About
My name is Jan De Hoyos Tolman. I live in Utah and am a member of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have lived in Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana, besides Utah. As well, I have traveled all over the world, living for a short time in Uruguay and Madrid, and visiting family in France and Mexico. Everywhere I have felt a distinction in the binding of Relief Society sisters. For this reason I have decided to see what I can do to unite our sisterhood.
I am married with six children and a growing army of grandchildren. I have had a wide array of callings, some of my favorites, which were often the most difficult or scary, have been the ones that made me stretch and grow.
My hobbies keep me happy. I read constantly-just about anything. I am a fiber artist. Music is pretty important in my life, and my kids take up way too much of my time. I have been a stay at home mom forever. It is with great anxiety I now venture out into the world…
I truly love the gospel and have spent hours studying it. The Relief Society has always been there for me, but it has been a process realizing its vital role within the gospel. I have found that eternal answers that effect me are within the walls of the temple; that I, a woman, can receive all of the rights and blessings God has in store.
I must thank my husband who has completely prepared this site for me. He is a real support in this desire of mine to hear and unify the women of our church. You might hear his voice in future posts to add his insights as a male and as a priesthood holder.
My name is Stephen Tolman, I am Jan’s husband. My wonderful wife is truly a Woman of God. Her great passion is to teach the truths of the gospel and especially realize how great the restored gospel message is for all of us. She is a great mother and grandmother and wants all sisters in the gospel to understand their divine role in the great plan of salvation. There is so much mis-information and griping, especially in the LDS blog community, that the sole purpose of this blog is to teach and share the truth. I have been priviledged to have served as a bishop as well as many other callings in the church. I am happy to serve as the voice of the average male and priesthood holder.
Jan,
Thanks for beginning this site. I have talked over with a few other LDS women the ideas and thoughts that came from Sis. Jill Derr’s lecture, seeking for insights. I very much enjoyed all she shared with us. But I have been curious to know is LDS women have an eternal vision of how Relief Society and the Priesthood work hand in hand or if women in general still feel, maybe don’t believe, but maybe feel a sense of infereority, I wonder how relief society sisters of a younger generation feel about this thought.
I shall speak for the some-what younger generation
. I am 27 and married. I have never felt a sense of inferiority when it comes to women and the priesthood-the world I grew up in focuses so much on the strength of women, and I have always felt proud and grateful to be a women. BUT there is an understanding gap of how the priesthood applies to women. And instead of promoting curiousity about this lack of knowledge, I believe it more often results in a lack of caring: “That’s my husband’s department, I have enough to worry about”.
I realized this about myself when a few years ago I had to teach a Relief Society lesson on the Priesthood. I had SO much to learn, and as I began to read and research I was so impressed by the organization and wisdom of the Lord in His work and His kingdom; and I thought to myself, This is Facinating! Why don’t women know this! Why don’t we Want to know this!? I also began to see where I fit into the Priesthood pattern and organization through the things the Temple teaches.
I still have so much to learn, but I’m grateful that my desire for learning has been wet, and I will continue my search for greater understanding.
Dear Jan,
I just learned about your blog. I totally agree that we need to band together to attack the sorrows and evils of the world. I am particularly interested in improving literacy. Obviously, the ability to read and comprehend is vital to spiritual growth as well as to economic growth.
I loved reading about the meaning of the Hebrew characters. Cheryl told me that Steve gave an amazing lesson on the significance of the menorah. Would you ask him to write that on your blog or send it to me at my e-mail.
Thanks.
I just found your lovely blog and have started reading through all your posts. This is a wonderful blog and I look forward to reading more from you.
Your bio jumped out at me because I was a Tolman before I married. So not only have I found a wonderful blog to read but your husband is probably a distant cousin of mine. (I would guess our common ancestor is Judson Tolman.)
Thanks for creating such a inspiring blog.
We love Judson in our home too!
You are a fellow Utahn? I would LOVE for you to try my service I offer for Utah residents to help them with their food storage. I compare prices from Utah’s five major grocery stores to warehouse stores & Walmart and tell our customers where the best deals are on their groceries. I also tell them which items each week to add to their food storage, create a weekly menu planner for your family based on those items on sale for great prices and give tips and information on food storage in our monthly newsletter. Email me at Shandra@myfoodstoragedeals.com if you would like me to set up your FREE account and see what you think
Food storage is such an important part of our faith and can be overwhelming to SO many women. We wanted to make an easy & fun way to help families get prepared while saving money at the same time!
Our website is http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.com & http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com
I just happened on your website and am thrilled with it. I have launched my own blog which I think is very much in harmony with your audience and objectives. I hope you will check it out:
http://monasgospelmusings.blogspot.com/
As you do I’m sure, I’m receiving many many emails and comments that tell me the women of the church need, as you say, forums for supporting and learning from one another. Thank you!
Mona
Hi Jan,
I have been following your writings for a while now, but have been off the Internet for a few months… I love your new Blog look. Keep writing great stuff, it is very inspirational and informative! You go girl!
I would like to thank all of my cheerleaders!
Jan, you have so many talents! I love your blog … you have added so much just since Christmas. You must be keeping very busy. I try to read your blog every week and it is hard to keep up … thank you so much for sharing. Special blessings to you and your fabulous family.
Great blog! I just stumbled across you on LDS BLOGS. My husband and I just built a website (MormonsMadeSimple.com) which uses simple, explanatory videos to explain the Mormon faith. Feel free to embed one of our videos in your blog, if you think it would be a good missionary tool.
Thanks!
Laurel & Doug
Thank you so much for sharing and for making the effort to educate, uplift, and just plain love the sisters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As a new member of the church recently called to serve as Stake Humanitarian Coordinator, I came across your site while looking for information to help me perform to my full potential in this service. Any suggestions that you might offer are greatly appreciated. As a computer junkie, I have been shocked at the little amount of information I have been able to find via the internet.
I am a new convert to the church and just happened to stumble onto your Facebook page tonight. This blog is amazing! You are answering so many questions I have had running through my head for months. A starting point seems so much clearer to me right now. While I have a wonderful group of RS sisters, I have felt so out of the loop on everything. I really needed to read your words to get a grip on where to start building my foundations. I have been feeling like I was the only one who didn’t “get it” and now things are starting to click for me.
Thank you so much for being such a beacon of light!
Much love,
Brenda
I wish you could see me…I’m blushing.
Actually, I was like you, with little understanding, and figured I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t know about the beginnings of the Relief Society. I can’t tell you how my testimony has grown to know God’s plan for his daughters. And I’m planning to be first in line to meet some of these amazing sisters I’ve been writing about.
It’s been my privilege to learn and share this history. I only ask that you turn around and share it with all those you know.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your experiences!