Hi, I'm Maren

Married. Mother. Medical transcriptionist. Mormon.

About Me

I am married to a wonderful man, Dave. I have three children, one grandson, and one granddaugher on the way. I work as a medical transcriptionist from home, which has been a great job for me because it allowed me to be home with my kids as they were growing up. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Textile Arts, and my hobbies include stained glass, sewing, and painting. I have been a dorm mom to 150 college freshmen, worked in a "sweat shop" sewing factory, built my own furniture, and re-wired a house. I have also changed diapers, helped with science projects, watched marching band performances, and (finally) learned to make decent chocolate chip cookies. I'm a Mormon.

Why I am a Mormon

I was once accused of "blindly" following the teachings of my parents, so I determined to find out for myself if this is God's church. The best way to do that was to study and learn about the church, and then to ask God directly if it was true. It is! But you don't have to take my word for it. Anyone can find out the truth for themselves by praying to God.

Sometimes being a Mormon means that I haven't been as popular or accepted by people who don't understand us. That can be hard, but it is more important for me to keep living my faith and trying to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have peace in my life, even when things seem to be going crazy or out of control. Being a Mormon doesn't make my life perfectly easy or trouble-free, but it has given my life meaning, and I know that I am trying to live the way Heavenly Father wants me to.

Personal Stories

How has attending Church services helped you?

I especially like associating with the other women at church. I think they are just an amazing group! There is so much diversity in race, education, age, occupations, talents and skills, and personalities. I feel like I fit in just by being myself. The women are so accepting of each other, and so welcoming to anyone new in the group. One time I attended church in another country where I did not know the language. Even there, I was greeted with smiles and warm handshakes. A stranger came forward to help translate the worship service for me. In the church, I don't feel the need to "compete" by trying to dress better or be more thin than the next woman. It is one place where I feel that we are all daughters of our Heavenly Father, and He loves us all equally no matter what our personal strengths or challenges might be.

How I live my faith

I currently serve at my church as a Sunday School teacher to youth ages 13-14. Over the years I have taught many different age groups, and I have held leadership positions in the women's organization and over the children and youth. I have sung in choirs and chaperoned youth activities. I try to help others who may be struggling with something, whether that means taking them a meal, just listening, or letting them live with my family for awhile.

Now that I know God has a prophet on the earth, I try to follow his instructions and advice to the church. Over the years that has included staying out of debt, preparing for emergencies, attending my worship meetings, paying tithing (10%), taking care of my physical body, doing service in my community, and focusing my attention on my family. Following the advice of our modern-day prophet has helped me to live a very happy life!!

What is the priesthood?

Maren answered...

The priesthood is the permission and authority to do God's work here on the earth. Even when Jesus Christ was on the earth, His apostles were sent out to teach and serve the people. They were given that permission and authority by Jesus Christ. With that priesthood, they could perform any necessary duties for the church of God, even including blessing people and performing miracles. When those apostles were all eventually dead, that priesthood was gone from the earth.

God had to give the priesthood, the permission and authority to act in His name, back to the earth Himself. When He restored His church to the earth, that was a very important part of it. Any worthy male member of the church can receive the priesthood, which is transferred to him through a special blessing from someone who already has it. Because the priesthood is on the earth again, men can teach, baptize, bless, and even perform miracles in God's name, just like the apostles in Bible times. It is important to remember that it is not the men themselves who are accomplishing the work, but it is actually God's power. Without God's power and authority, this church would not be His church.
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Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.

Why do Mormons perform proxy baptisms in their temples?

Donna answered...

We have a loving Father in Heaven, whose work and glory are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. He is our Father, and wants each and every one of us to return to him. Some of His children never had the opportunity to receive the blessings of the gospel and be baptized in their lifetime. Because our Father loves all of His children, each will have the opportunity to accept the gospel, even if it is taught to them after this life. We do baptisms in the temple by proxy so that those who did not have the opportunity in this life to be baptized into the church may receive this ordinance if they desire it.