Hi, I'm Teri

I am a daughter, wife, mother, teacher, and friend. I find great joy in my those roles. I am a Mormon.

About Me

I have been married for almost 6 years now. I am a mother of two toddlers. I am privileged to be able to stay at home with them and raise them.

Why I am a Mormon

Honestly, I could not imagine being anything else. I was raised in the Church. When I left home to attend college, serve a mission and attend graduate school, my testimony was confirmed. I had moments when I questioned if what I believed really is true. During those times, I searched the scriptures and prayed. I have received a testimony of my own that they are. I remember a specific time as I was preparing to serve a mission I was taking a missionary preparation course. One of our assignments was to go home and practice teaching the account of the First Vision, when Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. We could either practice with someone or practice in a mirror. I pulled a chair up to the full length mirror and began. As I started to read Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision, the part where Heavenly Father and Christ appear to him, I could not continue. I felt the witness of the Holy Ghost so strongly that what I was reading was true. I felt that same witness the rest of my mission each time I recounted the events of the First Vision. I know that Joseph Smith saw and spoke with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon, like the Bible, it is sacred scripture. I know that I can be with my family forever. I know the impact the gospel has had on my life and on my husband's life and the choices we make and the blessings we receive. I am seeing those blessings in the lives of my children as we teach them about Christ and the gospel. I am a Mormon because I cannot imagine being anything else. I cannot imagine finding this much peace, joy, strength and comfort anywhere else.

Personal Stories

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

I have been blessed to be able to stay at home and raise my children. I know that some may view being a stay at home mom as an inferior job or old fashioned, but I view it as the most important job I have had or will have in my life. While attending graduate school in a predominately male field, one of our professors asked us why we were getting a graduate degree. He wanted an answer beyond the line of work we planned to go into. When it came time for me to respond, I was slightly nervous as I responded, "I want to raise children who value and seek education because of my example." I find so much joy in watching my little ones explore and learn about this incredible world. I love to see the light in their eyes as they learn. I love it when they want to "read" (my oldest is 3) from the scriptures. I love to see them pray. I look forward to watching them continue to learn and explore. I feel so blessed to be able to be with them, to teach them and to learn from their sweet spirits.

How I live my faith

I teach my little ones about the gospel. At the moment it is mostly through the songs that the church has for children. We listen to them in the car and sing them at night before bed. I read my scriptures and try to find time several times a day to pray to my Father in Heaven in grattitude and for guidance. I currently serve in the Primary organization of the church. Primary is for children 3-11 years of age. What a blessing it is to work with these children. I often find that as I prepare lessons and activities that will teach them the gospel, I learn and my beliefs are strengthened. I have also learned from the pure faith of the children I work with. They do not doubt that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them, they know that Christ is real and the He has provided a way for them to return to Father in Heaven and to be with their families forever. They know that the Book of Mormon is true. As I work with them, I understand more and more why Christ instructed us to become as little children.

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

Teri answered...

Yes, Mormons believe men and women are of equality. We are partners. We work together, supporting one another. Although our roles may be different, they are of equal importance, especially when it comes to raising a family. I am so grateful for a loving husband who supports me as a wife and mother and truly treats me as his partner.
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Beverly answered...

Mormon women are exactly like non-Mormon women in many ways. Some of us are stay-at-home mothers, while other Mormon women work outside the home. Regardless of our circumstances or choices in terms of employment, we try to work with our husbands and families as a team to get things taken care of within our homes.

My husband is my partner and my best friend and vice versa for him. He doesn't "rule over me" any more than I would do the same to him. We are equal partners in our eternal marriage. The church teaches us to be kind to our families as well as our friends and we want to make our homes a kind of spiritual refuge for everybody.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Austin. answered...

No. Every worthy young man is expected to serve a mission, though there is no punishment for not doing so. Also, not every young man is physically or mentally capable, so there are circumstances where a young man may be excused from service. Young women may also serve missions, but are not expected to do so.

Serving a mission means a full-time commitment, leaving family and friends to preach the gospel in a place assigned by the Church.

I served my mission in Los Angeles, California.