Al Fox Carraway: Honor | Forum | January 29, 2016

Al Fox Carraway, LDS speaker and author of "More than the Tattooed Mormon," addresses the Southern Virginia University student body at the annual Honor Forum on Jan. 29, 2016.

[@rhianchambers785]

I'm not LDS, but I love this woman, and the passion and humour in how she speaks about her faith. It's great!

[@terrygunn6723]

get on you knees and pray you will get the answer

[@helenmccormick2506]

Yes!! She's amazing! :)

[@crackedcandy7958]

How did you find her?

[@zissler1]

She has a good personality and light in her countenance.

[@onebigteddybear]

How did you find her?

[@Pren10]

I believe this is the reason God brought you to Utah and you probably already discovered that. Utahns needed an awesome convert like you to teach us Love without judging. Thank you for your strength and testimony. I'm very sorry for every time I may have judged others. I grew up in the church and it's so easy to take the gospel for granted. You are very bright and strong but i am going to reach out to someone who is not so full and brilliant, someone who the Lord leads me to. The lord expects us to ease each others burdens.

[@rpal320]

Prenten Frazier Yes, you are absolutely right!

[@danielsalmon7768]

I love being LDS but sometimes I think that our church has the worst about judging others even compared to other churches there just seems a lot of time to be a certain stereotype to be Mormon I know that's not always the case but a lot of the time it seems

[@Susan_Deckard]

I listen to this over and over. I love your story Al...I love your testimony and I love that you share it all with everyone. You are such a blessing and inspiration 😊

[@AmyStratton96]

I love this so much. I love hearing Al's story! She has motivated me so much and I can see the light of Christ in her!

[@lydiastevenson8502]

I live in London... My children all went inactive... Thank you for your testimony... I'm a temple worker... RM... I felt your story... I need to try harder... And keep a journal....

[@lydiastevenson8502]

Oh I'm a bit autistic which means I don't always fit in... But I know Heavenly Father loves me...

[@lydiastevenson8502]

My children didn't fit in... Either... But I still love them... And some how it's going to work out...

[@davidchoate512]

When I was about 16, we had an elder with a couple tattoos on his arms. That was the first time I met someone I felt who had the Spirit with him and tattoos. I found out through him that even with tattoo, you can have the Spirit with you. Sister Carraway, you are amazing an your husband has inspiration beyond his years as to marry you. He felt your spirit and he felt what peace and joy is with you. Thank you for your talk. I have learned that it is what people feel and the attitude of a person rather than the look of a person that counts. Thank you soo much.

[@cdrobirds]

She's such an example of prayer & faith. Just what I needed. :)

[@Kalamabbfan]

I can't believe this has only 56,000 views in four years. It is worth a lot more than that!!

[@pix3lflow638]

Wow such an amazing & moving talk. I'm currently going through kind of a similar situation. Just younger & with not much I can do. Constantly being shot down because of what I choose to believe in, it's so difficult when parents & people around you don't support you & you're forbidden to attend church. This gives me so much hope for when I turn 18 & can get baptized & it really builds my testimony. Thank you Al for putting your story out there. Heavenly Father has a purpose for your life & I truly believe what you're doing is to help others & you are bringing others to Christ so thank you.

[@Grandcircletourguide]

hayybae Hi! Crazy thing, I used to be in your exact situation when I was younger. I was born a member of the church but after my parents got divorced, my parents (my dad especially) really struggled sometimes with going to church and the gospel. He went a little inactive for a while and he would sometimes do things that I knew were wrong. I constantly had to stand up for myself and my beliefs. I tried so hard to set an example for him and his new wife and my stepsisters. Looking back, everyday seemed extremely long and hard. I never thought that I would ever have a good relationship with my father again. I didn't think he and his wife (who wasn't a member) would be even able to come watch me be sealed in the temple one day. Now, he is a member of the high counsel in his stake. His wife is a convert to the church and has one of the strongest testimonies I've ever heard. A year and a half ago, they both came to my sealing in the temple and my dad held a very special role in the sealing. His wife and my mother helped me get ready that day together. They laughed together and were happy. They told me that day that I helped them during that time (even when it seemed miserable when I was experiencing it) I helped them become happier and come back (or get baptized) into the gospel. Stay strong. Keep your head high and constantly trust and talk with Heavenly Father. It may not work out the same way for you. However, if you continue to set the example and be happy, things will work out for you.

[@dylannoll193]

Never give up! God is with you. Even when you stand alone, you are NEVER alone in your fight to do what is right. I am a deacon in the church. I did not go through what you are going through, so I cannot truly grasp what you are going through but I promise it will be worth it.

[@dylannoll193]

Adding to the end of my comment... To do what is right :)

[@PlantedWhale07]

Hay dylan

[@ricardoplascencia4811]

Wow wow !!I love your story you are a huge impact on me because Similar of my life I just got baptize 3 days ago, I feel bless and feel good about my self and hoping you have the support from your family when you find out you don’t , hart broken that was for me , I know what I did felt right and I’m gonna Continue because what I feel is right and having the spirit with me by my side will guide me thru everything I still haven’t read the whole book of Mormon but I know it’s true because I sure do feel it, confuse a little but I know it’s right .Support or not from your family ,I have a lot of support from the missionaries that’s all it accounts for me one day they’ll see the new change inn me,, I like to thank you for sharing your story, Super super awesome I thought I was making a mistake Well that’s what my family and friends thought and said to me ,I feel right where I am now, so at least I know I’m not Alone on this so thank you

[@narissa44]

Life with God is nothing but the strangest and most wonderful and most crazy and most challenging and the most blessed life of a life there is. Go, Al!! I hear you completely, it doesn't matter if someone else can do it better. All it takes is to show up, blind and trusting in His sight. Thank you so much for sharing. ^_^

[@hackptui]

Nothing she said was anything I didn't already know, but I sure needed to hear it again right now. Thanks for the reminders of God's love, Al.

[@lyndellchee4740]

Love your wonderfully, warm and candid conversion story. I too a convert too. The Gospel is so every true...

[@cynthiamarble8384]

Al I just want to say how sorry I am soo sorry for the horrible hurt you have gone through, as you explained the depth of loneliness and despair you experienced, my heart broke, as I felt how devastating it must have been to have your Daddy say he didn't want you for his daughter anymore! I just cannot fathom any father doing that to his child, his little girl, his baby for heaven sake! I reall ,truly don't think my Father would ever, ever say that to me! I would lie down and die! Yet you kept going you not only listened to the Holy Ghost you followed his direction! To move from every thing you ever knew! What bravery! Al, I really can't fathom the depth of your spirit! I had it easy, grew up in the church with parents my Patriarchal blessing told me I got to personally choose! Should have been easy for me huh!? But I messed up big time till I finally straightened up for good, in my 50s! Wow what a hard case I was! But I always had a strong testimony because of my parents, Heavenly Father knew it would be the only way, I would make it back! I was so enraged, when I heard that members would actually treat you the way they did! But I realize that I shouldn't judge anyone either! Just keep up the good work sweetheart, and know that hundreds of people love and our helped by your inspiration of a life!

[@geraldfoster6253]

Al...your testimony touched my heart,

[@melissachampagne5146]

Thank you for sharing with so much joy your conversion and your life story.

[@veraehansen3085]

You are such a delightful, 😊 humble, 🙏 amazing 💝young woman of such love ❤️ faith, 🙏 and inspiration! 🌟 Thanks so much for sharing your heartfelt life experiences and precious testimony ! We love ❤️ you and your beautiful testimony of faith, hope and charity! 🙏 🌸💁‍♀️🌸

[@DavidWhite-eh3wu]

Made me cry tears of joy..... You go 👧

[@agoodlittlewitch]

She is so amazing and beautiful! Sometimes I get discouraged by how bleak the world is, and I wonder if I can overcome everything I have to in this life. But she is inspiring and strong, and reminds me that with the Lord I can overcome anything.

[@deniseeaves3681]

AL, you are amazing and you speak with such conviction and joy!!!

[@dakotamoon3596]

I’m watching this video right before general conference and I am so glad I did. It has been so long since I went to church. I really needed this.

[@sislau]

Thank you for sharing your amazing testimony, Al. Looking forward to hearing you speak at BYU next week. Thanks for posting this, SVU! Very cool :)

[@vaulter001itstruth2]

I love this. Always stay strong and keep the faith.

[@GaryGrahamPhoto]

Amazing. I loved it. Thank you so much for sharing. It is late here and I was just going to watch a few minutes and save the rest for later but once I got started I couldn't stop.

[@nicoledeloncrais5940]

I so get this, l went through really, really, seriously 😐 REALLY similar stuff. And no kidding it can be confronting, yet... there in the midst of things and stuff, is the Lord. Thank goodness 😅. Hard to explain this crazy 😜 yet amazing 😉 stuff to PEOPLE . Thank you for being YOU. Brilliant and so similar. Love you 😍

[@momsgotthemoney]

I obviously have never met Al, but I want to thank her, her testimony and faith have helped me so much the last few years. I'm a lifelong member who in the last 5 years have been struggling so much with my faith and her testimony has helped keep my flame burning and I finally am getting my testimony back!

[@leerichmond4685]

My name is Addy richmond i live in ky im 8 years old i like wana watch this every it makes me feel good your story is great you really know god i get distracted evry day doing stuff when really i should focus god. you really are good person no one can control you, you can only control yourself, you are a good. love Addy

[@MarksMusicCollection]

Thank you.

[@chrisevelo3313]

I am so thankful that I found this video. You are such an awesome speaker with such a powerful message.

[@aulaniplumeria8819]

Amen and Amen 🙏🏽 Thank you so Real so Beautiful.💙

[@hollyodii5969]

I needed to hear this today! Thanks Al!

[@greencloud80]

30:55, I wanted to give you a BIG hug Sister Al Fox Carraway.

[@grampagraham3075]

Amazing woman. Love to have a mate like her, so inspirational.

[@madipeel368]

That was... amazing

[@jesusarturoarredondo8749]

Al Thank you

[@blossom7582]

I did not need to hear this today! But I am so glad I did

[@daleroyster2144]

I’m sure lots of Dads would love to call you daughter!❤️

[@sarahok4197]

She’s a hero

[@ashlibradford1821]

How many people want to bet the guy who said that to her in Cafe Rio was not a member? Sounds like something only someone with bad feelings towards the church would say. Any converted member would have been overjoyed to see a New Yorker clinging to The Book of Mormon like that. I would have been thrilled to talk to her and ask more about her. I hope Al's story will help our youth recognize these pre misconceptions about others and treat all the way Christ would! Love Al's story! She is truly like a member celebrity. Who doesn't adore this girl!!

[@garyamero7892]

I just stumbled across this, awesome ... it would be interesting to see the expanding circles that came from one random contact with a steak, lol 😂. Thank you Sister C!

[@carrieberman4581]

they should call you AL the Honest Mormon! I am not to excited about tattoos, but when you talk about heavenly father and the Church you forget all about your colorful tattoo's, don't get them, I am glad you didn't get anymore after you were baptized, you were chosen to serve, you were chosen to make very sad people happy! Thank you. don't change now, I bought your book, I hope that your happily married, have fun bringing a lot of people into the church, I am a missionary too, have a great day, Amen

[@sbaby-np5hy]

I don't know if you were born and raised in the church. I myself was not I'm a convert and I personally see nothing wrong with someone coming into an organization that says after you become a member no more tattoos but they come in with some there's no shame or blame in that she decided as well as I did because I have tattoos myself to acknowledge the word of wisdom and follow it to the T because your body is your temple and that's the way she has chosen to treat it as well as I have. I guess I just look at tattoos differently than the rest of Mormon culture. I mean I do believe that if you are not a part of the church and you are a person who does want to get a tattoo or wants to get multiple tattoos you should never get a spouse's name you should never get a girlfriend or boyfriend's name you should never get something stupid like I love cheese cuz that's on your body forever like get something that's meaningful on your body cuz to some people will actually most of the world it's considered art

[@HellMxge]

very inspiring

[@carrieberman4581]

my three daughters don't want me because I am Mormon, so I have to leave, I know the Church is true, Maybe one day because I have to leave them they will come follow me follow Jesus,

[@terrygunn6723]

what a testamoy

[@rickyricky4738]

Not even finished reading the book of mormon, just a few chapters.. and wow this is so true and so much sense. Some people believe any crap.

[@sdfotodude]

7 Years Yonder?

[@johannmadrid8864]

prayyyy The Forest hahahaha this is funny

[@eliaslugo9290]

I have the love and respect for every Mormon but please read the Bible ask the good Lord to show you what he wants to reveal to you because tomorrow is not promised to no man

[@Itsrly_Johnny_Ros]

Elias Lugo James 1:5

[@lilacfantasy4]

I can't speak for all Mormons, but I've read the New Testament twice and I'm rereading the Old Testament again. I still read the Book of Mormon every day, but I agree that it would be good for every Christian to read the Bible too. It's got beautiful truths!

[@sbaby-np5hy]

I'm in LDS convert and before and after I converted I've read the Bible and most not all but most other Christians can only say one verse throughout the entire Bible and that is John 3:16 how do I know this I don't know this just because I'm saying it I know this because I was there I'm not saying this is an outsider looking in I was in a different denomination I was brought up in a different denomination and I can tell you for a fact that that is true.

[@deedee737]

she has no right to be so happy

[@williamturner6192]

Like you think she's obnoxious or something based on her choices or opinions? No reason to not be that happy - even if there is reason to not get on others nerves about it - and everybody has the right to try to be as happy as they can be.