Hi, I'm Ruth

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a 25 year old wife, mother, runner, and blogger (in that order!). The Mr. graduated BYU with a BA in Communications in 2008 and worked for BYU Athletics for 3 years as a graduate student. I graduated BYU with a BA in Art Education K-12 in 2009 and just completed 2 years of teaching sculpture, painting, and art full time at a local high school. In Summer 2011 I was blessed with the privilege of being a full time stay at home mom to my darling son, who was born in 2010. I have always been interested in photos and keeping a journal, and blogging has been the way for me to do it all! I love running, cooking, baking arts-ing and crafting and all things health and fitness!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I was blessed to have amazing parents who chose to join the church in the early part of their lives, and have raised my siblings and I in the Gospel. I was married in the Columbus Ohio temple on April 28, 2006 for time and all eternity and I continue to be a faithful member of this church because it gives me hope for the future. I know that there is a plan beyond this life, and that my family will live together forever after our time on this earth is complete. I know the Book of Mormon and Bible to be the divinely inspired words of God, and that I am closer to my Father in Heaven because I strive to follow those teachings, as well as the modern day revelations from our current prophet, and I am all the happier and my life is so richly blessed because of it. There is good reason why it is called the Plan of Happiness, and that is what I hope to demonstrate on my blog: that no matter what the plan, you can always look for the good parts to it.

Personal Stories

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

Reading scriptures and saying prayers both individually and as a family. Attending the temple and going to church together. Having family night to include the children and date night for spouses to rekindle their love for each other. In other words, being as obedient as possible. Because it is within obedience that we are really free to make correct choices for ourselves.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by living like I believe. I strive each day to be better than the day before, and though I am not perfect (and am far from it), I am working on it. And I am inspired daily by my friends and family that have also made that choice and are some of my greatest examples and supporters.

How can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ?

Ruth answered...

By living our lives with hope AND faith in Him. By acknowledging that He has a plan and knows all, and loves us so infinitely that he will never allow anything to happen to us that is not for our good. We may not understand the reason for our trials at the moment, or even in this life, but rest assured that in the firey furnace of affliction, we are being refined and perfected to become more like Him. And what more could we want?
Brian answered...

Faith in Jesus Christ doesn't just happen. You have to work for it. I discovered my faith increasing when I decided to study the scriptures for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. Doing so has allowed me to understand the doctrines of the gospel on a deeper level. Scripture study coupled with daily personal prayer where I really try to converse with my Father in heaven, and seek to know His will concerning me, rather than give him a list of my wants and needs and ask him to grant them as if he was my personal butler. The best way I have found is to seek to do as Jesus did. Be friendly with everyone I meet. Go the extra mile and help people beyond what is expected. Avoid judging people and try to find the good in people, rather than dwell on their weaknesses. I've found that seeking to do God's will and striving to live like Jesus Christ taught us to live, has not deprived me of anything, rather by doing things Heavenly Father's way has freed me and brought me more happiness than trying to do it my own way.

How can we come to know our Father in Heaven?

Richard Maden answered...

Just start out with a small prayer to God and just this one act will start you on a path that will bring you into a relationship with Him. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance from the missionaries this is the thing they live for.