Hi, I'm Margaret

I'm a high school senior; I'm a black belt in Taekwondo; I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a 17-year-old high school student who is applying to a variety of colleges, taking some challenging classes, and enjoying time with my friends and family. I'm considering going to law school after getting my bachelors. I also spend a fair amount of time learning more Taekwondo.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents have always brought me to church, and I developed a fairly thorough understanding of the teachings of the Church from a young age. However, that certainly wouldn't be enough for me to continue in the faith on its own. I have developed a love of the scriptures, and more importantly, of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My knowledge of His atonement for me has helped me through some of the most difficult moments of my life. Through the Church, I have learned to know Him and to love Him far more than I ever could have otherwise. I know that He leads this church today through "his servants, the prophets," and I want to do everything possible to follow Him.

How I live my faith

I serve as president over all the young women ages 12 through 18 in my ward (congregation). In this capacity, I plan activities, conduct meetings, and strive to meet any and all needs that the other girls have. My most important responsibility within my presidency is to befriend the girls and to always be there to help them. Every day, I wake up early to attend a scripture study class with my fellow high-schoolers. As president of the class, I arrive early to prepare to conduct and to organize the class. The most important way I live my faith is in my personal day-to-day life. I try to reach out and care for others throughout my days as well as constantly striving to uphold the high standards of the church in all that I do.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Margaret answered...

We believe that Eve's choice to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil epitomizes the role of women in life; the choice to become mortal was an essential step in the Plan of Salvation. Without that choice, mankind would be unable to learn or to progress. Thus, Eve (the mother of all mankind) opened the pathway for all of us to come to Earth and to develop in ways impossible otherwise. However, negative consequences are inevitable results of mortality. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind are saved from many of the consequences of that decision. Additionally, men are given the responsibility of the priesthood in this life, by which they have the authority to administer the ordinances through which, assisted by the Atonement of Christ, we have the power to return to our Heavenly Father and enter a state of immortality. Women are given a different responsibility in this life, that of bringing new life into mortality and helping God's children along the way. Thus, women hold the keys to entering this time of testing and progression while men hold the keys to administer the ordinances of salvation. Both roles are crucial in the Plan of Salvation, and without the other, neither would be sufficient. In the Church, women care for others and fill roles that are not involved in priesthood responsibilities or ordinances.
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Kara answered...

Women don't hold the priesthood in the church, as this is a teaching that has come from Jesus Christ. However, women have such a significant role to play in the church that personally I have never felt that this is an issue I am concerned with or even think about. My husband and I are equal partners in our family, and the church has such respect and reverence for women and their role in the world. Women in the church also belong to what is called the 'Relief Society' it is one of the largest women's organisation in the world, and fills me with such a desire to serve and do good that when we meet together wherever I am in the world I feel so proud to be apart of it.

Who was Joseph Smith?

Mike answered...

Over my lifetime, I have heard countless theories concerning Joseph Smith - his intellect, his integrity, his sanity, everything about him. Some of the stories about him being a prophet sounded convincing... but then, some of the stories of him as a criminal sounded convincing, too. Then I read about Joseph Smith's visitation by the angel Moroni. Moroni told him that his name would be "had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken among all people." Well, that was certainly a true prophecy. So, it seemed, whether Joseph Smith was a prophet or not, tons of accusations and slander would be said against him anyway! That realization made me understand that only God could confirm whether or not Joseph was truly called of him. I got a strong confirmation of that truth. When others tell me that they "know the truth about the Joseph Smith," I always question their sources - it's usually a book or magazine article, possibly even by an esteemed, intellectual person. But I cannot and will not question my source of the real answer.