Hi I'm Jan

My search to find faith came at an early age in my life. My parents are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I wanted to know for myself whether the things they were teaching me were true. I began reading the Book of Mormon when I was 11. I read through the whole book sincerely wanting to know whether the book is true. At the end of the book one of the authors Moroni gives you a promise that if you read these things and then ask God whether they are true that He will give you an answer. I decided to take that challenge. After I prayed and communed with my Heavenly Father about whether the Book of Mormon was true I didn't really feel anything special. I didn't feel that I had received an answer to my prayer. So I decided that I would try again. I read through the Book of Mormon for the second time and again asked God whether or not it was true. Again, just like previously I didn't feel I received an answer one way or the other. Being a stubborn person, I read it for the third time. While I was reading it for the third time I was also reading another book. In that book the character Joshua was having the same difficulty I was having; not feeling like he had received an answer to his prayer. He was told that he already knew it was true-he just had to act on that and that Heavenly Father would confirm that truth to his heart. As I sat pondering his story it hit me in my heart that I was like this character in the book. I knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God and that it testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ, and I always knew this to be true. When I had this thought an overwhelming feeling came into my heart confirming what I knew to be true. Every time I read the Book of Mormon I feel closer to my Savior. I know it to be the word of God, and because I know this to be true I know that Joseph Smith has to be a prophet inspired by God to discover and translate that book. Because Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ restored in it's fulness to the earth, and that if I live the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ that I will be able to live forever with my Heavenly Father and my family which is my ultimate goal.

Being a member fills me with such happiness as I serve in the church. I love the scripture in the Book of Mormon that states, "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" It has been my privilege to serve the Lord. Currently I serve Him by attending church. I also am a member of the Relief Society which is a women's organization designed to give service. As part of that organization I serve by conducting the music for the meetings every week. I also have a group of sisters that I visit teach. It is a great strength to have great women who help and lift each other through our day to day rigor of college life.