When I was young and single, I studied Marriage, Family, Human Development at Brigham Young University. Then I returned a few years later to pursue a Master’s degree in the School of Family Life. My emphasis of research was religion and families, and I published several scholarly articles on those topics.

 

While there, I was set up on a blind date with Paul. We got married and enjoyed being poor, married college students together. We quickly began a family, and within a few years, I found myself a young mother, trying to remember and apply all that I had learned in my college classes. Life was mundane, yet demanding. I needed an outlet that “filled my bucket” and helped me have more to give to my family.

 

One day, I felt inspired to begin a blog, called Raising Rubies. It was a great way to spend my evenings, putting my parenting thoughts into words. But less than a year later, I was given the opportunity to teach “Strengthening Marriage and Family” and “Preparation for Marriage” at the BYU Salt Lake Center. My blog had to take the back burner for sake of time--and I never really got back to writing on it like before.

 

We were hesitant for me to begin teaching at BYU, even though it was just once a week. I had always wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, and worried that taking on a class would put me over the edge. But we gave it a try and found that it was extremely helpful and inspiring to study and teach about the family, and then try to live what I learned in our home each week.

 

Fast forward 10 years to today. I’m still Adjunct Faculty at the BYU Salt Lake Center where I teach “The Eternal Family” in the Religion Department and in the School of Family Life. I also teach and speak at various conferences.

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I’m still mostly a stay-at-home Mom; I think of myself as “a Mom with a mission”. In some ways, I still feel like I'm the student each semester, learning how to help our family achieve a more Christ-centered home.

 

I have come to feel passionately about the Family Proclamation along with the research and prophetic teachings that support it. Every semester, I find myself thinking how nice it would be if I could share my favorite "gems" from class with not only college students, but parents who are in the middle of raising a family. 

 

So I’ve decided that it’s time to share more of what I am learning in the classroom and in my personal studies. One post at a time, and one speaking engagement at a time.

 

I hope you find what you need here. I hope you’re inspired to keep going, and turn to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for help and healing in your family. They are the only source of true joy and peace in families. Together with them, “we can do ALL things” (Philippians 4:13) to help our families return to them.

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As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, I love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon and how it helps me feel the Spirit of the Lord and draw closer to the Savior. I am grateful to have Prophets and Apostles leading our Church, under the direction of Jesus Christ.  Although my posts will always teach our church doctrine, I’m not speaking on behalf of our Church.

 

Sign up for my weekly emails, or if you’re on Instagram or Facebook, find me there!

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I would love to hear any of your thoughts as you read my posts. I want to learn along with you. 

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Please reach out to me with any questions or comments. 

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Sincerely,

Jen

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