Hi, I'm Mieke

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a divorced single mom, finishing up a PhD in the art of late antiquity.

Why I am a Mormon

No matter what questions I may ask, no matter what truths I may find elsewhere, I always find a corresponding element within the gospel. There is nothing so comforting as knowing that I will receive an answer, no matter what my question may be. It might not be the answer I want, but it will be a true one.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Just as I keep in touch with my parents through phone calls and emails, I keep in touch with my heavenly parents through prayer. Sometimes, I admit, my prayers are quick updates, like the "all's well, send money" letters that kids away from home have sent their parents for millenia. However, the best prayers are when I kneel down and have a good, long talk with my Heavenly Father. I come away from these prayers with new understanding and a fresh outlook. Sometimes they're comforting or encouraging, sometimes I get up feeling as though I've been given one of those unpleasant parental lectures. Even so, I have learned that I can go to my Heavenly Father with any problem, any question at all, and that He will provide an answer for me. It might not come immediately, or in the fashion I expect, and I might get an answer I didn't want– but it will always be the answer I need.

Could you talk about your baptism?

Like many people raised in the church, I was baptized at 8 years old. I've since heard many people ask whether or not a child of 8 can really know what's going on I can answer that question. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I remember being upset that I had to wait for two days after my birthday! Because the church font was being renovated, we used a neighbor's hot-tub, and my father baptized me. When I came up out of the water, I was absolutely astonished at the feeling I had I felt like all things I'd ever felt guilty about were gone. I walked to where my mother waited with a stack of towels, and all I could say was, "I'm clean- I'm CLEAN!"

Since then, I've made plenty more mistakes, and I've had plenty of questions and trials; however, the truth I knew on my baptism day has only deepened with time. I knew that I was following the Savior, I knew that I wanted to be a part of His church and to live His gospel. I still know.

How I live my faith

I've been working with teenagers for the last five years or so, either teaching Sunday School or as part of the Young Women organization. I've also been directing our ward choir. I love working with teenagers- they're not afraid to ask the difficult questions, the same questions I asked when I was their age, and sometimes the same questions I'm still asking! Finding the answers is a wonderful, sometimes painful, but always fulfilling project.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Mieke answered...

The Word of Wisdom is, at its most basic, a health code. It is meant to be a guideline for how to use the resources that the earth has given us for food and medicine, working in harmony with our bodies, the people around us, and our planet as a result, harmful and addictive substances alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs are forbidden. Substances that alter our natural body-clocks like coffee, tea, and other things used to wake us up or put us to sleep are not encouraged either. Addiction is a difficult thing to overcome, but with the Lord's help it can be done.
Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Greg answered...

After I joined the Mormon Church I learned about the importance of families. Not long after that I realized that if I was going to follow this teaching I needed to tell my father that I loved him. That was very difficult for me since my dad and I argued so much. I spent the better part of 2 weeks trying to determine how I could do this. When the time came I found that the words came more easily than I had thought. From that point to the time he died, about 22 years later, he and I had an entirely different relationship. We were now friends. And I found how much I regretted all our arguments while growing up. And now I find that I miss him and more fully understand how important our families are.