Hi, I'm Jennifer E.

I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have five children that do taekwondo. I love to quilt, read, walk, and cook. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am the oldest of 6 children. I am married to my best friend, and we have 5 wonderful children of our own. I love to quilt, read, visit church history sites, and walk. I organized a sewing group to teach other women how to sew. I lost my mom this year, and it has been the hardest trial of my life. I am getting through it because I know that Families are Forever. My dad and I are reading all of the scriptures in a year to honor Mom and her life. It has been challenging, but we are on track to finish on time. I'm a Mormon.

Why I am a Mormon

Ever since I can remember, I have known that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I was born and raised in the church, but I can't pinpoint a day or a time that I received my testimony. I think I was born with it. When I was baptized and confirmed at eight years old, my dad blessed me to be an example to my brothers and sisters. It caused quite a stir in the ward as their were atleast 3 other families like ours that had only daughters. At the time we had 4 girls in the family, and Dad was happy because he knew as I did, that sons were on the horizon. My mom was pregnant at the time, and Dad got his first son five months after that blessing. It would take another 5 years to get his second son, but the blessing was fulfilled. This experience solidified my testimony, and showed me that my Heavenly Father knows the beginning to the end of each of our lives. Each of us has our own trials and experiences to help us learn to obey, grow, and trust in the Lord.

I married a home town boy and looked forward to settling down and raising our children around their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. This plan suited me quite well. My dear husband, on the other hand, decided that he wanted to continue his education and get his MBA. This meant a cross country move. He frequently reminded me that the song did not say "I'll go where you want me to go as long as it is in Las Vegas." This first move, led to many others, but now looking back on them, there are so many great people that we met and loved, so many experiences that we would have missed, so many places that we have seen that have boosted our love for this country and for the gospel. The path we took has not been easy, but it was priceless. We prayed about each move and were always given the answer that it was right except for our last move, this time the answer was it is your choice. We were able to move back out west near our families, and I am so thankful!

Personal Stories

Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?

In March of this year my mom was having trouble breathing and my sister rushed her to the doctor. She ended up in the critical care unit for the next month and eventually lost the battle to pneumonia and the flu. Losing my mom has been the hardest trial of my life. As a family we stuck together and supported each other because we love each other and because we know that we are sealed for time and all eternity. Although we will be apart for a short time, the knowledge that we will be together again as a family helped me get through this most difficult challenge. I know that families are eternal and that if we live the gospel we can be together with our loved ones forever.

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

I have a great testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I was blessed to go on a church history tour with a bus load of youth when I was 15. It instilled in me the knowledge that Joseph Smith really and truly was a prophet and that what he said happened in the Sacred Grove really happened. Now that I am older and have lived in the midwest with my family, the foundation of those experiences when I was 15 have grown into a love of the church history sites. I have taken my husband and children to the sites in Palmyra, Kirtland, Nauvoo, Missouri, and Salt Lake City. Each time I visit one of those places the Holy Ghost testifies to me of the truth of the restoration and the sacrifices and persecutions that the saints endured in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know that the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., and I know that all of the experiences that he described really happened. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the church history sites I would encourage you to go, but you can also pray and receive a confirmation that the restoration happened the way Joseph Smith said and I would encourage you to do so.

How I live my faith

I try to live my faith by doing the little things as consistently as possible: saying my prayers, reading my scriptures, having family prayer, going to church each Sunday, having family scripture study and family night, listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and following them, serving in the temple. I try to live the gospel teachings and keep the commandments the best I can each and every day.

I have had many opportunities to serve others through the church. I am currently a Cub Scout Bear Den Leader, and I love teaching the 9 year old boys. They are sweet, smart and helpful. I also started a sewing group once a month to teach women that want to learn how to sew. My goal every month is for them to leave with a finished project and feel successful so they can go home and say "Look what I made!"

My biggest service and focus is within the walls of my own home. I believe that parents have the greatest responsibility to be an example of a Christ centered life and to teach their children true principles. I have been able to stay at home and raise my children, and it has been the most rewarding and challenging job I could ask for. I have 2 teenagers with another turning 13 next month, and while it is a blast having teens it is also a challenge knowing how to prepare them for the challenges and temptations that they face each day. Knowing how to balance being their friend and confidante with being a parent and knowing when to lay down the law so to speak. This is where the spirit of prayer and listening to the promptings are essential to success. I have great children and I am very proud of the choices they are making.

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?

Jennifer E. answered...

The men's stewardship is the priesthood and the responsibilities that come with it, and the women's stewardship and main responsibility is the raising and nurturing of her children. As a wife to a priesthood elder, I receive the blessings of the priesthood through my husband as do our children. I have had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles in the Relief Society, Young Womens, and Primary. Women are not compromised in any way by not holding the priesthood and their are many opportunities afforded to us to serve in leadership within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Cynthia answered...

Family is very important in the church for more reasons than can be explained here. Holding the priesthood is just one of these reasons. Husbands act and bless their family with their priesthood, but wives benefit and honor the priesthood through their husbands. It is a symbiotic relationship. As I have participated in the church in various activities I have come to understand my importance as a woman in the church. There cannot be one without the other.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Nathan answered...

I go to college in what many people consider the "bible belt" of America. Many people assume I'm not a christian or that I don't believe in Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God. Most people don't realize just how christian our faith is and they're usually surprised at how similar many of our beliefs are. The truth is Jesus Christ is the Son of God and there is no other name by which people can be saved. Jesus Christ is my savior and the Savior of the world. His goodness is available to all and brings happiness to anyone who reaches out to Him.