Hi, I'm Ginger

I'm a Mormon. I was raised in the South. I still enjoy living in Georgia with my husband. I'm a artist and a musician.

About Me

I'm very interested and active in many pursuits. I try to stay healthy by eating 'green smoothies', swimming and biking so I can pursue my dream of painting figures and landscapes. I love making music and involving others. Currently I'm choir director and organist at church and on special occasions lead a bell choir.

My family is important to me even though our five children have families of their own in different parts of the country.

In my spare time I go to the mountains, play piano, quilt, cook, play with my dog, read, work in my herb garden and refinish furniture. I always have a project and an interest. I need more spare time.

Why I am a Mormon

As a child, I went to the mormon church with either one of my parents when they attended. I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when I was 8 years old. I had a good feeling about it.

By the time I was 10, I remember loving my Primary teacher and my class. I made a cross stitch sampler that says, "I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel Into My Home". I didn't know how true this statement would be until I turned 12. At that age I had the opportunity to spend the night with one of my friends whose family lived and loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When in their home that monday night, they held a 'Family Home Evening". I felt the Holy Spirit in a way that I'd never felt before and it testified to me that what they had and did was good and right and true. I wanted that. I wanted that for a future family of my own and for my growing up family. I decided then that I would learn as much as I could about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and try to live its principles. That decision has been the best one I could have ever made.

My commitment to God and the church has opened doors which have guided my behavior, comforted me, given me hope, shown me how to love myself and others, taught me skills and given me the opportunity to practice those skills. It gave me a world of friendship. My faith in God the Father and Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer has increased and grown stronger.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I've been so amazed to watch my talents increase over the years just by giving service at church. Because I've been able to grow, in turn, I've been able to share with others.

Some of my talents have been very visual and audible in the music field. Listeners to the music I've helped make are uplifted and touched. The folks I've been able to accompany have been supported in the development of their own talents. The choir members have expanded their singing skills, confidence, and testimonies by singing about the Lord and his goodness. I've aided others in learning to play the organ which in turn has blessed their congregations throughout the world. My own life has been comforted by good music. My testimony has been expressed and increased as I've sung the lyrical poetry in the quiet and chaotic corners of my own home.

I've also held responsibilities at church that I never knew I had talent in until I was asked to serve. Organizational skills, listening and communication skills, working with small children, working with people in need, conducting meetings, to name a few. My increase in these areas have blessed how I have served my family to no end.

I have become a believer in 'getting your feet wet' and not being scared to accept opportunities of growth; saying 'yes' to service and 'blooming where you're planted'. The Church has been instrumental in developing my talents and gifts.

How I live my faith

Everyday I pray. I'm thankful for so much. I ask for guidence, help with problems, patience, understanding, and forgiveness. I try to read from the scriptures everyday for a few minutes which helps answer my prayers and sets the stage for the entrance of the Holy Ghost to be with me.

I visit three women every month by assignment. As well, I have two women who are assigned to visit me. I love making friends of people that I might not otherwise have crossed paths with. It's great having my assigned visiting friends become my lifelong friends.

I'm very active in planning and practicing music with choir. I believe music is a powerful vehicle in which the Holy Spirit can open hearts and minds to truth and testimony. It's a wonderful thing to see people stretch, grow and increase their musical talents and testimony's when they participate. During the Christmas season I host numerous practices for available musicians including string groups, vocal groups and handbell choir. When needed I try my hand at arranging music to fit the needs of my choir.

I've had the opportunity to do large group cooking and hosting in various aspects of service. Cooking for 130 at a four day girls camp found my suburban stuffed with more groceries than I ever imagined. When my husband pastored 200 young single adults, I aided by cooking a meal every month for the new arrivals. My latest mass feeding effort was a scout spaghetti supper. The leftovers were great.

Everyday is touched by thinking of my Savior and his teachings. I try to incorporate some goodness or action of his into my life and habits so I can feel the peace of the Holy Spirit dwell with me. Everyday I talk to God the Father and am so grateful for prayer.

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?

Ginger answered...

Right now, the Lord has revealed to his servants, the prophets that the magnificent power he has bestowed upon the earth, the priesthood of God, is to be held and administered by men. The function of the priesthood is to bless the lives of all women, men, and children with God's power on earth and bring us back to his presence; a reunion or restoration. I believe there is order in God's plans and at this time he allows all worthy men the opportunity to use His power. In ancient days, only the worthy men of the tribe of Levi held the priesthood. This responsibility has been expanded in this era.

The Priesthood of God only exists to bless all of us regardless of gender. Women and men are equal partners in marriage and co-equals in life. There is no use or function for the Priesthood of God without women. All worthy women have claim upon every priesthood blessing that worthy men have. The difference being that the responsibility of administration those blessings lies upon worthy men. Note that 'worthiness' is key.

My husband is my companion and he holds the priesthood. He is able to baptize in the Lord's name, bless and serve the sacramental emblems of the bread and water, and give prayers of healing. More functions of the priesthood are given by assignment to ensure the order and progression of the Church, it's people and the opportunity for us to be sealed up to God in the next life.
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.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Matt answered...

We believe that family relationships are the sources of life's greatest joys. We also believe that families can be together forever.