Hi, I'm Evelyn

I'm a busy mother and professional. I love music, and..... I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a wife and mother. My husband and I have a very large blended family. In fact, I am even a step-grandmother! I enjoy looking through family photos and videos, as well as planning a family trip at least once a year for whoever is available to come along. Being part of a large family has given us many blessings. We know how to appreciate the simple, important things in life, like our time together. I love music and I love to sing! I sing in the choir at church and I've sang all my life. I even sang professionally for a few years when I was in high school. When I have some personal time, I like to sew. I create my own patterns for whatever I am making. I love to visualize concepts, re-create them on paper, and see the finished product! I use this skill often in my work as a design engineer. I enjoy working with young people. I grew up in the inner-city of Chicago, and many of my experiences have enabled me to connect to youth who are facing difficult challenges. I have been a member of the Church for ten years, and my faith in the Lord grows stronger every day.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in the Baptist, Pentecostal, and Lutheran faiths. My mom didn't have a car, so we went to the church closest to where we lived. I am grateful to her and others who taught me about Jesus Christ. As a child, I saw a Church commercial on TV showing happy family interactions. I remember feeling that this was what I wanted, and it appealed to me that this church had the Lord's name! When 12, I wrote a list of “Promises to my children”, starting with a righteous mother and father. It was years later that I next had exposure to the Church. While away at college, I greatly distanced myself from attending any church. In my senior year, I realized how far I strayed, and realized I needed to come back. I tried to make an appointment with the pastor at the church I had been attending on campus. After several unsuccessful attempts, I abandoned the idea, and started my own religious observance at home. I watched Christian TV programs and prayed. At the start of the spring semester, I shared with a study partner that I had stopped attending church, but wanted to start back. He invited me to visit his and I did. I wanted to find out more, and I felt impelled to challenge the people who were teaching me. I knew that in order for what they were saying to be true it had to be in full harmony with the Bible and the things Jesus taught. I read the Book of Mormon and the Bible, took notes, and prayed after each visit I had with them. On every account I found the Book of Mormon to be true. I received a very strong, calm and peaceful feeling that I had found what I was searching for. I knew that this was the truth that I saw in that commercial so many years before, and I embraced it full-heartedly. As it turns out, my life changed from the spring morning when I met that study partner…he later became my husband. About a year ago, I found the sealed letter I wrote. And, I know the Lord has allowed me to keep those promises. He is truly “a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

Mormons do family history work to find out who their ancestors are, and so that we can bind them to us by the power of the priesthood. This is the power spoken of by Jesus Christ, when he bestowed it upon his apostle Peter and told him that "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." We feel it is essential to create lasting links with all members of our families - past, present, and future - as we hope to be reunited with them in the eternities. Our ancestors are real people who lived before us, and as we learn more about them, that familial bond grows and we see them as more than just a name on a page. As an African-American, I especially get excited about family history work, because I get the opportunity to do research that can connect me to my true origins. Many people feel that there is something empowering about knowing who you are and where you come from.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?

Matthew Chapter 7, verse 21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

This teaching helps me to understand that I must put forth a true, sincere effort to keep the commandments. It also teaches me that I will be held accountable for my actions. I cannnot enter the kingdom of heaven by merely confessing Jesus' name or receiving baptism. These important steps are required, but they are a gateway that lead onto that path, not the end of it. By repentance, overcoming every trial and temptation, I am daily perfecting myself so that I can be prepared to meet God. To this end, a phrase often repeated in the Church is that we must "Endure to the End".

How I live my faith

I practice my faith by living an honest and clean life, and working to maintain a good relationship with others. The world we live in is so calloused and harsh, but by staying close to Heavenly Father in prayer and regular study of the scriptures, I can keep His spirit with me daily. I try to avoid judging or being critical of those around me, but instead reach out to them in love and friendship. The Savior taught that we should love one another, so I keep that as the motivation for everything I do. I currently serve as a leader for the young women ages 12-18 in my local congregation. Working with the Young Women is very rewarding as I get to make a positive impact on the younger generation. I have so much faith in the youth of the church -- they need to take every opportunity to fortify themselves, as they will very literally be preparing the way for the second coming of our Lord.

What is Mormonism? OR What do Mormons believe?

Evelyn answered...

Members of the church believe in God. We believe in His Son Jesus Christ. We believe that the Father and the Son are separate, distinct individuals. We believe that God is the literal father of our spirits, and hence, we have a divine identity and destiny. Each of us has been sent to this earth to gain experience and achieve that destiny by returning to the prescence of God one day, pure and cleansed from sin. Under the direction of the Father, Jesus performed a great sacrifice for us through his death and resurrection that would help us overcome both sin and death. We focus on the power of the resurrected, living Christ. We believe that the priesthood, the gifts of the Spirit, and miracles are upon this earth today just as in Christ's day. We believe that God still speaks to men through his prophets today as in times past. We believe that God does not change in his dealings with his children.
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What do Mormons believe is the purpose of life?

Aileen. answered...

This question started my whole spiritual quest, so it is only most appropriate for me to now answer it.

Mormons believe that we were chosen by the Heavenly Father in the spirit world pre-existence to receive a physical body and to come to Earth to our specific mother and father. We agreed, and we essentially are fighting on Heavenly Father's "side" in the war with Lucifer. It is our spiritual "job" in this world to live a certain way, to use our agency to choose between good and evil, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father's only son, whom He sacrificed to allow for our atonement to allow for our spiritual progression.

Mormons believe that while here on Earth, we should learn and live more like our Heavenly Father. This is our spiritual quest which is accomplished through our choices. We marry and build our own family, and by following the Scriptures and living accordingly, we receive access to the Temples where eternal ordinances are performed individually and together as a family.

We can be with our family forever, after death, joined together in Heaven, with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. We have greater peace in this life and eternal joy in the life to come. This is the purpose of our life here.

Before I understood this and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my life was reasonably happy but devoid of purpose. Something was missing. I felt incomplete.

Now, I have peace. My soul is soothed.