Hi, I'm Mánon.

I am an English and Drama teacher. I now live in Colorado with my wonderful husband and beautiful baby girl. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Even though in the past I have been a Drama and English teacher for junior high and high school students and absolutely love it, I am currently a mom and Master's Degree student. While I was pregnant I started my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and would like to eventually teach at the college level and do some private counseling.

Recently my husband and I had our first baby girl and even though I had an Epidural, I nearly died from a major artery tear in my neck during childbirth. The hospital doctors said that I was 1 in 100,000th person that this ever happens too at this young of age. They started blood thinners right away but soon and dangerously quickly my artery blood clotted closed. Then they put me in ICU for fear that I would have a blood clot to the brain. They said I would have a 1/3 chance of my artery reopening. I was very scared that I might die and was having horrible migraines everyday. I was quickly realizing that I couldn't do even the simple things like chores around the house or even a simple drive to Walmart, for I could not stand too long without feeling dizzy and passing out. After multiple prayers, blessings, being transferred hospitals, having extensive tests done-CT's, MRI's, Neuro checks, blood draws, etc., my artery has opened up and now for the next year I have to be regularly tested and on blood thinners but I AM ALIVE! I am so happy that God has blessed me enough to live, be with my sweet husband, and watch my little baby girl grow up.

Why I am a Mormon

At 15 years old, I read the Book of Mormon. I wanted to know if this book was true. I knew that Christ lived and died for me and knew the bible was true. So why couldn't other scriptures be? It spoke about the Americas, another people that God truly cared about. Did God just end with the Bible? And were Jews the only chosen people? Didn't he care about me too? I then got on my knees and asked God with all my heart. I knelt beside my bed wanting more than anything to know. And before I had even finished my sentence, I knew it was true, my heart felt it strongly, my mind knew it assuredly, and I had a clear confidence that was unmistakable. All of it, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and a Prophet today that would testify of Christ, the gospel, his resurrection, our mission on earth, and would humbly listen to Heavenly Father to give us guidance.

When I was 24 years old, I wanted to know more about Joseph Smith. Who was he? What did he go through to help us know more about Christ and the plan of Happiness? So I went on a tour of Joseph Smith's life from birth to death. I was able to stop at many sites with Joseph praying to God in the Sacred Grove, to him and his brother being murdered in Cartridge Jail, Illinois. At one tour site, Martin Harris came to debunk Joseph Smith and instead within less than 3 days he knew without a doubt that Joseph saw God and began helping Joseph transcribe as Joseph translated the Book of Mormon. The next site was more heart wrenching, as I visited Ben Johnson's Farm I felt strongly the sadness and nightmarish fear of Emma and Joseph as they lost their little baby to the cold elements that night, as Joseph was ripped from their sleeping bed, tarred and feathered, and made to drink poison which almost killed him. That's when my testimony was reaffirmed. No man or woman would continue on with such persecution and not believe without a doubt that God had a plan for all of us and it was to be testified to the world.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

Prayers don't always get answered the way we think they will be or the way we want them to be sometimes. And God speaks to each of us differently. To me on some issues, troubles, trials, wants, and desires, the answer has come in different ways. Sometimes a No has been constant confusion on what I should do everytime I approach the subject in personal decision and prayer. A Yes has come differently too, sometimes it comes with a calm assurance, a clear confidence, a warm feeling, or a definite voice. I have been amazed time and time again when I have just about given up or have believed that God must have forgotten me, when deep down my heart still had hope and my prayers have been answered.

Many times my prayers have not been answered in the way I thought I had wanted them to be or it seems to have taken too long to have my prayers answered. A lot of time waiting seems to be excruciatingly painful. In my impatient urgentness, I want my prayer answered now. But after the long wait I have realized it has always turned out better than I could have perceived. Sometimes not what I thought I wanted at the time but later I realize that there was a different path for me to take that could make me learn so much more, touch others’ lives I might have not touched, and has brought me more happiness than I ever have known.

How I live my faith

First I'm an amazing wife and a sweet new mother! I am glad to be alive! And I am so thankful that I am here to teach and see my little baby daughter learn and grow. It's exciting to know there is so much more beyond this life because with that knowledge it gives me reason to progress on even through trials. I have seen that through each trial I have learned something. Many times I haven't wanted to go through certain things but if I'm going to have to go through it, I'd better learn something or it's all a waste. And I certainly don't want to have to go through it again!

There is just so much for us to learn and do in this life that without everyone of us doing a part, sharing their talents, and giving service life would be empty. In my ward I teach a Gospel Principles class, I also am a visiting teaching supervisor to make sure all other sisters in the church get a visit to their home, a spiritual message, and to check with them to see if their families are doing alright.

In my community I help can foods like delicious peaches, jams, meats, sauces, etc., for those in need. I also soon will be auditioning for our local community theatre here in town and volunteering once a week for a Psychiatric Clinic nearby.

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

Mánon. answered...

They are educated, they are mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, they work, they are professionals, they make political choices, they vote for those who they see best to support their country, they have likes and dislikes just like everyone else, they make mistakes, they learn from them, they live the Ten Commandments, they live the Word of Wisdom (abstaining from caffeinated teas, coffee, tobacco, cigarette's, and alcohol), they read the Bible, Book of Mormon and other inspiring talks and scriptures, they may want to listen to Christian music but they also listen to rock or whatever other genre of music they enjoy as long as it is not degrading to the soul.

Yes, we are equal. We may have different roles like that of mother, sister, father, brother, but we are equal. The Apostle Paul taught that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). In the sight of God, and in the marriage relationship, men and women are equally important.
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Sarah answered...

Mormon women are a lot like women everywhere! I'm a young, single Mormon woman, who pays her rent and works at a job and wears pants and basically acts like all the other women she knows. If you asked around at my job, probably the biggest thing people would say is that I never swear.

When Mormon women are married, they have to work with their husbands to sort out who's in charge of what, what their expectations are of each other, etc., just like anyone else. A lot of Mormon women with kids, especially young kids, don't work full-time outside of the home - but a lot do. Most Mormon men that I know do a lot of the work at home, though the vast majority do hold outside jobs. It's a lot more important that a husband and wife get along and respect each other than that they conform to some specific social construction. There are lots of Mormon single parents, too. The community tries to help them, but in the end, they're obviously responsible for their entire household, whether they're male or female.

As far as equality is concerned - that word is often misused. We're all children of our Heavenly Father, with tremendous opportunities and responsibilities. That we're all loved equally well doesn't mean that we're all the same. Husbands don't get to tell their wives what to do or vice-versa, but in the great scheme of things, they are held responsible for different things.