Hi, I'm Christine

I'm a stay at home mom. I'm an artist. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm married to my high school sweetheart. While my husband is at work I spend my day at home with our kids. I wouldn't have it any other way, because frankly, I hate work! We have three kids; two living with us and one living with Jesus.

I'm an artist and writer by hobby. I love to doodle whenever I have a chance (sometimes even in sacrament meeting, I know it's naughty!). Mainly, I sketch pictures of my kids or my husband. Occasionally, I'll draw a stranger. I paint the sketches that I really like. I enjoy writing; mostly in my journal. I wrote a book about our baby boy Willow; he was stillborn. I also like to tell my kids silly short stories that I make up.

Despite my age, I love to do genealogy. I feel a spiritual obligation to seek out my kindred dead and I like it. My ancestors are from all over the world, especially if you include the family I married into.

I love to knit and crochet. It's something that I can just throw down when the kids need me. Knitting and crochet are a great creative release for me when I can't bring my paints. Yarn and needles are very mobile accessories that fit nicely into my purse.

I like to wear pink and my favorite food is watermelon. I despise doing laundry. I probably spend way too much time on Facebook. I'm a Mormon!

Why I am a Mormon

I joined the church when I was eighteen. I've always had a testimony of Christ and the atonement, but when I was a teenager I began to explore what I really believed. I started dating a Mormon boy in high school and so started my investigation of the church. In the beginning I really just enjoyed the love and unity that I felt when I went to church with him and his family. I grew up in a divorced family with opposing world beliefs so finding a place where I felt such love and togetherness was eye opening. As I learned more about the church and took the missionary discussions I started to grow a testimony of the full gospel. I struggled with some things, like accepting a latter day prophet and even the Book of Mormon. When I felt the spirit of the Holy Ghost it was undeniable, so despite my skepticism I was baptized and I learned what having faith was really about.

Now, I have accepted the gospel in its fullness. I have had personal experiences in my life that have brought me closer to Christ and my Heavenly Father. Since I was baptized I have grown a testimony of the truthfulness contained in the Book of Mormon. Of course, I will never forsake the Holy Bible, but I now know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because I know that the Book of Mormon is true, I also know that there are prophets on Earth today to guide us. I have followed the prophet and I can attest to his righteousness. I know that he converses with the Lord to extend His message to us.

I love having the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I love having my prayers answered and gaining personal revelation to guide me in my life. I love having a patriarchal blessing to look to when I need uplifting. With the Gospel I feel like there is a special plan for my life here. I know that I'm doing the Lord's will when I have his spirit and words to guide me. These are some of the reasons that I'm a Mormon.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

Not everyone has the chance during their lifetime to join the church, such as during an apostasy when there is no one there to share the gospel. We do family history work to seek out our kindred dead so that they have the opportunity to accept the gospel too. We do ordinances ie baptism on behalf of them. Article of Faith #3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?

My children are still young so I don't have much experience in this subject. I try to teach my children how to choose the right. At this age they are influenced mostly by other children that they play with and what's on TV. My daughter will often repeat things that she has heard at school or on TV, if she says something that I consider offensive I will help her understand that it's not okay to say. To prevent this I make sure that the things she watches on TV are age appropriate. I also try to watch shows with her so that I can understand where she learned it from and how to teach her. My son is generally a gentleman, but he hits back. He is influenced by his peers. I also try to teach my children that although they can't control what other people do they can choose how they react. I try to teach them to choose the right and follow Jesus Christ's example.

The kids aren't the only ones in our family that suffer from unwanted influences. My husband and I refrain from watching rated R movies. The TV shows we watch are entertaining for adults, yet kid-friendly. We choose to listen to uplifting music. We keep our computer in a public area of our home so that no one is tempted to use it inappropriately. Our home is a sacred place as the temple is, we do not allow morally unclean things within it.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I pray everyday and usually more often than that. When I pray I express my love for God and give thanks for my many blessings. I also ask for blessings or guidance in my life and council with the Lord. Prayer is a form of communication with God and so it strengthens my relationship with him. I can feel the spirit of the Holy Ghost most times that I pray and it brings comfort and peace to me. Many times my prayers have been answered, usually through revelation or a fellow disciple of Christ. The first verse of one of my favorite Children's Songs "A Child's Prayer" describes how I feel about prayer perfectly:

Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it closer every time I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me."
Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.

Every time that I pray it brings me closer to God. Through prayer and giving thanks I have come to recognize the love that Heavenly Father has for me.

Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?

To me, not sharing the gospel would be like hording a big delicious candy bar all to myself and eating it in front of everyone! I couldn't do that, it would be selfish. The gospel is a wonderful thing and it brings joy to my life. I want to share that joy with everyone!

I share the gospel by seeking opportunities to express my beliefs. I mention that I went to church on Sunday or to another church activity. I often pray for missionary experiences; every time I do my prayers are answered.

On Facebook I participate in "Testimony Tuesday" a group that a friend started. We all share our testimonies every week on Tuesday in our status update. The majority of my friends on Facebook are not Mormons so I often get an inquisitive response to my testimony.

I try to always have a Book of Mormon handy to give away. I usually only give about one away per year, but I've been grateful to have it when the opportunity arises.

How I live my faith

My family is really important to me. I live my faith by teaching my children about Christ and His church. I am a "first generation convert" so next to none of my extended family are members of the church. When I live the gospel and follow the Lord's commandments, they can see what happiness it brings to my family and me. I really want them to have that happiness too. I also research family history so that I can bring my kindred dead to the gospel as well.

An important way that I live my faith is the way that I raise my children. Families are the fundamental unit of society. It is so important to me that I raise good and upstanding members of society. I want my children to grow up to be instruments in the Lord's hands and I try to keep that in mind every time I make a parental decision.

My husband and I teach the 5 years old children at church. I try very hard to set a good example for them by practicing what I preach. I do this so that I can stand behind the lessons and testify of their truthfulness. Our daughter is in that class so we can see first hand the affect our teachings have in her life. Although, it can be discouraging when she comes home thinking that the golden plates were the kind you eat off, most of the time she understands things. This is another way that I live my faith, by actively participating in Church and teaching the Gospel of Christ.

I live my faith by serving others. Most of my service is church guided (like teaching children and researching family history) but I also try to serve in other ways when I can or when I see a need that I can fill. Even if it's doing small personal things like helping an elderly lady lift something heavy into her car or having a band-aid to give away when someone needs it on the playground. I'm also sure to do my part in donating canned goods and clipping off the box tops for the elementary school. It is in these small yet many acts of kindness and service that I live my faith.

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

Christine answered...

Yes! Families can be together forever, even beyond the grave, through the sacred ordinances performed in God's holy temple. In the temple we covenanted with Heavenly Father to keep his commandments in return for an eternal family. My husband and I did not marry in the temple. When people are married outside of the temple, as we were, their marriage ends when one of the partners dies. We were sealed together for time and all eternity after two years of marriage and after we already had our first child. Death can no longer separate us. I am so grateful that our family is going to be together forever, especially after the loss of our baby, our third child. I often think of how sad it would be to never hold him again, but, because we have committed to keeping the covenants that we made in the temple he will be mine again. To learn more about this sacred ordinance read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" or The Gospel Principles Manual: Chapter 36 "The Family Can Be Eternal".
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Amanda answered...

YES!!! This is one of my favorite parts of the gospel. I believe that my family will live together in heaven. I will know my family as my family members. My husband is my husband for now and for all eternity. My children are my children here on earth and for all eternity. I know that if something happened to one of us that I will see them again. I love this about the church. Before joining, I always had a question about this concept and when taking the discussions from the missionaries this came up. Makes me love the church more and more.

How does the Church finance its operations?

Clint answered...

The Church finances its operations primarily through voluntary donations from its members, generally referred to as Tithing. The Lord commanded his people in the Old Testament to bring their tithes to his servants. Many Church members today voluntarily donate a portion of their income help the Church bless the lives of millions of individuals through providing meetinghouses for worship, schools for education, supplies for humanitarian aid, food and housing assistance to the poor, etc. In addition, the Church owns and operates taxable for-profit business enterprises that generate income to help fund Church initiatives. The Church invests a portion of its gross receipts to maintain a financial reserve, and income from these investments provide an additional source of funds.