Hi, I'm Mell

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a young stay-at-home mother of 3. I am an adult convert. I love quilting, painting, & gardening. I am passionate about natural birth, attachment parenting, organic & sustainable living. I am an amateur genealogist. I like punk rock & techno music. I read sci-fi & fantasy fiction.

Why I am a Mormon

"Why not?" I pretty much fell in to it as a Mormon by default, I was already living many of the principles of the gospel so why not take the next step. At the age of 23 I was baptized.

I don't have a particularly spectacular conversion story. I think it was inevitable that I would join the LDS church, too many "coincidences" in my life. I've always believed that Jesus was more than just a man, he is the living Christ, but I never found a church that felt right to me until finding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The two things that resonated most with me during my lessons with the missionaries were family history work and the Word of Wisdom. I have always been interested in my family history & where I come from so it made sense to me that it should be part of my religious practices. I was raised with a very holistic view on life & chose to live that way as an adult because it made sense, learning about the Word of Wisdom was validation for everything I already believed about natural living. So much of my conversion is a series of "well, duh..." moments it's almost comical but also, from a certain point of view, miraculous.

Personal Stories

Could you talk about your baptism?

The only way to describe it is like feeling fresh. Imagine being able to take a deep breath, close your eyes & when open them it's like seeing the world with new eyes & restored childlike innocence. The feeling of receiving the Holy Ghost after being baptized was like being wrapped in a warm fluffy blanket, I felt like I was floating in a warm, cozy rose-colored cloud.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

To find out where we came from & so we can do temple work for our deceased ancestors so that one day we can live as an eternal family with Heavenly Father.

How I live my faith

I was a ward Family History Consultant for a couple years & had a lot of fun helping church members & non-members alike research their family history. I was recently called to serve as a ward Humanitarian Specialist. I am working to find ways to for us connect with our community through interfaith projects & community service. Service to others allows us to be a living example of the gospel in action, "charity never faileth".

Why do Mormons perform baptisms for the dead?

Mell answered...

Because baptism is a saving ordinance. Even as Jesus was baptized so should we be baptized & follow in his example. We perform baptisms for the dead so that those who were not baptized while living can still receive the blessings of baptism through proxy work.
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Vinson answered...

As a temple ordinance worker for the Mesa Temple for the past 5 years, I have grown in appreciation for the temple and the ordinances that are preformed. I believe that those who have passed-on are given the opportunity to accept the work that is performed in their behalf as if they were here - physically. The initial ordinance of accepting Jesus Christ is baptism. The ordinance of baptism is performed as it was originally by John the Baptist for Jesus in the temple by emersion. The temple gives those that have passed-on the opportunity to accept the mission of Jesus Christ and all the ordinances that he performed.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

April answered...

Tithing is paid in faith. I know these funds will not be misused. I pay tithing because it is a commandment, and because I love God and want to give Him back a small porion of what He has given me, to futher build up His church. These funds go to build and maintain church buildings and temples and other like expenses. Our clergy is not paid. There is no collection plate. We simply pay our tithing, our fast offerings, we share what we have gladly. This is God's way. For this is God's church.