Hi, I'm Michelle

I am a wife and a mother of two beautiful girls and I love being a Mormon.

About Me

My husband, bless his humorous heart, has called me "Asian" since we started dating. And this as a moniker, not a description. I am in fact Korean. Well, half Korean, half Caucasian. Being raised by my father's parents he is the Caucasian half Mormon's themselves I never fully identified with being white, or Asian. Now that I am a married, mommy of two and a through and through Mormon, I have finally identified with who I am, and I am okay, if not pleased when my husband calls me "Asian" because I am that and so much more.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a long line, dating back to the beginning of the restoration of the latter day church, of Mormons. My great to the fifth power grandfather was one of Joseph Smith's closest friends. However, my through and through personal conversion did not happen until I was midway through my twenties. I had started cosmetology school to become a skilled hairstylist, specializing in hair cuts and I recognized that I was on the right path for a career, and for the first time in my life, I realized I needed to find out what I wanted long term in life. I was taking care of business and excelling in my chosen profession, but I was floundering and near drowning spiritually and wholly as a person. What did I really want to accomplish in life and where could I find me? I knew then that I could no longer half way apply myself to what I now knew I always believed. I had to choose to live my faith and all that accompanied that faith. I believed for the first time that following the gospel of Jesus Christ, being a Mormon would lead me to find me, the best version of me that I could hope to be. Being Mormon gives me direction.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I was taught to refine my natural singing voice by participating in church choirs. I found that Heavenly Father had blessed me to sing and communicate a level of emotion and understanding that could only be done through song. One of the best parts of singing for me is that I can tap into the deep emotions and "spirit" of the song that I am performing and help to transport the audience into what the song is intending them to feel. There was a time in my life where this talent was one of the only ways that I could feel what I now recognize as the truth as of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So it not only blessed the life of others, but my own life as well.

How I live my faith

Living my faith begins with trying to do the basic things that I believe all Christians are taught. Namely being good and kind to all of my "neighbors" or everyone I come into contact with. Additionally I life my faith by staying obedient to what I have been taught at church regarding my appearance and the way that I dress even while working in the fashion/beauty industry. I have learned that it is possible to be admired for my personal style while aligning myself to the standards of modesty that are part of being Mormon. In fact, I love the challenge of doing both!

Why is it important for us to take care of our bodies? Why are our bodies called temples of God in the Bible?

Michelle answered...

Its funny that there is so much talk and wisdom today about what we can do to care for our bodies to keep them youthful and disease free. Certainly things like eating a healthy diet, avoiding additives and processed foods to working out regularly and getting enough rest are things that we all can do to protect ourselves. As Mormons we are taught that one of the greatest gifts we were given by our Heavenly Father was to receive a body to experience life on earth. Additionally this body was the form that our spirits would take on in this life and we would be subject to mortality and all that accompanies it, good and bad. As our bodies are gifts and house our spiritual selves we have a special responsibility to properly care for ourselves. Its a great thing to be living in this time when there are so many advances in the understanding of how to care for our bodies, for health, for beauty and for peace. Ultimately Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and one of the best ways to be happy to is to have a healthy functioning body.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Mary answered...

I have many homosexual friends, and I have best friends who are gay rights activists. They know my stand on same-sex marriage, and I know theirs, but guess what? We are still friends. I hope you and I can be friends too, as I try to explain a portion of what I feel about the issue of same-sex marriage.

According to principles that I believe were established by God to protect both men and women and provide for their temporal and eternal welfare, only marriage between a man and woman is allowed. This marriage must entail complete fidelity from both parties. Just as post-marital sexual desires and impulses should be controlled, pre-marital ones are equally tameable.

The LDS Church penalizes no one based on their sexual orientation. What someone feels is not equal to what they do. Once someone acts on same-sex attraction, they are committing sin. Merely being attracted is not a sin. It is not easy or simple or enjoyable to suppress one's physical appetites. Frankly, I'm not even sure of all the reasons it is commanded that we do so (though I know of the basic reasons). What I do know (and believe me when I say I do know this) is that God has ordained marriage between man and woman. He always has reasons, and we usually don't understand them for quite some time. But I know with all my heart that it is for the good of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, that marriage only be permited between a man and a woman.