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Hi, I'm Leisa

I grew up in the Bay Area of California. I create therapeutic recreation programs for people with disabilities, and I'm a Mormon!

About Me

I have been married for 5 years to the most wonderful Southern Gentleman. We love to be outdoors hiking, camping, playing sports, and trying new adventures. We are not able to have children of our own, but are in the process of trying to adopt!

I went to College and graduated in the Recreational Therapy program. I especially have a spot in my heart for music and it's therapeutic qualities. I love to get involved in as many things as I can around me.

I have taken 2 years of Ancient Hebrew so that I can study the Old Testament in Hebrew.

I have an eye for design and creativity and it carries through most everything in my life from my house, cooking, starting a business, and photography.

I enjoy life in all it's complexities!

Why I am a Mormon

I have been a member since I was a child. Yes I was born into the Religion, and was carried on my parents beliefs as a young child. But I definitely had my doubts as life got harder and harder through my teen and young adult years.

Then in College I had a roommate who had just found the Mormon Church and was baptized. I felt the spirit of God, peace, and joy so much around her. And I realized I had never taken the time to find out for myself if the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ( nicknamed Mormons) was true. and I knew that if I really was going to make a decision I needed to find out for myself. And so on my own I read the Book of Mormon for the first time.

I mean I REALLY read it. I prayed before I began asking God that if it was true that I would understand the books pages and if He would teach me if it was true. As I read it I felt this overwhelming peace and Light in my life that I had never felt before. It was beyond anything I had ever felt before, it was so powerful in my life. I found myself hurrying home everyday to read it. I had so many of my life questions answered. And when I would find the answers I would call people excitedly to tell them what I learned.

When I finished the Book I knelt and prayed and asked God if the Book was true. And I had the most clear and profound feeling and assurance that it was true. Then I asked if The Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was His Church on the earth today. Restored from the days that Christ walked the earth. And again the most amazing assurance came to me.

I cannot deny what I felt that day. It has propelled me forward to live a Christlike life and follow His teachings. And I continue to feel those assurances as I live the Gospel.

I know that this is it! The Church of God on earth! I know because I pray and study his teachings and I asked God myself instead of relying on others for answers.

I know God will answer you too.

Personal Stories

Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?

The challenge of infertility has been the toughest things my husband and I have ever faced. There has been so much sorrow, not only at the identification of the disease that causes the infertility, but the dream of having children born into our family not being realized, has been more heart rending that I care to admit.

There are so many thoughts out in the world and temptations from Satan that have made me feel less of a person. As if the health problems and infertility define who I am. That maybe I'm not good enough, or righteous enough to be given children.

But what the Gospel has taught me through this, and what I have learned from God in my own scripture study and prayers is this.

I am not defined by my health problem, or infertility, or by the judgement of others IF I can come to God and listen to his voice through prayer of who He knows me to be. And when I am centered in this, I cannot be rocked.

I understand that infertility is not a punishment. I see countless examples as I study the scriptures of AMAZING women who went through the same thing. Elizabeth ( who I am named after), Hannah, Rebekah, just to name a few. And in my study I realize, they all eventually have children, and Christ's Lineage came through many of these women! And the phrase "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37 has to do with a child coming to an infertile couple!

The principles of the Gospel teach me that trials will continually come during my life but if I look to God and his teachings, he will use those things to refine me and help me to live a more full and joy filled life despite trials.

And our infertility miracle? Is coming in the form of adoption. But that's another story ;)

How I live my faith

I currently teach the teenage girls at church. They amaze me by there ability and desire to do good and not give in to immorality, drugs, bullying, gossip, or alcohol. There strength and goodness inspire me to be better.

I'm continually impressed by the lesson manuals we have to teach from. Lessons on family unity, health, how to gain a closer relationship with God though prayer, scripture study, being dependable, dating decisions, marriage standards, loving yourself, forgiving yourself, overcoming opposition, and many others.

I always try to set goals of improvement every year. This year I wanted to come to know God better and understand his will in my life more, so I set the goal of reading the entire bible. Old and New Testament, and the Book of Mormon. I am almost finished and amazed at all I am learning and feeling.

I want to live my life as Christlike as possible. The quality of reaching out instinctively to all those in need around Him. Loving and serving and lifting others burdens. I truly try to follow in his footsteps as much as I can.

What is faith?

Leisa answered...

Faith is believing in something that you cannot see or feel, BUT is true. And then acting on it. Example I have faith that Jesus Christ was resurrected and still leads his Church through revelation to His Prophet and Apostles today. I cannot see Jesus Christ, but I have prayed and studied the scriptures and asked, and received an answer that the above sentence is true.

Because I know it is true and feel the power of God that it is true, I now not only should act upon it and live his Gospel, but his power becomes so joyful and motivating in my life I desire to act upon that truth.
Zen answered...

Of all the definitions of faith I have read or heard, I add the simplest and most complete to me, which is the Love of Christ. I cannot think of a better way to describe faith. Love of Christ is the substance of hope in something evident we can not see with earthly eyes. It is the faith in Christ or the love of Christ that enabled Able to make a more perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). That love is why we believe in Christ, it is why we have grace, it is why we have works, it is why we have belief, it is why we have hope, it is why we have charity, it is the very essence of faith, and faith is the very essence of the Love of Christ

Perfect knowledge is worthless without faith. For instance, most of us have perfect knowledge that applying a pointed pencil to paper will cause a mark. That knowledge will not make a mark if we do not exercise the elements of faith called works (picking up the pencil, applying it to the paper, and making a mark), belief (that doing so will make a mark), and hope (that it actually will make a mark). It is my desire that you would exercise works to find out about Christ and study Him, that you would believe on His words and His life and His sacrifice, and that you would hope that He would have an effect in your life. If you exercise this faith, you will truly come unto Him.

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

Michele answered...

Sometimes if people know I am Mormon, they believe that I will not be friendly and accepting to those who practice a different lifestyle than mine. The truth is MOST of my dear friends do not share my lifestyle. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, I don't watch R rated movies.

And, I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.

Does that mean that I don't want to be friends or on a committee with someone who is gay or lesbian? Not any more than I would avoid a person who smokes or drinks or watches R rated movies. While I don't choose to participate in those activities, I have many friends that I cherish dearly, including friends who are gay and lesbian, who view political and religious issues differently than me. I don't "tolerate" them. I adore them. And, thankfully, for me, they don't tolerate me either. We respectfully disagree on various political and religious issues, but there are so many other important things that bring us together as friends and community members. One of my most cherished friends, who identifies as a lesbian, told me the other day, "Michele, before you, I had a stigma about Mormons. You have changed that. I cherish you." Her remark is dear to my heart. It says she knows I love her, but even more, it says something about her that she gave me a chance when others told her not to. I am grateful she was willing to give me a chance because I gained a very special friend - a sister of my heart.

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