Hi, I'm Katie

I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. I'm a hot mess, but I try my best to do the right thing. :-) I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a stay-at-home mommy and I LOVE my job! I married the man of my dreams and my high school crush and together we have two wonderful children. Our son is a vibrant, hilarious and sweet boy who is obsessed with Thomas the Train, Yo Gabba Gabba and My Little Pony. Our little girl was born three months early weighing 1lb 12oz. Her introduction into the world was one of the most frightening experiences in my life, but through faith and prayer and the power of the Priesthood, she is here, healthy and thriving! My life revolves around these three precious souls! The rest is just details, but trust me, there are a lot of details!

Why I am a Mormon

I was born and raised in the church. But I always wondered "do I believe because I believe or is it because it's what I was raised to believe?" Rather than seeking my answer, I coasted through life and High School, going with the motions and not caring for things like Seminary, Mutual, or anything else the church had to offer. But I still went to church and I still had religious parents, so I never felt too far distant from the Gospel until I went away to college. Being away from home meant that I could do whatever I want and NOT do whatever I want. So instead of taking advantage of the college ward or institute, I forced the Gospel out of my life for the sake of my "independence." I met a lot of wonderful people in college and did some pretty incredible things and I have many fond memories of that time, but it was also the darkest time of my life. I dated a ton of guys, I was always busy with my friends, I was away from home and living the life that I always thought I wanted to live. But it felt... cold. I felt cheapened as well as cheap when it came to the decisions I was making. It wasn't until I was faced with the decision to stay or come back home that I really realized that I needed a change. And a looong story short, I came home. It took a while to make restitution for the things that I had done and to feel at peace with my experiences away from home, but eventually I had found my faith. Not just the traditions of my father, but MY faith. I have lived a life without this wonderful Gospel and I never will again. I love this church. It makes sense! It feels right! The more I learn and ponder, the more wonderful answers I find. Our God is a loving God. And because he loves us, he sent his Son. He restored HIS church through Joseph Smith to the Earth. And all these things (and so much more) he did because he loves his children. He loves us. And I love him.

How I live my faith

Since being an adult in the church, I have had the great privilege to serve and work with the Young Women of the area. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share my life's lessons with them and to hopefully help them to find their testimony. I see so much of myself in them, it's pretty scary. haha

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?

Katie answered...

I love this question, because I know a lot of women can feel as if the LDS church is oppressive, but that isn't the case at all! I am deeply respected and revered as a woman in the church and in my family. I am equal to my husband; not above and certainly not below. Yes, my husband holds the Priesthood and I do not. But I have a sacred responsibility and opportunity that my husband will never hold. I get to work hand-in-hand with Heavenly Father's plan in bringing HIS spirit children to Earth. I believe that Heavenly Father allowing honorable men to hold the priesthood gives balance in directing His children back into His presence. As a woman, it is my sacred duty to raise a child to know our Heavenly Father and it is a man's sacred duty to provide the authority and ability for those children to make the covenants necessary to live with Him again. It allows Man and Women to work TOGETHER in leading God's children back home.
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Leeny answered...

This is a question I had to really consider before joining the Church. My mother is a non-denominational chaplain, and both my sisters are pastors. Female leadership in church settings is very important to my family.

It is to me as well. I think many people become offended when they learn that only men hold the priesthood because they misunderstand it. The priesthood is a tool given to men in order that they might serve others more. It does not in any way give them power or dominion over women. Those people who suppose the priesthood is a way to control others are deeply mistaken.

My husband is a priesthood holder, this means I am too. I have claim on my husband's priesthood power. Even more than he does. If I am sick, discouraged, or in need of help I can call upon my husband to give me a blessing through the priesthood that he holds. I then recieve many blessings because of my husband's worthiness to work in behalf of Christ. My husband is never able to give himself a blessing though. If he is sick or discouraged he must call on other priesthood holders to administer to him. My husband holds the priesthood so that he can bless me and our child - never himself.

The priesthood is the power of Christ on the earth. It allows those who hold it to serve their families in the same way Christ served the Church. Did Christ do any deed for himself during his earthly ministry? No. Christ spent all his energy serving the people. This is what the priesthood does for my husband. It infuses him with Christ's compassion and ability to love, and then my husband is able to use that celestial love in our family.

Why don't women also recieve this special gift then? The simple answer is women don't need it. As women we are innately endowed with compassion, selflessness, and love. Think about the way a mother loves her child. I believe there is nothing more pure and similar to Christ's love for us, than a mother's love for her children. Women naturally have the ability to love as Christ does.

In an ideal situation, which is what God always intended for us, there are two partners in marriage. There is the husband and father, a priesthood leader who can be called upon to administer blessings and serve in Christ's name. And there is also the wife and mother, who is blessed with the ability to love as Christ loves and sacrifice for her family. These are two seperate and divinely appointed roles. Each complementing the other. Both make a complete home.

Women do not hold the priesthood because they do not need it. Women have other God-given powers that raise them up to the task they are called to. A man is appointed to serve his wife and children - it is the power of the priesthood that enables him to do this.

I am grateful to have a husband who is worhty to use the priesthood in my behalf. It has blessed me many times and I know that it is a special gift from God - not only to my husband, but to me as well.

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Katia Maria answered...

No. I am aware that there is a religious sect that does practice polygamy, however, our doctrine is definately about a one man and one woman relationship within marriage.