Hi, I'm Cheryl

I'm from all over the U.S. I have a blog about finding joy every day. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a wife. All day I look forward to my husband coming home from work because he makes everything more fun and is expert at getting me to smile. I am a mom. I have three cute and energetic children. I love watching them learn and grow.

I earned a B.S. in Fitness and Wellness Management. I love exercising and all things fitness oriented. I am relatively new to the sport of triathlons, but love participating in them!

I love being in the kitchen. Creating something healthy (or at least delicious!) makes me so happy! I love good food.

I have struggled with depression off and on for the past 7 years. A few years ago I created a blog to learn more about finding joy. Now I post about my "Joyful Moments" daily. It's amazing how much this has changed my outlook on life as I've discovered just how much joy there is to be had each day.

Why I am a Mormon

I have been a Mormon since birth, but around age 13 I began to struggle with my faith in God and thus, pretty much everything else. One night, I felt ready to give up on it, but decided to offer one last prayer. I prayed to God to know if He was real and if He loved me. Immediately after my prayer, I felt strongly that I should open my scriptures. They fell open to a verse that specifically applied to what I was going through and was precisely what I needed to know. My heart burned and my doubt was gone. I knew that God lived and that He loved me.

That wasn't the only trial of my faith. There have been many in the years since. But I return to my faith because the Lord continues to prove to me that He will never leave me. No matter what challenges I face, when I turn my burden over to Him, I always feel the comfort and peace of knowing that He has a plan for me.

But my faith isn't just for the difficult times in my life. Even on the best of days, being a Mormon is so essential to my happiness. Knowing that my family is a forever family makes my joy as a wife and mother that much more fulfilling. Knowing that my Savior lives and loves me brings me the greatest joy possible.

Personal Stories

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

Whenever I come across something great, I want to share it with everyone I know. This includes my favorite stroller, yummy recipes, new exercise routines--you name it! And the gospel is the most wonderful thing in my life. So, how can I not share it with the people I really care about? The gospel positively effects the way I organize my day, my parenting, and many other important choices. It brings me peace and joy whether my life is going great, or if I'm struggling. I want my friends and family to have the same thing, too!

How I live my faith

I get to teach 9 and 10-year old children every Sunday. This year we're discussing the New Testament. They are old enough now that they know the basics of many of the stories from Jesus's life on earth, so we get to go a little more in depth. We talk about how we can pattern our lives after Him. And we talk about how much He must love us, as shown by all He has done for us. I love looking into their eyes and telling them that Jesus Christ loves them. I can see that their faith in Him is growing and it is so amazing to be a part of that.

I also get to visit with some of the other women, in their homes. We discuss various principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have such amazing insights and teach me more about who I am and how to recognize the divinity within me. Meeting together as women is so uplifting and inspiring. And we have so much fun just being together. Sometimes sharing a few minutes of laughter is more beneficial than anything else!

To what do you attribute the growth of the Church?

Cheryl answered...

I think the Church is growing as it is because the members in general are happy. There is a peace and joy that come from knowing who we are, why we are here, and where we want to go. People of other faiths can recognize that peace and joy and they want to have it in their lives, too.
Angela answered...

I think the Church is growing because people see that there can be a better way to live, that they don't have to be bound by the chains of addiction, pornography, dysfunction and broken homes. We know that the most important thing in this world is the family and the future of this world is found in the lives of the children and teenagers we see on the street, in our malls and schools. The best thing we can do is teach them to be honest, upright and moral citizens who can contribute to the betterment of society. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the family is incredibly significant--so significant that God wants us to be families forever, even when we die. This is huge for many people in the world who realize that their children can really be with them forever. There is tremendous comfort in that, and I think this is why so many people are drawn to this Church. It provides hope and peace.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Stephanie answered...

I think this is the question that I am most frequently asked. And as a woman and a member of this church, I consider myself an expert on the subject.

Mormon women are like any body of women--we're all different. We have different goals, we have different backgrounds, and we all have our own and very different struggles. But, there is one thing that unites us: and that is the love we have for the gospel, and the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. We are His daughters. We are oh so special to Him. We have been sent to this earth with talents and abilities that He knows only we can fulfill. These are things that build His kingdom--that lift, inspire, and strengthen those around us.

We believe that we are created equally. Women are not more special or more important than men. Men are not more special or more important than women. We are equal--but just because we are equal doesn't mean the things that we do are going to be the same, or even have to be the same. We work together in equality and together we accomplish what needs to be accomplished--and that can only be done as we work together.