Hi, I'm Deborah

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Last summer, online craft shop owners were challenged to write six-word descriptions of themselves for their profiles. What an fun way to introduce myself!

Cycling Snowflake Designer Craves Vibrant Color

That's me in a nutshell. Outside the nutshell, I'm a wife and adoptive mom getting dangerously close to becoming a senior citizen. I spent 14 years as a journalist and photographer before morphing into a career that allows me to enjoy evenings and weekends with my husband. Because newspaper ink still flows through my veins, I maintain a blog for fun. I enjoy needlecraft, writing, photography, baking, gardening and genealogy. My husband and I spend quite a bit of our free time on our bikes (road and mountain) and backpacking in the mountains or hiking in canyons. In winter, we love cross-country skiing.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born to a Mormon family but my family did not actively participate in church or church activities, although I did attend seminary (EARLY morning scripture study for teenagers) two years and loved it. I began attending church regularly in my early 20s and have been actively participating for nearly 30 years now. I know life without the gospel and with the gospel, and I can't imagine trying to navigate this complicated world without the knowledge my Savior lives.

Personal Stories

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

My biggest step was eliminating television nearly 20 years ago. We do have a TV, but it's used primarily for cycling videos while we're on our trainers in winter. The only times we sort of wish we had cable are during the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Tour de France. We have slow dial-up internet at home, so streaming video is out of the question, too.

Instead of television, we spend our free time volunteering, participating in cycling events, exploring the outdoors, writing, reading, crafting, gardening and enjoying each other's company.

I've found this lifestyle also helps me avoid the depression and hopelessness I feel when I'm bombarded with news of all the devastating things happening around the world non-stop. I think hope plays a bigger factor in my life because I'm not so focused on everything wrong in the world.

How I live my faith

I've spent a great deal of my church life helping in the nursery and teaching three-year-olds. My favorite responsibility in church, however, has drawn upon my journalism background. I love volunteering for interfaith events, particularly when the Pope came to Colorado for World Youth Day. I've also volunteered in soup kitchens and quilting bees for veterans, foster children, cancer patients and victims of natural disasters. Outside of church, I participate in many charitable events and annually raise money for charitable organizations.

What is being a Mormon like?

Deborah answered...

I don't always fit into the "Mormon" stereotype, but I don't really fit into any other category, either. I was unable to have children, so I adopted. My husband is not of my faith. And I spend some summer Sundays participating in cycling events. However, I love and cherish my family, even though it is not traditional. My husband is my best friend, and he has complete respect for my faith and my religious needs. I also leave before dawn when I ride on Sundays so I can finish, get cleaned up and get to church on time.

All my friends are respectful of my faith, too. They know I don't drink, and they know I don't watch R-rated movies. Yet we are able to enjoy each other's company immensely.
Kaitlin Elise Gray answered...

Being a Mormon to be is by far the BEST way to live. I have never felt so much peace in my life from knowing and having that knowledge that I am a literal Daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me. I love knowing that I have a plan and a reason for being placed on this earth. I have a purpose and a Heavenly Father who wants nothing but the best for me!Being a Mormon makes me want to shout for joy! Having the restored gospel in my life and knowing that the TRUE church is once again on this earth brings me so much happiness. Being a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints brings me so much joy, and makes me want to share this truth and knowledge with everyone that I know. In fact, that is the VERY reason why I am serving a Mission. Also knowing that I can be with my family for Eternity, now there is no greater joy than that. I love being Mormon. I can not think of ANY way better to live

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Daniel. answered...

No. I've never even met the man.

One night I was on the front row of a concert. A big star came to the edge of the stage and held out his hand. EVERYONE rushed forward, climbing over each other, pushing and wedging themselves along, just to touch him. I almost got caught up in that too, and was about to rush ahead when a little voice kicked in "He's just a man. What's the big deal?" At that moment I vowed to never adulate anything less than deity. I will not go to my knees for anyone but a Loving God.

I respect Joseph Smith like I respect any man who tries his best to live according to his conscience. I hope maybe one day I'll get to chat with him over lunch--or over whatever kind of meal they offer in the life beyond. But I cannot worship a man, for why should I place and value one person any higher than another?