me learn more about faith during a trying time for me when I was feeling afraid. I felt as if I had been the rock climber trying to go through life on my own. No wonder I had been afraid and I had felt as if I were stuck on the side of a cliff, not able to move! I learned that I could give my burdens to the Lord and he would truly help me. I need not be afraid. He gave me courage.

Once a seemingly insignificant event happened to me. I went mountain biking with a friend, and on our way back down the hillside, after starting up again from a brief stop, I discovered that a screw was missing from my handle bars. I would not have been able to continue riding my bike without that screw. We started searching the trail back past the point we had recently stopped. I said a silent prayer that God would help us find it. I used "the language of faith" and even tried to offer ways that we could possibly find the screw. Maybe it would just be shimmering on the path? Maybe it would be hiding under some plants along the side of the trail? Maybe I would find it stuck in my pants, socks or shoes? I tried to let God know that I was open to His will. Maybe I wouldn't find it at all and I would have to walk my bike down the hillside. I think that was where I learned faith.

And now, the ending to the story... a couple hikers (whom we had passed a couple miles back) caught up to us. They learned we were searching for a screw. The very screw they had picked up in a meadow farther back. We would never have searched back along the trail that far. The screw had been missing from my bike for quite a while without my realizing it. And the Lord answered our prayers by allowing someone else to find the screw and drop it in my hand.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by trying to do what I know is right. It's not easy, but I keep trying! One huge thing that helps me is to attend church every week. I love going to church and feeling a strong Spirit of peace.

At church I help to organize the women into "visiting teaching" companionships; in these companionships we make special contacts and visit/fellowship with each other during the month.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Sarah O. answered...

No one is required to serve a mission. Everyone who serves a mission does so by his/her own choice. Single young men are especially encouraged to serve a mission (for 2 years), and single women are also invited to serve (for 18 months). Elderly couples are also welcome to serve. There are different types of missions. Some serve proselyting missions, others welfare/service missions, etc.

I am a single woman in my 30s. I have not served a full-time mission, but several of my friends have. During the last decade of my life, I have had many chances to choose to serve a mission, but always chose not to. Instead of serving a full-time mission, I have been given other opportunities to help share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One of our favorite sayings in this church is "Every member a missionary."
Taylor answered...

Quite simply, no. The young men of the church have been strongly encouraged to serve a mission at age 19, and the sisters are able to serve at age 21, but no one is required to serve. We do it because we want to! Who in their right mind would give up two years and pay that's right, missionaries pay their own way to go somewhere they had never been and do all that they do? We serve missions becuase we know that Jesus is the Christ, and we want the happiness that knowledge bring to be available to everyone! So no, Mormons are not required to serve a mission. It's a personal choice to share the happiness and joy they've received from the Gospel.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Sarah answered...

Mormon women are a lot like women everywhere! I'm a young, single Mormon woman, who pays her rent and works at a job and wears pants and basically acts like all the other women she knows. If you asked around at my job, probably the biggest thing people would say is that I never swear.

When Mormon women are married, they have to work with their husbands to sort out who's in charge of what, what their expectations are of each other, etc., just like anyone else. A lot of Mormon women with kids, especially young kids, don't work full-time outside of the home - but a lot do. Most Mormon men that I know do a lot of the work at home, though the vast majority do hold outside jobs. It's a lot more important that a husband and wife get along and respect each other than that they conform to some specific social construction. There are lots of Mormon single parents, too. The community tries to help them, but in the end, they're obviously responsible for their entire household, whether they're male or female.

As far as equality is concerned - that word is often misused. We're all children of our Heavenly Father, with tremendous opportunities and responsibilities. That we're all loved equally well doesn't mean that we're all the same. Husbands don't get to tell their wives what to do or vice-versa, but in the great scheme of things, they are held responsible for different things.