Hi, I'm Shawntae

I'm energetic, I love to run, I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a senior in college getting ready to graduate in December with my degree in Communication. I love to run, hike, wakeboard, snowboard, watch sports and just about anything else where I am outside! I love to find myself serving those who I am around and being able to help anyone who may need it. I look to find the positive in all things, and I love to learn!

Why I am a Mormon

When I was 13 years old, I was able to meet some girls at school, who are now my best friends. We started becoming really close, and they ended up starting to invite me to church activities. I loved the feeling I had when I was at their homes and at church with them. I knew there was something special and I did not know it at the time but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was going to feel the void I had been feeling in my life. I started to take the missionary discussions and I was baptized about 5 months after taking the discussions. When I knelt down to pray to ask if the church was true, I could not deny the feelings I felt confirming my question that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was true. I knew that I wanted to be baptized and that being a member of the only true church on this earth today was going to change my life. I was able to be baptized 9 days before I turned 14, and it was the best gift that I could have ever received. After being a member of the church for almost 9 years my testimony continues to go, I continue to grow and I know that I made the right decision at 13 to be baptized.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and has a plan for me. I know that we are all daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father's, he knows each of us, he wants the best for us and he has a plan for each of us.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost is able to help me each day if I am listening for the guidance it can give me. When I was baptized, I was confirmed with the Holy Ghost the next day in church. As the priesthood holders laid their hands on my head and I was able to receive the Holy Ghost I instantly felt something different in my life. The Holy Ghost, is a comforter. Through trials, through everyday life the Holy Ghost is always there, if we allow it to be. It has helped me in my life as I search to do the things which, Heavenly Father would want me to do. I know if I am worth of having the Holy Ghost with me it is able to grow closer to Heavenly Father and growing in my relationship with him, because I can follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, which come from Heavenly Father. When I do those things I feel better, because I am better able to learn and help those whom I am around.

Could you talk about your baptism?

My baptism was the greatest gift that I could receive. It was nine days before I turned 14 years old. I remember everything from my baptism. I remember all the support I had, all the love that I felt, the sweet spirit that was with me as I knew I was doing the right thing. As I entered the baptismal font and was baptized, I knew there was no better decision I could have made then being baptized into the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I knew that I would never be alone in anything, and that Jesus Christ came to this earth so that I could have the atonement in my life and I could return to live with him and Heavenly Father one day. The feelings I had when I prayed to know if I should be baptized were with me the whole day, the sweet feeling of knowing what I was doing was right. I will always rejoice in the opportunity to have the gospel come into my life and to be baptized.

How I live my faith

I have the great opportunity to serve in a missionary program in my singles ward. I am a sunday school teacher to those in my ward talking about principles of the gospel.I love being able to better learn of the gospel, teaching those in my ward and strengthening my testimony. Every month I get to go with my visiting teaching companion and visit with with women in the ward. It is a great ward to be able to get to know each other better as women and being able to serve, grow, and learn together.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Shawntae answered...

Family is important to Mormons because we are able to grow together as a family and strengthen one another. Knowing that you always have support from your family and that you can always depend on them is very comforting. When you know that you are going to be with your family eternally brings so much happiness because they will be there for everything in your life, through the good times and the bad times. Even if, you are the only member or active member in your family you are able to be a constant example to them and helping them with things that they might be going through. This is the situation that I am in, my parents are both less active and my brother is not a member. I take every chance that I can to be able to share my testimony with them and to share with them what I would do, using my knowledge of the gospel and how I would overcome an obstacle. I love my family with all of my heart, and I would do anything for them.
Kevin answered...

We believe that our families are the basic unit of any society, and that failure in the home means that we've failed as a nation and a people. We've heard that it takes a village to raise a child, and that's true enough. But our leaders have told us that the most important work we can do in life, even more than any professional pursuits, is to raise our children in righteousness.

Think about it. If each father and mother were just a little more engaged in their family's lives i'm not talking about controlling their family, helping their sons and daughters with the challenges they constantly face, the crises we find ourselves in as a nation would become much less. We'd more good in the world as a result. You may think that naive or unrealistic, but I know how much good one family can cause, and how much pain another can cause. We want to change the world, and to do that we need to change ourselves and help our families become better too.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.