Hi, I'm Susan

I'm a convert. I'm involved in my community. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Arkansas and now live in Utah. I am a busy mother of 4. I work in public engagement for education. I converted to the LDS church my last year of college. I am involved in politics. I volunteer in PTA, School Community Councils and in my community. I belong to Rotary and I am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts.

Why I am a Mormon

My last year of college I was engaged to a boy who was Southern Baptist. I grew up in First Christian Church. When I started college, my church refered me to the "college chapter" of our church and I never really embraced it and didn't attend. I would still go with my parents on occasion to my church. My fiance decided I needed to join his church. I didn't see any reason to. It was a large church and I saw a lot of friends out doing things they shouldn't the night before and meeting up at church for brunch the next day. It didn't feel spiritual to me and I didn't see any thing different than what I already had. I wasn't really searching, either. This led to me and my fiance breaking up. Then I met a boy from Utah that was there to play baseball. As we became friends, he asked me to read the Book of Mormon. I took that challenge and knew it was true! I met with missionaries and joined the LDS Church. In 25 years, I have never regretted that decision. LDS people are not perfect, but try to live the gospel. It is much more than a Sunday thing, it involves your whole life, your standards, your actions and your activities. I know that I am trying to do what the Lord wants.

I had friends that questioned my decision and some that even broke our friendship off. As friends and family have seen me stick to my beliefs and live my life as a member of the LDS church, they have gained respect and an understanding of why it is important to me.

My testimony is still developing. There have been several big leaps of knowledge and belief along the way, but mostly that still and quiet voice that always guides me and lets me know I am on the right path. I currently have a son serving a mission and teaching people who, like me, are ready to embrace a life changing belief that they can come to know their Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. I am thankful everyday for the introduction to the LDS church and the people who brought it to me. P.S. I ended up marrying that baseball player who first asked me to read the Book of Mormon.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

I read The Book of Mormon for the first time 25 years ago and knew it was true. My life and my beliefs have all been guided by that belief ever since.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

*How to treat other people.
*How to try to understand that there is a higher law to follow and that the things of this earth are not the things of Heaven.
*How I need him and his sacrifice. That I need to do all I can do to return to him and then I will rely on him for the rest.
*That he and Heavenly Father love me and that I am of worth to them.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

It took me a long time to develop this testimony. I immediately believed in the Book of Mormon, so people would tell me that I subsequently must believe in Joseph Smith, but I didn't for a long time.

We spent several years in the midwest where we had the opportunity to visit LDS church historical sites. I truly studied the life of Joseph Smith. Over time I came to realize that whenever he was in the work of the Lord he was guided and correct. When he was in worldly work, that we all must do, he was just a man, subject to the same mistakes, misdirection and distractions as all of the rest of us. He was just a man that lived his life like the rest of us, but he was asked by Heavenly Father to bring forth this Gospel in these times and when he was in those pursuits, he had spiritual guidance, direction and help. I now have a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and of his divine calling. I am thankful everyday that he was close enough to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost to listen and understand what was asked of him.

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

Focus on what is truly important and try not to let the overwhelming demands of the world weigh on your family. Have your family get to know their Heavenly Father and elder brother Jesus Christ by reading the scriptures, praying and spending time together. Get to know and understand the Plan of Salvation and the understanding that families can be together forever.

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

When we make right choices we are in a good place, without the burdens of wrong choices, to continue to make more right choices. Good choices allow for a freedom, wrong choices add incumberance.
When we make wrong choices, we get crooked with things and start to make excuses or cover for ourselves and this leads to other wrong choices.

How I live my faith

I currently serve on the board for the women's organization that organizes activities and quarterly meetings. I recently left teaching the 6-7 year olds in Sunday School.

I am also heavily involved in my community. I work in public education coordinating efforts to involve parents and the community in our schools. I also work with government officials both locally and statewide in the interest of public education. I belong to Rotary and PTA. I also serve on my children's School Community Councils.

To what do you attribute the growth of the Church?

Susan answered...

It is true and you can gain confirmation of that for yourself. Read the Book of Mormon, you will know. People are in search of a return to family values and, through gospel direction, the LDS Church emphasizes this.
Angela answered...

I think the Church is growing because people see that there can be a better way to live, that they don't have to be bound by the chains of addiction, pornography, dysfunction and broken homes. We know that the most important thing in this world is the family and the future of this world is found in the lives of the children and teenagers we see on the street, in our malls and schools. The best thing we can do is teach them to be honest, upright and moral citizens who can contribute to the betterment of society. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the family is incredibly significant--so significant that God wants us to be families forever, even when we die. This is huge for many people in the world who realize that their children can really be with them forever. There is tremendous comfort in that, and I think this is why so many people are drawn to this Church. It provides hope and peace.

Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?

Daniel answered...

When married by earthly power and the authority of man, our vows are "Until death do you part."

We believe that families can be together forever as part of our Heavenly Father's Great Plan of Happiness. His Work and His Glory is to bring to pass the exaltation and eternal life of man. He wants us to be even as He is and to return home to live with Him again.

Through the ordinances of his Holy Temples, God's son's and daughter's are able to make covenants. Through the power of His Holy Priesthood, be sealed together for all of time and eternity as Husband and Wife, parents and children.

Families were designed and instituted by God with the intent that they be forever. The love we feel in this life does not need to be cut off when we die. Those who have already died are not lost us forever. God has mercifully made a way by which all who would accept these saving ordinances can do so, living or dead.

We perform these ordinances for those who have in the past died so that they may have the opportunity of accepting them on the other side if they so choose to do so.

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Joseph Smith

As is the case throughout history God has communicated to His children through prophets. God used a humble man as a prophet to restore His Church on earth who ultimately died defending His faith.

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