Hi, I'm Olivia Hall

I'm a smiley, 18 year old girl from Missouri, who loves to bake and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I LOVE to cook, mostly bake ! I also enjoy reading and learning. While most kids my age would prefer watcing music videos and their favorite celebrity on TV, I enjoy watching documentaries and movies based on history and the past. I enjoy photography and I also am very into music. I love to get that does of daily insight from reading the scriptures and attending seminary. I love to doodle on my papers at school and I enjoy spending time with friends and close family as most young people my age would. I have recently been accepted into college and will be starting in January. I hope to meet lots of new people with whom I can have lasting friendships and share similar common interests and hobbies among !

Why I am a Mormon

I was born to an unwed, teenage mother who has not always been active in the church. She has always done her best to try and teach me wrong from right and the value of life. I am so greatful for her mothermy grandmother, for being a strong, female example in my life to make sure I was involved and baptized into this wonderful church, when my mother was not always able to. Without her, I honestly cannot say I would be where I stand with the church today. I would not have the stong, unshakeable testimony that I do and I certainly would not be headed down the path I have tried so hard to stay on my entire life. It all starts with one, and I will continue to try and live righteously and raise my own family when the time comes in this great faith also.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

It is important and vital that we as members do this great work. While we do the work for those who have passed on, It bring a sense or closeness to those who have come before us and helps us to establish who we are and how we came to be. Genealogy and family history is just as important to us as it is to those on the other side. Thousands and thousands of our eager ancestors are waiting everyday to be uncovered and done work for in the temple, and It is our duty to help them get to the Celestial Kingdom by doing their work. Ezekiel 43 11 "...and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinaces thereof, and do them."

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

When once metioning to a non-member friend that It was time for me to go to seminary, she said,"Ha ! Have fun with that ! Sucks for you !" And I replied," No actually, I have my free-agency and I can choose weather I attend seminary or not, and It is my choice to go." My friend was left speechless and not knowing what to say, and I without thinking, just beared my testimony to her of free-agency and my choice to do what I knew was right. Since then, she's inquired a few times about different things we do and why we attend all the different meetings we dowith sacrament, seminary, mutual, etc., and I have been more than obliged to tell her the importance and significance of each.

How has attending Church services helped you?

Attending church services has strengthened my own life tremendously. It has strengthened my testimony of the gospel and given me a place of peace and comfort when I am faced with adversity and the world seems to be trying to tear me down. I know that this church is true and that there is none other that can compare to it. Although my family goes in and out of activity in the church, I know I can be the rock and the example to them to never give up hope and to endure to the end. By attending church services, I see the good, humanity, and compassion in others that I strive for in myself everyday. I know that If I continue to attend my church services, that the Lord will bless me in all things and that I will bring much happiness in my own life.

How I live my faith

I strive to execute my church callings with a smile on my face and love in my heart. This isn't the type of church where merely saying you believe that Jesus is your Savior is enough to seal the deal we must serve the Lord in everything we say and do. After all, faith without works is dead ! At the very least, I smile everyday to let others know that there is good and happiness in this world. If all I can give is a smile everyday to someone, I try and make sure I do that. Other than that, I strive and act as a faithful role model for those younger Young Women at church and do as much service for others as possible.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Jacob answered...

We all have the freedom to pursue happiness in their own way, and I would even be willing to allow that some desires may be genetically given. This does not make our desires right. In the scriptures we read " For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord." (Mosiah 3:19) We all have "natural desires" that place us in opposition with God's purpose and desires for us and we must each seek to correct them if we wish true happiness.

I sympathize with those whose desires are powerful and poignant; you face a sore trial indeed. The scriptures give us hope though; "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) God is merciful and Christ is compassionate, while there may be yet an effectual struggle to be had perhaps for many years or the rest of our lives full repentance and change is possible.

If a homosexual individual desires to continue as such and marry only by the laws and rites of the state, then I have no qualms, I will do my utmost to be a friend to such an individual. I only ask that my rights, beliefs, and Church are respected.
Aubri answered...

This question is my all time favorite "tough topic" to discuss. I want to start off right off the bat by saying that no matter what you've been told, or who has told you it, Mormons DO NOT "hate" gays and lesbians. Or ANYONE for any reason. Ever. As witnesses of Christ, we do our best to emulate Him and live as He would have us live. That's not to say that we're perfect, because we're not... but I do know that Christ never hated anyone.

Mormons believe in the sanctity of marriage. We believe that God has ordained marriage, and the sacred powers of procreation, to be between a man and a woman. Sexual relations are a sacred thing. We believe that they are to be reserved for marriage. This law, the law of chastity, applies to every spirit son and daughter of God. It doesn't matter if you are attracted to the opposite gender or your same gender, you are commanded to live a chaste and virtuous life. The neat thing about God is that He's "no respecter of persons". This means that God requires the same things of all of us. We are to remain chaste until marriage, and within marriage chastity means that you only have those sacred relations with your spouse.

As a church, we welcome all who want to draw near to Christ. We love everyone, regardless of circumstance, as Christ loves them. We maintain that every single man, woman, and child on this earth is a son or daughter of God, and we treat them accordingly.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Leo Ebbert answered...

The short answer is that, for a time, God commanded it. It was a challenge for those families commanded to practice it, but they accepted the challenge with faith.

There have been many times throughout history that God has asked His people to do difficult things or things that go against the norms of society. For example, God has commanded plural marriage in the Bible. He commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, stopping it at the last minute. He commanded the ancient Israelites to destroy all inhabitants of many of the settlements in the land of Canaan when they returned to the promised land.

The knowledge of these things challenges our faith but we must recognize that God's ways are not our ways and He controls all life.

If plural marriage is something that keeps you from the church or keeps you from investigating further, I invite you to consider this: it really comes down to one thing. Was Joseph Smith a true prophet or not? If he was, then the commandment came from God and He restored His church through Joseph. Answer that question and the rest falls into place. I am happy that I did.