Hi, I'm Chris

I am a daughter of God. I know He loves and cares for me. He knows my heart and what makes me happy. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Hi, my name is Chris. I have dual citizenship Brazilian-American and live in Utah for almost a decade. I've been a member of the Church for 20 years plus.
I am a writer of non fiction and memoirs, and do so in Portuguese and English. I am also a photographer and have photography books published as well.
I have an interesting background. My father had English Jewish ancestry and my mother comes from an Italian Catholic big family. My grandparents from both sides had immigrated to Brazil with the kids, where my mom and dad met, and married there, where I was born. Both families have learned to respect and live with each other different beliefs and backgrounds. Today we already have the third generation of members to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I was taught as a child the wonderful stories of the Scriptures, the purpose of the Prophets, the blessings of the Atonement and the peace and love the Gospel brings to our lives.
Recognizing the true Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ was clear and the best that has ever happened to me.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a convert and I still remember the day I met the missionaries.

My whole family had joined the Church and I was there for a visit after be living far away for professional and academic purposes. Our family had been always very religious and close to each other, and I had wonderful ancestors. The enviroment was so welcoming and everyone so close to each other than ever before. I never thought that could get even better, but it did! the knowledge of eternity made us even closer and loving towards one another.

The missionaries came for a dinner, and they were amazing, simple and humble. We had had many visits from other churches in our home, but they always wanted to point out the wrongs in other religions. So, after they dark their intentions, we wouldn't have any other choice besides choose their church. The missionaries brought us 'good news'. The light of their message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was the brightest, and they didn't need to dark anyone else.

I wanted to know more about it. The visits with the missionaries were naturally joyful. I had many questions and, as I read the Book of Mormon, everything turned out to be so simple. I understood the love our Savior has for me, that Our Heavenly Father knew my heart deeply as anyone else. I was grateful and happy with the religion I had, but I discovered so many precious things, and Jesus Christ turned to be my personal and dear Friend, and after that knowledge and power, I couldn't live without it. Through much prayer and patience, I have known His Plan for me, and I am happier as the years go by.

The day of my baptism was interesting. We had almost 100ºF outside and a huge storm came that we had no power in the chapel. Right after the ordinance finished, we all went outside and a beautiful rainbow was there. The same has happened with each of the steps I have taken as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I have seen signs from Heaven and the peace righteoussness brings to all of us.

Personal Stories

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

I believe that each right choice we make, brings so many blessings and, like a chain, our examples are passed on to others, and amazing things can happen in our lives.

A righteouss decision helps us to make more and more, because Happiness and Peace are so good to have and feel, and being able to offer this to our neighbor make us even happier.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

It is part of knowing who we are!

I started doing family history, because I wanted my ancestors to know the wonderful Plan of Salvation I had knowledge about. As I research their lives, stories and struggles, I understood more myself and our whole family, their likes and dislikes.

It is so wonderful to know our family history and know that someday I will meet each one of them, and they will not be strangers to me, and I hope, I won't be a stranger to them!

I believe that all of them have the right to know what I know and to experience and enjoy all the blessings they can, wherever they are.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I have been always ecletic towards to which profession to choose when I was a teenager. I graduated in Food Science Engineering, but the human soul was a chalenge, and later I completed myself in the Psychology and Psychoanalyses field.

I loved it, but, even seeing so much transformation in people's lives, when you help them to know themselves better and deal with life's ups and downs, something was still missing.

When I joined the Church I understood that therapy can help someone to see things better, but by own experience I can say that the only and total solution for all of our problems is Jesus Christ.

There is no Psychology theory or Psicotropic medicine that can cure us of any problem better than apply the teachings of our Savior.

Today I also follow my father's footsteps and became an Author and Writer. I have so many stories and life experiences to tell. Photography is also a talent that I've developed, and I consider writing and photography the art of make things eternal.

I believe in better choices and I am grateful that I can inspire and help people to understand themselves helping them to know and/or remember that they have a divine nature as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, that they need to be kind to themselves and full of hope, controling their own character.

Because 'the crown of your character is self dominion.'

How I live my faith

Everyone has ups and downs in life, and I can say by myself, that all the times that I have served and given myself in the different callings I have been blessed with through the years, my problems have been solved the best way possible.

I understand that Faith is action and is something that I need to do to make it happen, noone else.

I can and want to live principles, so I can control consequences of my choices. As my blessings flood my days with testimony of the Gospel, I can say the best I can do for myself, my kids and my future is act. Now.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Chris answered...

I am grateful for the Word of Wisdom as a commandment in our days. It protects and save us from so much trouble.

I know people that say that we have no freedom, once we don't smoke, drink alcohol or other things included. But I also know that are those that make us dependent.

I am free, because I do not need smoke or alcohol to be happy and feel included in a group, specially if I keep myself in holy places, where the Holy Ghost can be my companion.
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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.

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

Jim answered...

I have a testimony of the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." It is scripture because it is the word of God coming to us through an inspired Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, prior President of the Church, and living Apostles. It clearly states, “We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God." As long as a person abstains from homosexual relations and cultivates wholesome thoughts, they worthy before God. The Church does not and will not ever condone "gay bashing." I see same-sex attraction as a special challenge to overcome in this life, and not a curse. God loves all of his children unconditionally, but that does not mean that He condones sexual relations outside the bounds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. I bear my witness that the Atonement made by Jesus Christ is not only has the power to save us from physical death and redeem us from sin, but it also the power to transform our lives. As we yield ourselves to Christ and seek to do his will, we will find the grace and healing to deal with whatever challenges or circumstances life deals to us.