Hi, I'm Brooke Vandegriff

I am a Chemical Engineer turned Stay at Home Mom to my three wonderful boys. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a mom to three busy boys. I enjoy being involved in their kindergarten/preschool classrooms. I enjoy cooking/baking, sewing, and all crafting. My background is chemical engineering so I also enjoy working with my hands. I also love college and professional football!

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because the Church teachings just make sense. It makes sense that a loving Heavenly Father would not leave His children with no direction. It make sense that He would still call prophets to guide us. I love the plan of salvation and to know that I can be with my family forever. I love the feeling I get when I am in the presence of other Saints. the warm, comforting feeling that the Holy Spirit provides is a secure feeling that I love to have with me at all times.

How I live my faith

I am very involved in my boys' school. I volunteer and chair many activities and interact with so many different people daily. I love the opportunity to share His light daily. I also work closely with the women in our church, coordinating enrichment meetings. Through these meetings I get to work with different women in our congregation and draw on their strengths and talents. I participate in the watch care program of our church by making monthly home visits to women in our congregation. This fosters such wonderful and lifelong relationships.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Braden Scothern answered...

At many times in the Bible prophets were commanded to practice polygamy. Some of these prophets were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon.

We know that plural marriage is a sin unless God commands us to practice it. In the Book of Mormon the prophet Jacob tells the Lords will on the subject, “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” (Jacob 2:27-30).

So only as the Lord commands His people is it acceptable. While they early saints accepted this it was not an easy commandment to keep. They had many struggles with it and only under the direction of the Lord was it carried out. The Church leaders closely supervised the practice and only those who had been authorized by the Lord were to practice. In addition to that all of the marriages had to be performed by the sealing power of the priesthood which had been restored. It was not a temporary thing when it was practiced.

In 1890, President Woodruff received revelation that plural marriage was no longer acceptable to the Lord. So the practice was stopped instantly. Anyone who practices polygamy now is NOT a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David C answered...

Mormons practiced polygamy because the Lord commanded some of them to do so, for purposes known to the Lord. At the time, there were no national laws prohibiting polygamy. When the Supreme Court ruled that later anti-polygamy laws were constitutional, the Lord directed Pres. Woodruff to issue the Manifesto, and the practice ended in the Church.

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.