Hi, I'm Lisa

I'm a pianist. I'm a writer. I'm a lifelong learner. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I work as a billing specialist for an insurance agency, but I also enjoy drawing, playing the piano, and spending time with my family. I'm working on a novel and hope to be a published author one day.

Why I am a Mormon

My mother joined the church when she was eighteen and my father has been a faithful member of the church all his life. They have both been such examples of what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ and I've seen the struggles the church has helped them overcome. I've struggled a lot with self-worth and knowing who I am. There were times, when I was younger, that I felt surrounded by darkness. I found, though, that the only thing that brought that light and direction back into my life was when I turned to my faith.

I was twelve before I had read the Book of Mormon for myself. Some of the language was confusing, but I was determined to read it. I took a little scrap of paper and as I read, I wrote down all the words I didn't understand, intending to ask my parents what they meant. Well, that list got longer and longer and I got further and further through the book, but I found that even though I didn't know all the words, I did understand the messages it shared and that powerful, compelling feeling of truth spoke to my heart. At the end of the Book of Mormon, there is a promise that the Lord will tell the reader that it is true if he or she will ask. I have lost track of how many times I have read that book, but every time the answer is so strong and sweet. It is true and God loves me. Both answers come together. It is true and God loves me and is happy with me for seeking him. There is so much more I could share, but I know this church is true and is the only one with all of the answers we need to be happy in this life.

Personal Stories

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

Some people wonder why young men or women from our church walk around in their Sunday clothes all day, riding bicycles and knocking on doors. I was one of those young women. I served my mission in Eugene, Oregon, where it rains most of the year. But I can tell you nothing that has made me happier than sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and his gospel.

The purpose of our church is to bring people closer to God through faith, repentance, baptism, and keeping God's commandments. We believe these things are important to finding happiness in this life and after. We also believe that all people should have the opportunity to hear and decide whether they want to accept this message for themselves. This is why missionaries serve. This is why we go all over the world and knock on your door and talk to you. Christ loved us all enough to die for us and we love him enough to share his message.

I wanted to be a missionary ever since I was little. One of my church teachers went on a mission to Russia. She was a great example to me. Not all women become missionaries, so I feel fortunate that I got to serve, too. It was hard to quit my job and then pay my own way to be a missionary. Hardest of all was leaving my family and the familiarity of my home, but I did it because I wanted to help people and I knew God also wanted me to. I went door to door in the rain and cold, getting chased by dogs, splashed by cars, and being rejected time and again. But the difficulties were overshadowed by the little miracles God performed every day before my eyes. I saw people's lives change as they developed a personal relationship with God.

I know that this church is true because I have witnessed in my life and in the lives of others the change that comes when you begin to live its teachings. They are God’s teachings, from a living prophet. If you see the missionaries, take the time to listen. They are trying to show their love for you and for God.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

We all have talents, whether they are outwardly visible or not (see Matthew 25:15 KJV). God has given us different talents, not so we can compare ourselves to one another, but so that we can bless the lives of others. Using our talents is a way to show God we appreciate the gifts he has given us.

Some examples of talents that may not be as visible are: faith, organization, optimism, leadership, being a peacemaker, communication and problem-solving, among others.

Something remarkable about our church is the fact that we have no paid clergy. All of the positions, even leadership positions, are filled by ordinary members of the church who have accepted the call to serve in a specific role. For example, I have been asked to fulfill the calling of playing the piano for my congregation. While I am sometimes nervous when I am asked to play a difficult song, I love playing the piano and I have faith that God will help me use my talent to touch peoples' hearts through the music.

I also love books. I love fantasy, science fiction, and the occasional historical fiction. My dream is to write a fantasy novel for young adults, but it's not just to see my name in print. Sometimes I am appalled at what passes for entertainment these days. It is hard to find wholesome, uplifting things to watch, listen to, or read. Because of this, I want to use my talents to create something that I will feel comfortable letting my future kids read and that I hope they will also enjoy.

When it comes to talents, I think we all underestimate ourselves. We have far greater capacity to do good than we think. Whether it is teaching a child or keeping a journal or learning something new each day, we have the capacity to be a light to others (see Matthew 5:14-16).

How I live my faith

I'm grateful to be able to play the piano at church. I get to express my love for God and those I serve through the music that I play. I also visit and fellowship some of the women in our congregation and keep record of activities and lessons all the women do as a group.

Do Mormons regard the Bible as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

Lisa answered...

I love the Bible. The stories and teachings in it are rich in symbolism and the lessons we learn from it are still applicable today. Although we believe there have been some errors in translation over the many centuries since the Bible has been around, we do see the Bible as Holy Scripture.

Some things I've learned as I've read the Bible are that God has the power to deliver us from bondage, but we also need to learn to rely on him to be saved. God should be the center of our lives just as the Tabernacle, which was the center of the camp of Israel, was meant to remind them that he was to be their focus.

The Bible and the Book of Mormon work in harmony with one another in order to increase our understanding of God's plan for us. The Book of Mormon does not and cannot replace the Bible. Each is a unique witness of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of mankind.
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Jesus answered...

I personally enjoy The Bible as one of my favorite books. I know it is the word of The Lord. As I read the bible, I also tried to study where it came from. Before joining the church, I did believe that the bible was the word of God. But why? I believed in it before reading it... Well, the reason why I know, is because I ask God and He answered me. There is no other way. I wasn't there when it was translated, so how can I know? Some people just believe that it is true because everybody else says so. Heavenly Father can answer our prayers, why don't we ask Him?

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Rachel answered...

No. We only worship God. Joseph Smith was not a god. He was a prophet. Just like Moses and Abraham and all of the other prophets in the Bible. He is not a god, we do not worship him, however, as a prophet, God used him as a tool to communicate with us by giving Joseph Smith revelation. God spoke to us through Joseph Smith. Therefore, we accept what Joseph Smith said to be the word of God.