Hi, I'm Kara

I live in Australia. I'm a Wife, a Mother and Health Informatician. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I have been married for nearly ten years, and am a mother of one beautiful little boy. I have worked in the health industry for all of my working life, but love my most important career of being a Mother. I am interested in the effects of the environment around us on our health and the health of our children, and so I guess you could say one of my hobbies is to try out different 'green living' ideas. We live in suburban Australia, where I have lived my whole life, and love the warm and sunny weather we have here. If I get any spare time from being Mum, running the house, my church duties and work I love to catch up with friends and family, go to markets, do yoga, crafts, blogging, and just getting out outside.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew us a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and my knowledge and belief of it's teachings has come bit by bit as I have grown. I have no doubt that this is the true church upon the earth, and have felt that confirmed over and over throughout my life. I have only ever found happiness and peace when I have lived my life and made decisions according to the principles I am taught at church each week and have found in the scriptures. I feel so blessed to understand and know that families can be together even after we die. My Mother died from Mesothelioma (a lung cancer caused by asbestos) earlier this year and my greatest comfort has been the knowledge that because Jesus Chirst died for us she lives; and becuase we have been sealed in the temple I will see her again.

Personal Stories

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

The 'Plan of Happiness' is is basically the answer to the questions every one asks at some point "Why am I here?, and Where did I come from?". It teaches that we lived with God before we came to earth and we are now here to learn, grow and be happy so that we can eventually return to live with God again. This is one of the greatest comforts in my life, and one I probably take for granted because I have understood it since I was a child. It lets me know that I can be with my family again and that this life is not the end. When you face trials like illness or losing a love one, or even not feeling like your life is going how you want it to, it is so comforting to know that you are here for a purpose and if you do the best you can everything will be alright. Because God did not leave us here to fail!

How I live my faith

Being a Mormon means living your faith everyday. I try to give service to those around me and show respect and kindness to everyone no matter their beliefs or background. At church on Sundays I help to run the Primary (children aged 18 months - 12 years old). This involves teaching lessons, assisting other teachers and meeting regularly to ensure we are meeting the needs of the children. I am also a Visiting Teacher, this is a program where I am paired up with another woman from church and we are assigned to visit two other women in their homes once a month. Visiting teaching is a great way to ensure that all the women in out congregation are getting the support and assistance they may need; whether this be spiritual or physical.

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?

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.
Madelyn answered...

I feel that men and women both have different but equally important roles in getting us back to God. In God's eternal plan we were spirits in His presence before this life. To progress we needed to get bodies on this earth, then perform specific ordinances (eg baptism, marriage) to return to God after this life. Women were given the godly power to bring spirits into this world and give them bodies, then nurture and raise these children with God's inspiration and guidance. The men were assigned the responsibility (through the God's Priesthood power) to serve others and administer the ordinances that will bring God's children back to His presence after this life. Both roles are necessary and equally important to God's plan for us.
I don't think women need the Priesthood to be powerful influences and to do God's work in their homes and in the church. I see men grow spiritually, and their characters become more godly when they act in God's name through using the Priesthood.
I have never felt the need to hold the Priesthood myself. I can still receive all the blessings offered by the Priesthood, my prayers can be just as powerful, and I still have access to the inspiration of God in my life.

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

Robert answered...

Absolutely not! I grew up in the church and I'd say the number of people that I've helped in the church is significantly smaller than the number of people I've assisted out side the church. This is not to say I don't help my fellow church members. We believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. And by that reasoning we are all brothers and sisters. I take that to heart and when I see someone in need I try to help to the best of my ability and training. Organized service projects aside, I've helped several stranded motorists on the side of the road. I give food to people I've seen that appear to be hungry on the side of the road. And for a long time, when I was growing up, my dad and I would do Meals on Wheels for those in need. I've volunteered at soup kitchens more recently. And during times of widely known hurricanes, I've volunteered on clean up crews multiple times. There is a song we have in our church called "Because I Have Been Given Much." I don't want to post the entire lyrics here, but they are available on a popular search engine. That song is very poignant to me and has always been near and dear to my heart. Also being a former Boy Scout, I have tried to uphold both the Scout Law and Oath to this day. I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my fellow man and want to do all I can to help others in any way I can.