Mormon Bloggers

In one of the last Mormon General Conferences Elder Ballard during the priesthood session talked about the relationship that should exist between fathers and sons. Tonight I want to talk to you fathers and sons about how you talk to each other. There is no other relationship quite like that which can and should exist between a boy and his dad. It can be one of the most nurturing, joyful relationships in life, one that can have a profound impact on who boys become and also on who dads become. Now, I understand that some of you young men do not have fathers with whom you can have these kinds of conversations. And some of you men do not have sons or have lost your sons to accident or illness. But much of what I say tonight will apply to uncles and grandfathers and priesthood leaders and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant father-son relationships. You see, we’re all on a journey. Dads are a little further down the road, but none of us has yet arrived at our final... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Becky Seeing the prophet’s jet heading towards the Safford airport caused great excitement! It’s the little white line at the top of the mountain. We had made signs to welcome the prophet and got construction barricades for the signs to be put on. We heard the news that the prophet would be landing around 2:00 so we decided to wait at the end of my in-laws drive way so we could wave to him as he drove by. We had no idea that we were in for the treat of a lifetime! Here comes his slew of cars…. The prophet instructed his driver to pull over. It almost caused the cars behind his to rear end each other. You can imagine our AWE when the cars pulled over. I had been told to take lots of good pictures so I ran closer thinking they might get out and wave to us then get back in their cars. Imagine my excitement seeing the prophet walking towards us. He was telling us to stay there and he would come to us, he didn’t want us in the road. By great chance I happened to... Read the rest of this entry »

I was born two weeks early.  Back in the 1970s, before many of the modern technologies hospitals have now to help premies, that was a big deal.  My mother told me I came out so fast, the doctor barely had time to get his gloves on to catch me.  It was determined that something was wrong with me and so tests were performed and it came as no surprise that my parents, especially my mother, were worried.  My father immediately called my grandpa to come and help him give me a priesthood blessing.  When they arrived at the hospitals nursery where I was, the nurses wouldn’t allow my grandpa and father inside for safety reasons regarding the other babies there.  But they did permit them to take me out into the hall, just outside of the nursery.  My grandpa said I was so small, he could hold me in the palm of his hand.  So in that cold, empty hospital hallway, with the priesthood they held, my father and grandfather gave me a blessing of healing. The next morning, when all the test... Read the rest of this entry »

Several Mormon women writers wrote about some of our basic beliefs in a one-day “blogfest” on April 27. We wanted to share links to (and snippets from) their posts here. The Book of Mormon and missionary work with Kayeleen Hamblin: “Missionary work is a pretty big focus of the LDS Church. It’s not that we’re trying to be pushy or tell everyone they are wrong. It’s that we have something amazing and want to share it with everyone…. [When I was a missionary] one of the things that I spent months sharing with people is the Book of Mormon. It tells the story of a people who who lived in the American continent. They believed in and waited for the coming of Jesus Christ and their experiences of faith and testimony have changed my life.” Faith in Jesus Christ with Myrna Foster: “There have been times in my life when I’ve struggled with depression and the hopelessness that goes with it….I don’t want anyone who’s... Read the rest of this entry »

By: Denae Infertility, foster care, and adoption are words I never imagined would be part of my life, but want to share some of my thoughts about foster care and adoption and how I know my life is going in the direction it is supposed to be going. We’ve struggled with infertility now for 3.5 looong years. It has been a difficult road. One of the hardest parts has been struggling to decide about adoption. It took both Dave and me awhile to get our minds even thinking in that direction. For so long it was all about trying for our own baby and trying to find out what is wrong with my body that makes me lose my babies. We spent a lot of money and a lot of time in that frame of mind. I had to “know” for sure that I had done all that I could. We would occasionally bring up the subject of adoption but one of us was never quite there. Sometimes it was Dave who would have concerns, sometimes it was I who would feel scared. The main issue was money and debt, but there were other... Read the rest of this entry »

My name is Michelle. I have been married now for 7 years and we have three beautiful, busy children ages 5, 3 and 7 months. I have been a member of the Church all my life – a whopping 38 years. I was born in Magrath, Alberta, Canada but consider my home to be Calgary, Alberta. I am a junior high French teacher by trade but my career now is full-time mom. My current calling in the Church is 1st Counselor in the Primary Presidency. I love photography (photographing my kids especially), making jewelry, traveling, eating out, watching movies with my husband, keeping active and being in the great outdoors. Being challenged to read the Book of Mormon as a teenager during seminary changed my life and was the foundation of a rock solid testimony of the Savior and His teachings. I love knowing that there is a plan for us on the earth – that families are forever. I love knowing that we aren’t perfect and that when we make mistakes we can go to a loving Savior who has made it possible... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Michelle One of the things I love about being a mom is teaching my children from and about the scriptures. We have done some sort of daily scripture study as a family for years now. Of course, there have been frustrations and times when it felt like it wasn’t working. But it has been worth the effort. One of the things that has amazed me is how much children really can understand when they are young. At first, we used picture scripture story books published by the Church. We also used the movies that went along with the books. But early on, we also felt that it was important to give our children experience directly with the scriptures themselves. I can’t remember who helped us make the connection between the ability of children to learn different languages when they are young and learning scripture language, but that was a significant a-ha moment for us. It’s been wonderful to see how my children are much more comfortable with the scriptures than I ever was, as a... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Barbara I am a 25 year old single Mormon Woman.  I love watching and playing soccer, BYU football, reading, playing piano and being with family. I feel that God knows and loves me every time I am with my family. I see all the little things that come together to make up our family and I can’t help but believe that I was supposed to be a particular member of that group. I have 11 older brothers, and I am the only girl. All my brothers are married. All of them have children. As such—our family grows larger and louder every year. Gatherings are hectic and overwhelming. But more than that, they’re wonderful. My testimony is strengthened at every reunion, big or small, because I can’t think of anything more wonderful than being with that large, crazy, loud group for forever. And I know that it was a loving Father in Heaven who has made that a possibility in my life. Knowing that one day I will have a husband and children to add to that mix and to keep with me... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Becky My husband and I have been married for four years and while dating we learned that we both loved being in the outdoors. I grew up fishing and camping with my family. My husband pretty much taught himself to fish and went camping occasionally with his family. The first year or two of marriage we went camping a few times. After we had our little girl we apparently decided we needed to camp more often because she was born in February and we were camping in June. We went camping at least once a month that summer. Even though it was a lot of work with a little baby it was so nice to get out of our house and spend time with one another. There is nothing better than being in the mountains away from cars, houses, and noise. When we go camping and fishing we are able to reconnect as a family.  It is a lot easier to talk to one another if the TV isn’t on and the computer isn’t running. This past summer we once again spent lots of time camping. It was more difficult this year because... Read the rest of this entry »

Downloading MacJournal trial to see how that works interfacing with this…and getting all that info down in one central place. Keep feeling need to record, record, record, and yet want to organize the study journal, prayer list, insights, work happenings, girls’ happenings in searchable ways… Liked my former online journal that allowed me topical lists and indexing but this may be the mix for keeping up in blog-space as well. Will keep you posted. Reading Bianca and Dave’s blog gives me the yearning for Italy, to learn more of the language and take girls there. Kira so wants to learn to make pasta from scratch, is using Trifiletti now as her surname on Facebook, and feels this kinship with Italy that can only be explained through the Spirit of Elijah and through the heritage she has felt through those ancestors and our family ties. Talia is well-occupied with science project, set design for Les Mis, writing stories, and getting ready to celebrate her big 16th birthday. So... Read the rest of this entry »

My last blog was about the great talk by Elder Oaks. As suspected, I received right away a comment that was a simple insult directed to me and Elder Oaks. Obviously this guy missed completely the point of Elder Oaks’ talk. But if people do not want to see, they will never see, if they do not want to hear, they will not. Thinking of the situation created by this debate about same-sex marriage and the non democratic actions of many, I could not avoid thinking about a few comment made by Elder Bruce McConkie: Persecution is an essential part of the creeds of all false religions. There is an eternal law…. that truth will prevail. Left to itself true religion – though it may be delayed or hindered in its progress – must and will prevail. The only effective weapon of false religions – and it yields only momentary success – is to persecute true believers (The Mortal Messiah, 2:317). Now, a religion does not necessarily needs to include the worship of a God.... Read the rest of this entry »