Hi, I'm Dani

I'm a photographer. I'm a wife and mom. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Ohio as one of the only LDS members in my school. I had fun participating in gymnastics, soccer, and basketball. I also took piano lessons and still continue to play today. My dad passed away of brain cancer when I was 14. This was a really hard time in my life, especially once my family moved to Utah. I have 8 siblings (some step, half, and full). I earned my bachelors degree in Family & Human Development. I met my husband while we were in college, and we were sealed in the Temple over four years ago. We have one son who is the light of my life! I enjoy photography, and have been running my own photography business for four years. I also enjoy playing sports as well as crafting. I'm still a "student wife" while my husband attends grad school. We live away from all our family, but it is drawing us closer as our little family. More than anything, it has drawn us closer to the Lord!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because of the peace it brings me in my life. My dad passed away after a four year battle with brain cancer. I was fourteen years old at the time. Looking back on my life then, and even my day to day life now, I would not have been able to be at peace with my Heavenly Father if I didn't have the reassurance that I will see my dad again. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I believe and know that through the Plan of Salvation, I will not only see my dad again, but I will be with him for eternity. I know that because God loves me, He provided a way for me to return and live with Him and my family forever. Family is the most important thing on this earth to me. I love my family, and the peace I have knowing that I am sealed to my husband, my children, my parents, my brothers and sisters, brings me such joy and comfort.

There have been so many times in my life where I have felt alone, afraid, scared. But being able to turn to my Savior and know that He has felt every feeling and knows exactly what I am in need of gives me the comfort to continue on in life so that I may fulfill my divine nature and purpose.

I know this church is true. I know the Savior knows me and loves me. I have felt Him near me many times in my life. I know my Heavenly Father knows me by name, that I am truly his daughter. I know that I can be with my family for all eternity. I love this gospel of the peace it brings me. I know it is true.

Personal Stories

How has attending Church services helped you?

Up until just a few weeks ago, my husband had to work on Sundays. He worked in a treatment center for teenagers, so we justified him working on Sunday because it is a profession where there always needs to be staff to watch over the kids. However, we could tell a difference in our home life and our spirituality because we were not attending our Sunday meetings as a family. Going to church together brings us closer to each other and the Lord, and we were missing that. Since we moved and my husband is no longer working on Sundays, we have been able to attend church every week. The feeling of the Spirit in our home on Sundays is much stronger. Our relationship with each other is stronger. And most importantly, our relationship with the Lord is stronger. I know there will be times in our lives when my husband will be required to work on Sundays. He is studying a medical profession. However, I can tell the difference when we are trying to remember to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Going to our church meetings sets the tone for my day and my week. When I go to church and really listen to the lessons taught, I am allowing myself to be taught by the spirit. These lessons help me in my day to day life, and help me draw nearer to the Lord. Going to church is very important in my life. I love the feeling when I am there!

How I live my faith

I recently moved into a new branch, and I am so excited to get to know the new branch members. I have been happy to help others in my branch by playing the piano, taking meals to those in need, and giving rides to elderly members. We enjoy having the missionaries for dinner, too. I am excited to receive a calling so that I may serve where the Lord needs me to!

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Doug answered...

The short answer: no.

The fun answer: I am always a bit surprised when I get asked whether Mormon's practice polygamy, especially since it is a point of pride among Mormons that we tend to be more "monogomous" than the general population - the divorce rate among Mormons is much lower than it is among non-Mormons, hence marriage to a second, third, or fourth husband or wife is much less likely.

The informative answer: In the first half of the 19th century and beginning with Joseph Smith, the founding Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lord commanded certain men to take more than one wife for reasons that are known in full only to God himself. These men and women sought in faith to live the commandments of God as they were taught by the Prophets of God. The practice of plural marriage continued in a highly organized and church-sanctioned fashion until the Lord commanded that the practice be discontinued in the year 1890.

I am a descendant of the fourth wife of one such man. I have read his journals and heard accounts of his day to day interactions with his family and friends. He was a good and an honest man, as were most if not all of the men to whom the command was given from the Lord to take more than one wife, both in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in Biblical times.
Kim answered...

No! The practice of polygamy by faithful Mormons ended September 24, 1890. Mormons today do not practice or preach or in any way condone the practice of plural marriage. If you hear or read about any group of people practicing polygamy you can be absolutely certain that they are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any LDS church member practicing polygamy today would be immediately excommunicated from the church.

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

This is a good honest question that deserves an honest answer. My great-great-grandfather who joined the church in 1835 was a polygamist. If you are a Christian that believes in the Holy Bible and ancient prophets, you believe in and accept the fact that God has the right to authorize plural marriage when He sees the need, and He has the right to revoke that same commandment when He sees the need to do so. Many of the ancient prophets had plural wives such as Moses, Abraham, and Isaac. If you believe in the Holy Bible, you must accept this fact. But you also know that for most of human history God commanded men to have only one wife. The key here is to do what God commands, and don’t do what He forbids.

The period of time when Joseph Smith (1820-1844) was called of God to restore the “fullness of the gospel” to the earth, many important laws and ordinances were revealed and restored to the earth that had existed anciently. The power of the priesthood, temple ordinances, and the practice of plural marriage were part of that restoration.

But in 1890 the Lord directed the living prophet Wilford Woodruff to end the practice of Plural marriage. Since that time the Mormon Church has not authorized any such practice. This is a great example that demonstrates how important it is to follow living prophets who receive direction from the living God for our day.

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

Jim answered...

I have a testimony of the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." It is scripture because it is the word of God coming to us through an inspired Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, prior President of the Church, and living Apostles. It clearly states, “We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God." As long as a person abstains from homosexual relations and cultivates wholesome thoughts, they worthy before God. The Church does not and will not ever condone "gay bashing." I see same-sex attraction as a special challenge to overcome in this life, and not a curse. God loves all of his children unconditionally, but that does not mean that He condones sexual relations outside the bounds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. I bear my witness that the Atonement made by Jesus Christ is not only has the power to save us from physical death and redeem us from sin, but it also the power to transform our lives. As we yield ourselves to Christ and seek to do his will, we will find the grace and healing to deal with whatever challenges or circumstances life deals to us.