Hi, I'm Jacqueline

I'm Proudly South African, I'm a singer/songwriter, I'm a college graduate, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. I came to the USA to study and get a college degree. I am passionate about many things including Social Entrepreneurship, International Development, Psychology and Heath & Nutrition. And I LOVE singing, songwriting and playing the guitar. My hobbies include Tai Chi, collecting good movies and learning other languages... Dankie, Obrigada, Merci, Spaciba, Gracias, Danke, Thank you for reading :)

Why I am a Mormon

because I know that The Book of Mormon is a true book of scripture and that God has again called 12 apostles which are living on the earth right now - lovingly leading us and teaching and reminding us of God's love, commandments and blessings.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I served as a missionary in Chicago for 18 months. I learned some Spanish while I lived in certain parts of Chicago.

My mission taught me to be very disciplined. The missionary schedule is intense: Missionaries around the world wake up at 6.30am and they exercise, prepare for the day and they study the scriptures, prepare for lessons and they do language study if needed. Then they work hard all day long teaching principles such as the love of God, the purpose of life, the commandments and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They also offer service in the communities in which they live. This continues all day everyday until 9.30pm and then they retire at 10.30pm.

Missionaries work in pairs of 2, called companionships. They reside and work together for a certain period of time. I for instance was companions with 7 other sister missionaries.

I learned a great deal about myself, life and God during my mission and I met and made friends with many people all over the South-side of Chicago.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I feel so much gratitude and love for him. I have not met Joseph Smith, nor have I heard his voice, but I have read his history and seen the "fruits" of his labor and I have felt a strong connection to this man who, as a boy, was called by God to be a prophet in these latter-days. He agreed and even with all his inadequacies, his lack of education and amongst enormous amounts of persecution he was able to testify of the divinity of God, the father and Jesus Christ, the son and the Holy Ghost - all being distinct and separate beings.

Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that I neither worship nor pray to, but feel deep gratitude to him for the sacrifices he made so I could know the truth about God and the purpose of this life.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Music can be such a good influence on people. I can be having a bad day and hear a song that makes everything seem better. I like to sing for people. It makes them AND me happy! Gifts and talents are like that - blessing the giver and the receiver.

I try to write songs that can touch people or make them think about things in a new way perhaps. I write songs and sing as a way to deal with my struggles and things that challenge me. It's like therapy to me. I have learned through my music that we are not all that different. We as human beings go through many similar trials in life and we can be a blessing in each others lives as we serve one another. Sharing out talents and gifts are one of the ways we can do this. Music for me is one of the ways I try to serve.

How I live my faith

It's a part of WHO I AM and influences the decisions I make. I'm not only religious on Sundays... it's an all-day-every-day kinda thing. I'm not perfect, but I do my best to be a good person, a good Christian, a good friend, sister, daughter, neighbor and world citizen.

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Jacqueline answered...

It's a principle called TITHING, which is a principle taught in the Bible and also in The Book of Mormon.

All that we have has been given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. Tithing is a way to show our obedience to God, as it is a commandment.

Most people are surprised to learn that Mormon leaders/clergy are not paid. So what happens to all this money you may ask?

The Church can use these funds for the upkeep of thousands of buildings, to build more churches and temples, assist the poor and needy and use it for other worthwhile efforts.
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Megan Cosgriff answered...

Latter Day Saints(Mormons) donate 10% of their income to the church because the Lord has commanded us too! In Proverbs 3:9 it says, "Honour the Lord with substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." This is talking about tithing, tithing literally means one-tenth, which is 10%. So when the Lord commands us to donate one-tenth of our increase(income) that is what we do. If you look at Malachi 3:8-10 you will see that the Lord is asking for us to give him our tithes (10%) and in return he will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings, so many that we won't be able to contain them. Wouldn't you want to receive innumerable blessings for just giving Him 10% of your pay check? It seems like a pretty fair trade to me.

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Ian answered...

Live it. If you can commit to yourself and God to give all you have to discovering for yourself if the church is true through living the principles taught and asking God, in the name of Christ, to reveal the truth to you, I can give you my personal witness you will feel in your heart the comforting reassurance that you have found the truth. Moroni 10:3-5