Hi, I'm Rachelle

I'm a teacher, wife, friend, sister, and daughter. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

In April 2011, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, becoming the first female in the history of my family to graduate from college. I was married in the temple in 2008 to the man of my dreams. I love photography, kids, teaching, crafting, and organizing. I enjoy playing volleyball and watching football, soccer, and basketball. I love blogging! I love to try new things to see if I am good at them and to find new hobbies.

Why I am a Mormon

I didn't grow up as a member of the LDS church, but I was baptized at a young age, age 10. My mom was the second member of her family to be converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with only 3 having joined. From there, our lives began to change, and for the better.

I really began to gain my own testimony while attending seminary, a religion class, in high school. Everything started to make sense and have a purpose. I was happier than I ever had been. I was able to deal with issues in life better and enjoy life more.

I moved away during my first year of college and began to fall away from the church. Though I didn't get into things I wasn't supposed to, I stopped doing the things I knew I should be doing attending church, reading my scriptures, attending Institute, etc. I felt my life changing and not for the better. I moved back home and began to get my life back in order. For the first time, I really knew what it was like not to have the gospel in my life. I didn't, and don't, want that feeling ever again. Getting back on the right path was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, but I'm glad to be back where I know I am supposed to be.

I made great friends and started having the time of my life. Experiencing things I hadn't before, such as water rafting. In 2008, I met my husband and we marriage in the temple for time and all eternity. He has continued to help me grow in the gospel and together we have strengthed our testimonies.

I know I wouldn't be where I am today without the gospel. It has brought more joy to my life and marriage than anything else can. Knowing that we will one day have children that are born sealed to us is an remarkable feeling. Knowing that when our life ends on this earth that we will still be together and still be a family, is incredible.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. I know that we have a living prophet. I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and another testament of Jesus Christ. The stories in it are true and apply to our lives today. I know that families can be together forever. I know that despite how sinful our lives may have been that we can change out ways and come unto Christ. I know that we can repent of our sins and be clean again. I know that I will one day live with my Heavenly Father again and that he will be proud of who I am and what I have become.

Personal Stories

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

The most important thing my husband and I do is be an example. Our friends know our standards, morals, and values. We never waiver from these values and because they know that, they know the importance of our religion in our life.

How I live my faith

Though life can get in the way, I do my best to make spiritual priorities in my life. I love reading the scriptues Bible, Book of Mormon, etc. and do my best to read them regularly. When reading them, I feel the spirit stronger than when I do anything else. My husband and I attend church weekly and strive to attend the temple often. We also read articles from the Ensign, a church magazine, together. I dress modestly at all times and do my best to respresent my beliefs by accepting and helping others. I teach young children various topics and stories from the gosepl and do my best to help them realize how it applies to them.

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

Rachelle answered...

Yes! I see it as a great blessing and comfort to know that after this life, I will live with the man I loved on earth. I can't imagine my life now or later without him. Though we don't have children yet, I know that they will be with us as well. What a comfort it is to know that we are sealed in the temple for eternity.

I have never had the opportunity to be sealed to my mother because she isn't married. However, I know that the Lord will work out the details so that I will also be with my mother in the eternities.

My testimony was recently stengthened on this because of the death of my husband's grandfather. I have always believed that families are forever. However, when his grandfather passed he was the first family member that I've ever lost, I knew that he was with his wife that had passed many years before. I could see him with her though I never met her. I knew he was with her. I know he is with her.
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.

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?

Scot answered...

As is recorded in Matthew 10:5, the Lord said to His Apostles "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not..." Later the resurrected Lord told the same Apostles "...Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) This is not an example of any variableness or a shadow of turning (See James 1:17) but is ever more evidence of His wisdom and foreknowledge in executing His designs.
Some who wish to attack the Church think they find hypocrisy or guile in the fact that the Church did not allow men of African descent to hold the Priesthood until 1978. There is nothing contrary to the pattern of God in this. For decades and decades before the 2nd Official Declaration righteous men and women of African heritage were baptized into the Church and fold of God with the full promise and testimony that they would be denied no blessings in the worlds to come. Then, when the time was fully come, and as had been predicted by prophets previously, the Lord inspired His prophet to extend the full blessings of the Church in this life to all worthy members. This could well be one of the happiest days of this era.
Whether in this dispensation or any other anyone who is uncharitable to another due to their race is in direct defiance of the Gospel of Christ, who is Savior to "black and white, bond and free, male and female" (See the Book of Mormon, 2nd Nephi 26:33.)

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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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