Hi, I'm Melanie

I find joy in living the gospel

About Me

I'm in law school. I enjoy sports, photography, reading, and traveling.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in Metro Detroit with a large variety of cultures and religions. My own family is diverse as half of my family is Jewish and the other half Mormon. When I was about 13 years old, I decided that I should really find out for myself which religion is true and what that even means to me. I decided to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. I received an answer that it is true.

I read the Book of Mormon, and each time I read it, I recognize its divinity. I know that God loves me and has provided a way for me to return to live with him. The only way is through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Through him, I can achieve all that God wants me to achieve.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

A mission is a time when young adults dedicate 18 months to 2 years of their life to teaching others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They focus on teaching about when the Church of Jesus Christ was restored through Joseph Smith, Jr. and why the church needed to be restored. They also teach about how our families can live together forever through the gospel of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then persevering to the end of our lives to live the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I served a mission in Barcelona, Spain. I lived in various cities for 3-6 months and talked to everyone that I met on the street, in the subway, or in their homes. As a missionary, I met with individuals and families in their homes and taught them small lessons explaining the doctrine that Jesus Christ taught and how we can and should those teachings today. I grew to call the people that I taught and served my family.

As a missionary, service of any kind is key. I spent time preparing and teaching English language classes, but I also asked everyone if they needed help with anything from taking out the garbage to moving.

How I live my faith

I attend church with other young adults at the university. I study the scriptures to prepare for Sunday School classes or speeches that are given in front of the congregation. I attend another class on a week night to discuss more about the scriptures and teachings of the prophets.

What blessings can you receive from reading the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and other scriptures?

Melanie answered...

The scriptures outline the mysteries that God wants us to know. Through the scriptures, we can feel God's love for us and for all of his people. We can receive our own personal witness that God lives, and that Jesus Christ is His son, and the Savior of the world. We can learn about how the Holy Ghost can teach us everything that we need to know in order to return to live with God. Furthermore, the scriptures testify of Christ and the gospel that he taught on the earth. We can learn more about what faith is, how to repent and be forgiven of our sins, what is required of baptism, and how to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost so that we may be guided throughout our lives in order to be worthy to live with God and our families for all eternity.

The scriptures also teach us what our role is in our lives. What qualities we should develop in ourselves so that we can do good continually and walk in the path of righteousness. I know that the scriptures teach us the truth. Each day I read, I receive more knowledge and inspiration in order to live a happy, fulfilling life.

Why don’t Mormons have paid clergy?

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.