Answer by Heidi**

I had the opportunity to answer this question in a high school sociology class.  The discussion of the day centered around organized religion, and it wasn’t long before Mormons became the subject of conversation.  Suddenly the misconceptions and half-truths I had heard all of my life started cropping up all over the classroom.  When someone piped up with “Mormons believe that Jesus Christ and Satan are brothers!” the electricity crackled from person to person like fire sweeping down a field of dry cornhusks.  Everyone began to babble.

Tears sprang to my eyes and my heart began such a strong and insistent thumping that I thought it would break out of my chest.  I knew that what I was feeling was my strong belief in the truthfulness and pure precepts of the gospel as well as my gratitude for the direction it gave me in my life. I wanted to defend my religion but, like most teenagers, I was afraid of ridicule and rejection.

Finally, a friend who sat behind me started kicking my chair and saying my name.  She was not a member of my faith but her expectation that I stand up for my beliefs gave me the courage to speak.  Dashing the tears from my face, I spoke in a voice shaking with emotion.: “We believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father,” I began — but the bell rang and I was not able to say anything more. If I had had the chance, I would have told them that, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that we all lived as literal spirit children of our Heavenly Father in a pre-mortal existence.  This means that all the children of our Father in Heaven are brothers and sisters, including Jesus Christ and Lucifer [otherwise known as Satan or the devil].

“Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning.”  This statement, as well as the following, was made by Jess L. Christensen, former Institute of Religion director at Utah State University in Logan, Utah in the June 1986 issue of the Ensign.  “Lucifer, too, was an angel ‘who was in authority in the presence of God,’ a ‘son of the morning.’ (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25–27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)”

However, as Elder M. Russell Ballard, a general authority of the LDS church, stated in a talk given on February 2, 2010, “. . . he {Satan} chose to use his agency [the power to choose] in an unrighteous way.”

Jess L. Christensen adds that

. . .he was not created evil, but became Satan by his own choice.  When our Father in Heaven presented his plan of salvation, Jesus sustained the plan and his part in it, giving the glory to God, to whom it properly belonged. Lucifer, on the other hand, sought power, honor, and glory only for himself. (See Isa. 14:13–14; Moses 4:1–2.) When his modification of the Father’s plan was rejected, he rebelled against God and was subsequently cast out of heaven with those who had sided with him. (See Rev. 12:7–9; D&C 29:36–37.)

An example in the Bible of two brothers who made dramatically different choices, choices which led to evil works in one and great and righteous works in the other, is that of Cain and Abel.  There are other examples throughout the scriptures of people choosing different paths, of the contrast between good and evil. It’s been the story from before we came to earth.

Mormons worship Jesus Christ as our Lord and Redeemer who rose above all things, who died on the cross for our sins and whose power and glory will reign forever.  We regard Satan as someone who is real and who still wants all the power and glory to be his alone.  Unlike our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, both of whom we worship with all our hearts, Satan has no body, and can earn no glory. We strive to avoid the devil and his evil influence at all costs.

Knowing that we who live on this earth are all brothers and sisters and are potential heirs to a royal heritage is a testimony to me that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us to return to live with Him again one day.  They love us and I love Them as real personages who fill powerful roles in my life.  As long as I seek to follow Christ, repent when I make mistakes, and obey the commandments, I can be with Them again.  This is what gives me the strength and the power to endure great adversity as well as the desire to be more like Jesus Christ . . . my Brother, my Savior.

– – – – – – –

**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

Have a question you would like to ask? Send an email to us at gmail, with username ‘mormonwoman’

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For some beautiful pieces exploring stories of women in the Old Testament, see this article.

Do you know of other existing art to which we can link? Do you have art of your own you would like to share, or know someone who does? Please email us at ‘mormonwoman’ AT ‘gmail’ DOT ‘com’

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…or by sharing your thoughts on a gospel topic.

But if magazines are more your speed, the Church’s Ensign magazine is looking for submissions as well. See here for a list of topics in which they are particularly interested.

In the June Ensign, you can also find a couple of requests for submissions. One is “Tuning Out and Tuning On” (you can find that on the list above) and the other on the best marriage advice you have ever received (see the bottom of this page).

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[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.599961&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

For other links on this topic, see this link, as well as the following:

1978 Official Declaration

President Gordon B. Hinckley on Racial Intolerance

Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ Reaction to Priesthood Revelation

Experiences of African-American Church Members

“Four Who Serve,” Ensign

“No Respecter of Persons,” Ensign

“The New Face of Global Mormonism,” The Washington Post

“Colorblind Faith,” The Chicago Reporter

“For Mormons in Harlem, a Bigger Space Beckons,” The New York Times Company

<a href=”http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&index=16&sourceId=36f2ce9566a43110VgnVCM100000176f620a____” Priesthood Ordination Before 1978

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Have we not been reassured about the fall of one sparrow and that the very hairs of our heads are numbered? (see Matt. 10:29–30; D&C 84:80). God is in the details! (Neal A. Maxwell, “Encircled in the Arms of His Love,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 16)

During a routine obstetric ultrasound I was told that I needed to be induced immediately to give birth to my fifth child, just two weeks shy of my due date. I was not expecting that. My ultrasound revealed too little amniotic fluid and that the baby could be in danger. Because I knew that ultrasound measurements can be unreliable, I requested to talk to my doctor. I finally saw him a few hours later and asked him to repeat the ultrasound. Again the measurements showed too little amniotic fluid.

I knew I was dehydrated and hungry so I asked to be released to go home and eat, drink some water, pack, and see my kids before being induced. I had a strong desire to go home and be with my children and to call my parents. (I usually only called them on Sundays and this was Monday.) The doctor was okay with that, with the agreement that I would return in two hours to be induced.

I went home with my husband and ate a big dinner, drank lots of water, called and talked to my mom in California and let her know what was going on. My dad was on his way out the door for his daily bike ride and he got on the phone very quickly to wish me luck. I explained to my dad what was happening and that we would be having the baby soon. He said, “Break a leg, Kid! Well, having a baby is a piece of cake for you. You know how to do this!”

Little did I know that was the last time I would ever hear his voice in this life. An hour later on our way to the hospital we discovered that he had had a massive heart attack on his bike ride and had died. He was 49. We rode to the hospital in shock, while I sobbed until I threw up. How was I going to have a baby now?

Our doctors were wonderful and they gave us a private room and left us alone for a few hours until they came in once more to apologize and offer comfort. Then they again said they needed to induce because of the amniotic fluid. I asked again for one more ultrasound. I had been drinking a lot of water to improve my hydration level so I needed another opinion. They did another one and found that my level had gone from a 1 to a 7 in just a few hours of hydration! I was elated and relieved. However, they still suggested induction. (A normal level is about 10 and up.) I requested to stay overnight and be on an I.V. drip and fluids to hydrate me and check again in the morning since the baby’s heart tones were perfectly fine and in no distress at the time. They thought that was reasonable, so I was able to stay overnight.

I received a blessing from my husband and my doctor who promised me that I would have the birth that I desired and that we would all be healthy and that emotionally I would be able to handle this. I was able to finally talk to my mom and cry with her. I couldn’t believe I was preparing for giving birth with my daddy just barely gone. I was grateful for that night to prepare for what lay ahead.

A scripture I had previously read kept coming to my head:

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give ye rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I repeated that over and over in my mind that night, my pillow soaked with my tears.

Unbeknownst to me, earlier that night, my grandmother (my Dad’s mom) had received the news that my dad had had a heart attack. She did not know yet that he had passed away, nor that I was preparing to go to the hospital to have a baby. She and my grandfather knelt down together immediately to pray for him and for our family. As they prayed, my grandmother heard a distinct voice tell her, “Gregg is bringing the baby.” She had no clue what that meant until she found out my dad had died and that the baby was on her way. While we don’t really know the details of how and when the spirit of life enters a baby’s body, I like to think that perhaps the time spent that night waiting it out and preparing was time for my dad to give instruction and counsel, and to send his granddaughter to earth.

The next day my amniotic fluid level was back down to 1 despite my efforts that night. I was induced and gave birth very easily and quickly, though emotionally it was very trying. I could feel my dad there; he was with me. It was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life… intense joy at the life of a new babe all through the sorrow of the death of my father. I reflected on the cycle of life and I was lifted up. My promised blessings came true and I was given peace as I held my newborn baby in my arms.

The Lord is in all the little details of our lives.

– by Stephanie

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Do you know of good content about the Church on YouTube? Have you uploaded a video you would like to share? We can include uplifting videos, including conversion stories (in various languages!), creative slideshows, and other ways of sharing your voice through YouTube in our new MormonWomen account at YouTube and/or link to it in our library. See what we have tagged so far in our favorites section already here.

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Keep checking back, as they say that they will continue to upload material when possible.

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As I left the Missionary Training Center (MTC) to enter the missionary experience, I felt a strong sense of certainty that there was in front of me a vast sea of experiences to be had. I was anxious to share the gospel that I had been taught all of my life. With a renewed sense of urgency and confidence in my ability as a servant of the Lord, I embarked on my journey.

The first six weeks of my mission were spent in Sacramento, California. I had been called to Portugal, but was awaiting a visa before I could travel there. I distinctly remember the feelings I had as I arrived in my first area and met my companions. A sort of realization washed over me and I sensed that the days of dreaming about golden investigators, packages from home, and letters from a “waiting” boyfriend were now becoming a reality about which I was very uncertain. The feeling, as I can best describe it, is not unlike the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you are sitting in your seat on a ride at an amusement park and the bar suddenly locks into place.

About six weeks later, in my first area in Portugal, my companion and I walked along the busy streets of Lisbon, contacting people as they passed by. I had only been in Portugal a few days and had found that the Portuguese I had learned in the MTC differed vastly from the language the people were speaking. I felt insecure in my ability to both understand and communicate. I felt ineffective as a missionary as I easily became lost in conversations. As we walked home one rainy night after a particularly frustrating evening, I felt discouraged. I felt lonely and hoped I was not wasting the Lord’s time. I felt very far from my family and friends, far outside of my comfort zone, and afraid that I was not going to be up to this task.

It was in this rainy state of mind, when I heard in my head the words to a hymn:

“Fear not I am with thee, be not afraid for I am thy God and will still give thee aid” (“How Firm a Foundation,” Hymn #85).

That night I looked up the scripture in Isaiah 41:10,13, which reads:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

I was able to derive from these words the hope that I so critically needed. I felt that I did not have to rely only on my ability, but that Heavenly Father was watching over me and would help me. Whenever I hear that hymn I think of that rainy night and feel in my heart a warm confirmation from my Father who believes in me.

– by Alli

(Did you notice that you can listen to an MP3 recording of this hymn? Find more hymns here. You can download MP3s of music as well.)

Read more First Person essays here.

Would you like to submit a First Person essay? Submit essays to ‘mormonwoman’ AT ‘gmail’ DOT ‘com’.

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