Hi, I'm Holly

I'm a mom of boys. I love to travel. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

You could say that I love boys...I grew up with all brothers, I'm married to a fantastic guy, and I'm a mother to two *soon three* boys! I'm proud to be an adoptive mother...and am also grateful for modern medicine. We've been blessed with 2 of our sons through IVF. I love blogging, taking pictures, planning parties, reading, traveling & learning about other cultures. Things I love, but don't have much time for lately include playing soccer, scuba diving, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. My bachelor's degree is in German, but when our kids are all in school I look forward to going back to get my masters in social work. Things that I did a dozen years ago that have shaped who I am today include being a volunteer English teacher in Taiwan for 1/2 year, and serving a full time LDS mission in Germany.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in a Mormon family and while we nor any other family that I know are perfect, I feel like the values taught by our faith instilled in me a desire to make good choices and follow my savior Jesus Christ. It wasn't until I became an adult that I feel that I really made the concrete decision to study and pray about the things that I'd been taught. At that time I came to my own personal conversion that the church's teachings weren't just a "good way to live" although I still think that's true...but that the things the church teaches really do come from our loving Heavenly Father. I really do believe that if I follow the commandments and guidelines that we've been given, - that I will not only be happier in this life, but also in the life to come.

How I live my faith

I participate in the church's woman's organization as well as volunteering on Sundays in the primary...which is for children ages 3-11. I have enjoyed the various ways that I've been blessed to participate volunteering in our church, but feel that the most important way that I live my faith is actually the everyday opportunities when I am able to teach gospel principles to our own children at home. My greatest aspiration in life is that our kids will find the same joy in the gospel that my husband and I have found.

Are there restrictions based on race or color concerning who can join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have the priesthood?

Mark answered...

There is no discrimination or exclusions of race. The Lord says in the bible, "...man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the Heart." 1Sam 16:7. The Lord does not care what race or color you are. All he cares about is you. He loves you.
Blake answered...

There are absolutely no race or color restrictions in the church. When Jesus was here in the earth, he said that he came here to save the sinners. The last time I checked, all the people in the world, it doesn't matter color or race, are sinners. The church is a place where people can come closer to Christ. There are no restrictions to who can come in. Anybody that has a desire to come closer to Christ, has the right to come closer to Him.

What is the priesthood?

Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.