Hi, I'm Carmen

I'm a Mormon. I have been all my life and more than once it has saved my life.

About Me

My husband and I have been married for 3 wonderful years. We have one adorable son who is the greatest joy for us. The great love that I have for my son makes me better understand the pure love that I know our Heavenly Father has for each of us. I am an avid runner, have been since I was 13 years old. I enjoy exercising and am a huge advocate for health and fitness, the middle school kids I coach in track will agree to that. I love the Discovery channel, especially during Shark Week. While I may be younger, I love to spend time with my grandparents and those who are older and wiser. You can learn a lot from them.

Why I am a Mormon

I have always been a member of the church. Yet I never felt it was forced upon me, I have always wanted to live my life set by high moral standards and based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Having the truthfulness of the gospel is a blessing, something I cannot deny, and I want to live my life as an illustration of that. I know that my Father in Heaven lives and that he loves me. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves me. Christ led a perfect life and while I struggle, like everyone else, I will always strive to be like Him.

Personal Stories

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

As one who is acquainted with anxiety and feelings of high stress for trivial reasons I have found that my daily prayer and daily scripture study help the harmony in the home. There is an extremely noticeable difference in the days that I take the time to pray for strength and support and the days that I do not. Reading the scriptures help me to have a feeling of peace and comfort. Less anxiety helps me to react calmly, be more loving and willing to serve.
Choosing to serve, making that decision that no matter what I will have an attitude of service for my family helps me enjoy more what I do in the home. There is always greater harmony when I have the right attitude about serving and loving my husband and son. And having the understanding that we all will have our own "bad hair days" has increased the love and harmony here in the home.
A constant effort for family prayer helps to keep the spirit in our home. Silly as it may seem, my mother always told me "families that pray together, stay together."

How I live my faith

In the area I live in I work with the young women of the church and love it! I am the camp director and I help to set-up and plan a girls camp to help the girls strengthen their relationship with the Lord, with themselves and with each other. The young women of the church are inspiring and so much fun. I also interpret for deaf members of the church through sign language during church meetings and activities. I rely on the Lord every day as a mother and a wife. I know that He will help guide me as I live worthily and great blessings will come my way.

How can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ?

Carmen answered...

Patience, prayer and practice are key to increasing faith in the Savior. Do not expect faith to occur or blossom instantaneously, just as you can't expect your garden to grow overnight. Prayer is how people communicate with the Lord, go to Him, express your desires and concerns. Most importantly practice. Read the scriptures, attend church, take time to have quiet personal prayers, do all you can to live worthily. Everything takes practice to develop. Practice will increase your "spiritual muscles" and your faith will grow and develop.
Jason answered...

Simply by trying to. If you have a desire to increase your faith in Jesus Christ, try to do it. Start by praying. Read his words in the Bible. Try to put them into practice. For example, he told us to "love one another." Try and follow that teaching. Be nice to others, help people who might have less than you, smile... As you do so, you will notice a change come over you. You might feel more peace in your life, a calm enter your mind, or a warm feeling that seems to say you're doing the right thing. These things help you realize your faith is growing. Faith is an action word. If you put action behind your belief, I have found that it will grow.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

April answered...

Tithing is paid in faith. I know these funds will not be misused. I pay tithing because it is a commandment, and because I love God and want to give Him back a small porion of what He has given me, to futher build up His church. These funds go to build and maintain church buildings and temples and other like expenses. Our clergy is not paid. There is no collection plate. We simply pay our tithing, our fast offerings, we share what we have gladly. This is God's way. For this is God's church.