Hi, I'm Marishia.

I'm a Mormon. I live in Maui a very spiritual and healing place.

About Me

Being a homosexual has definitely been a huge challenge in my life. I was raised a Mormon by goodly parents who taught me to love God, to always put him first, and to love others. I left the Church and my family for 15 years because of my homosexuality. I became bitter and angry at God and the Church. I no longer believed in Jesus Christ nor in His Church. Drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships and geographical moves were ways I coped with the depressing and suicidal thoughts of being a homosexual.

On August 9, 2009 unbeknownst to me my life was about to turn around 180 degrees. I will never forget that wonderful Sunday afternoon while visiting my family home where the Holy Spirit testified to me that Jesus is the Savior of the world. As soon as my mind and heart caught hold of this truth I immediately felt the awesome healing love of Christ wash over me from head to toe like a warm and powerful wave. My craving for drugs and alcohol immediately left me and I immediately felt a great amount of joy and peace fill up inside of me. It was the most sweetest and most intense feeling I have ever felt. I then felt a great amount of love and gratitude fill my heart for Jesus as my Savior. I felt so indebted to the Savior for suffering so greatly for me and dying for me so that I may live again with my Heavenly Father. A few hours later I received another powerful witness that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, and that the Church is true.

Why I am a Mormon

Because it is the only true Church of Jesus Christ and it contains the fullness of his gospel which gives me a tremendous amount of joy and peace. Everything I have read and studied thus far about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints rings so true to me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ unites families together not only in this life but also in the eternities in Heavenly Father's Kingdom. Christ's Church is also the only church that I know of that cares about their dead. The Lord has made sure that those who have departed this life and have never been baptized in His true Church will be given the opportunity by proxy here on earth. These sacred ordinances of uniting families forever and baptism for the dead are performed in the Lord's holy temples here on earth.

Because of the true gospel of Christ I have been richly blessed with an awesome and wonderful family for the eternities to come. I am very grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with an incredibly loving and supportive family. I realize now that it was because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that my family found the strength and the patience to love me unconditionally and to accept me, regardless of my different lifestyle and the strong feelings I had against the Mormon Church and them. I am deeply thankful to my dear family for their constant prayers and fasting for so many years on my behalf and for a loving Heavenly Father who answers His children's prayers. I now know why my family never gave up on me because they wanted me to also receive the incredible peace and joy that they receive from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Personal Stories

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?

The Savior was all about love. He taught that there was no greater commandment than to love Heavenly Father and to love one another. Love encompasses patience, tolerance, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, respect, obedience, selflessness, and every other good quality that there is. Peace and joy are wonderful by-products of having Christ-like love in your heart. Because of this Christ-like love that my family continually gave me, it helped to prepare my heart so that I could finally receive and accept the powerful witness from the Spirit that has caused me to have this wonderful change of heart.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

When I prayed to know why I am a homosexual a few hours later I received my answer. I have come to understand that homosexuality is similar to a physical defect, and that in the next life I will no longer have this physical defect, therefore I will no longer be a homosexual in the next life. I have also come to understand that being a homosexual is one of my crosses to bear in this life that will give me spiritual strength by teaching me to be obedient to my Heavenly Father and develop a strong faith in Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father truly loves the homosexual, but that He does not approve of the act. I know that as long as I don't act upon these feelings and I continue to follow Jesus Christ that I will be able to live again with my Heavenly Father.

I have come to understand that Heavenly Father wants His children to have all that He has and wants His children to be like Him, a creator of life. By the sacred union between a man and a woman, our loving Heavenly Father has enabled us to become creators of life just like Him. I believe that if I continue to be obedient to my Heavenly Father that one day he will bless me with the righteous desires and prayers of my heart which is to marry a good man in the temple, so that I too can receive the everlasting joy that comes from my posterity.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

Being raised in the Mormon Church and in the Samoan culture my siblings and I were taught by our parents that family is very important. We were taught that no matter what, we should always love, forgive, and never give up on one another because Heavenly Father never gives up on us. Since my return to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ my family has initiated once a month a family temple day and fast where we come together in behalf of those family members that are not active in the Church. In the Book of Mormon in Alma 6:6 it says "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God." I am living proof that when your hearts are knitted together in faith, love, and unity that the power of God is magnified so that miracles can happen, even a miracle of the heart.

How I live my faith

In The Book Of Mormon in 2nd Nephi 31:20 it says; Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

In essence, I try to look unto my Savior Jesus Christ in all that I do. He is my great example and my strength to get me through this most challenging life.

What is the First Vision?

Marishia. answered...

Throughout the history of the world God has often chosen children to become his leaders because they are humble and teachable, and pure in heart.

In the early 1800's in Palmyra, New York, a 14 year old boy named Joseph Smith prayed to God to know which church he should join. As he prayed in a grove of trees near his house, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to him. They told him not to join any church because none of them were true. Joseph Smith was chosen by God to establish once again here on earth the true Church of Jesus Christ which contains the fullness of his gospel and that has the same organization as His Church in ancient times with prophets, apostles, and missionaries who preach the "Good News" unto all nations and people.
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What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Gregg answered...

We believe the Bible and other records passed down through centuries, that God has spoken to man starting with Adam and Eve and continues to speak to us in modern days. God loves us and knows what will bring us true joy in this life and in the life to come. He has declared and continues to command that sexual relations are only to be practiced between husband and wife, legally and lawfully married. He has ordained marriage for the purpose of binding husbands and wives together in a special relationship that can last not just in this life, but for all eternity, and to bring children into the world and nurture them.

Others will fail to understand these truths or try to change them, but the family is central to God's plan and he continues to make his will quite clear on this matter. As members of his church, we will defend these truths.