Hi, I'm Adeline

I work and study in environmental engineering. I like to discover new music and traveling. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am pretty much an introvert and I prefer to be at quiet places engaging in quiet activities. I listen to a lot of music and I write articles for various music websites in English and in Swedish.

I also enjoy traveling. I currently live in Sweden and have been here for a year now. Life in Sweden is very quiet and I have started to appreciate nature and being outdoors. I take every opportunity to be outside since good weather is not an everyday affair in Sweden!

Why I am a Mormon

I did not grow up in the church and had previously very little idea about the LDS church.

When I was in college I found myself engaging in personal study on the Bible and Christian living. I had a kind of awakening to become a better follower of Jesus Christ and I was on fire for God. In college, I became an active participant of various student Christian groups on campus where I engage in bible study groups, worship and prayer meetings, and student fellowship programs.

One day, a classmate talked about the Book of Mormon in a lecture discussion. I got curious and wanted to know more, but I was really shy to ask. That was the defining moment for me when I first heard about the Book of Mormon. I felt something different as though God wanted to personally talk to me and tell me something. It bothered me the entire semester but I was too busy to do anything about it.

Fast forward to the following semester, I decided to not ignore that feeling I had when I heard about the Book of Mormon, and found myself learning not only about the Book of Mormon, but learning all over again about who I am. It was very exciting yet at the same time it took a lot of humility and sincere prayers to decide to give all of myself to accept this new knowledge I had. It felt so right and as though I am coming "home" to where I started from the beginning to a point that I could no longer deny the truth and reality of the Holy Ghost leading me towards this anymore. And that was when I decided to choose to complete follow the Savior, and be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

It was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I had found so much peace from the gospel and by reading the Book of Mormon. Those little missing pieces, those questions I had always have in my life, they came together. And I knew that my prayers were answered.

I think the reason why I am a Mormon today is the knowledge that I have, that the gospel is so real. The Spirit is so very real.

I knew life does not get easy as I knew fully that Christ has never promised that in the Bible or the Book of Mormon. And He was right! However, He did promise of joy, peace, happiness, and blessings in this life and the next! And that is what is worth living for!

Personal Stories

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

Compassion. It is the most important teaching that influences a huge part of my life. The Savior taught and practiced compassion throughout His ministry on earth. It is important to be an example but it is crucial that you have compassion toward other as well. To me, this teaching helps me a lot to overcome my selfishness and even though I am not perfect, I know that as I put this prayerfully into practice everything just comes together.

How I live my faith

Well, I have never truly appreciated how important it is to keep the gospel close in my life until I came to Sweden.

I am not one who embraces much of the Mormon culture. I must admit that I am still not used to the culture that comes with the social dynamics of the church. So, when I was in college, I took for granted how easy it is to be reminded of the gospel principles to live by as I am surrounded by friends who are members or the church and those who practice Christian living.

Living my faith in Sweden is definitely a huge change and it was also quite challenge and I have to admit that it is hard! I have to work extra hard and stay focused on the important things to me, as no one is going to be around to remind me.

I am definitely grateful for the gospel principles, those simple little things that has helped me a lot. Things like praying and reading your scriptures daily may seem so simple and insignificant, these two things matter a lot.

There had definitely been days where I just didn't feel like doing them. In Sweden, I help a lot with missionary work. While I was helping the missionaries in an investigator's discussion, a missionary I met here once shared me, that it is important to never stop praying. Often it is those times when you do not feel like praying, that is the most important time for you to pray, and you have to do it until you feel like it.

I love that I can continue to learn new things as I live my faith. Missionary work is my favorite part of the gospel that helps me strengthen my faith and learn new things. It is such an amazing feeling to be able to reach out to people, go to places to touch people's lives, and share the joy and blessings that I have in my life.

Why don’t Mormons have paid clergy?

Adeline answered...

The dynamics of the LDS church is based on voluntary service, not a paid job.
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Susie answered...

A ward or branch is the local unit of the church. This is the place where members have the opportunity to develop friendships and to help one another. We get support and lessons on the scriptures and how to improve our family relationships.

Our Heavenly Father expects us to lift and serve one another in this life. This is the principle behind a volunteer clergy. The local leader of a ward or branch calls on various members on the ward/branch to volunteer their services in teaching and leading the other members. We all donate our time and thus are able to lift and serve on another. The leaders seek divine guidance in making these callings. We who have been called to also seek divine guidance in fulfilling our positions.

We each try to follow the teachings of an ancient prophet who taught that when we are baptized we "are willing to bear one another's burdens, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 18:8-9).

Through our volunteer service, members lift one another's burdens and express our love to one another.

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.