Hi, I'm Deborah

I come from a musical family of 12. I've lived, traveled & worked around the globe, but what I love most is being home.

About Me

I've had an exciting life living working & traveling around the world but what I have come to love most is simply being home with my family.

Why I am a Mormon

What I've come to appreciate most about being a Mormon is the peace and strength that continually flows through my life, regardless of my circumstances, as I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ found in the Bible, The Book of Mormon, and revelations to our modern-day prophets. I love the tangible fullness of spirit I enjoy as I worship on the Sabbath. And spending time in the temple is a moment of heaven on earth.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

When I was a new single mother of 4, my prayers were answered in a most miraculous way. Before anyone knew I was single, a woman approached me at church, telling me that she had been cleaning out her children's closet and had a "feeling" that I might need a couple of bags of clothes she had put aside. Another friend remembered that her neighbor had two homes and wondered what she was doing with the one she wasn't living in. Three others were moving and asked if I could use what was in their pantries, fridges & freezers. Within a few short months, my children were dressed in designer clothes, we were living in a marvelously gorgeous home, and were eating lobster for dinner. I am now well on my way to being able to fully support our family. And I enjoy praying for inspiration to help those as desperate as I was. Sometimes I am prompted to give or make something, but more often, I am prompted to make a phone call or a visit. I think those most in need benefit most from the support of our love and friendship.

How I live my faith

I've come to learn thorugh experience that life is always better when my priorities are in order. I like to begin my day reading scriptures, praying, thinking, exercising, and enjoying a wholesome breakfast with family before the challenges of the day unfold and draw on my resources. I find it is always a challenge to appropriately balance all that I need to do with all that I would like to do, and I am learning to put my agenda aside when moments of precious opportunity present themselves that are more important. On Sunday, I volunteer as the children's music director and we have a reverently riotous good time!

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?

Deborah answered...

The priesthood is all about service - - caring for the widows, the fatherless, blessing the sick, and so on. Women have those desires and talents naturally. I believe men are given the responsibilities of the priesthood to assist them to develop such compassionate feelings and behaviors, to give them the opportunity to be equal to women in this respect.
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.

Are Mormons Christians?

Taylor answered...

I love this question. Having lived in Georgia and having spent time creating friendships with people of all different Christian denominations. I can say with great confidence and vigor that, Yes, Mormons are Christians. All who believe in Christ as our Savior and strive to follow in his footsteps, living as he would have us to, are in definitions Christian or followers of Christ.