Hi, I'm Jess

I can play eight different musical instruments. I love to make others smile. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm currently going to college and going to get married in Mid-November. I love Japan and other Asian cultures, and I also love to read. I'm going to school to become a Librarian, but I also would love to be a stay-at-home mother for my future children. I love writing and telling short stories, and being someone that my friends can talk to.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in the Church and strongly followed our ways, but fell away for about a year because of a controlling ex-boyfriend. I came back to church because I could tell that a big part of my life was missing. I felt so empty in my life without the full blessings of this Church, and I have no doubt that this is where I need to be. I am so much happier now, especially that I'm getting married to the one that I love forever, and my hope is to have as many people come to feel the joy that I feel from following this Gospel.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I love to play different musical instruments, namely piano and clarinet, and I also love to sing. I love to perform wholesome music to others. Most recently, I've been singing religious songs to my fiance's dying grandmother. I visit her on Sunday evenings to help her relax and feel peace. She is bedridden and very weak. Whenever I'm finished she always has tears in her eyes and a grateful smile on her face. I know that by showing my love to her, it helps me feel the love that Jesus Christ has for me.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I am (in some people's opinion) a little young to get married. I sometimes get the usual cold feet as the days of my engagement go by. But as I've been praying to ask if I am ready or not, I feel a warm peace grow from inside of my chest. It grows out into cover my entire body, like sitting in a warm bath. That warm feeling lets me know that I am ready, and gives me hope as I continue to prepare for my wedding. I know that I am scared and overwhelmed at times when I think about all the responsibility that marriage will bring, but I continue to pray and get the same response, over and over again. Because of the multiple answers that I have received, I know more of God's love and trust that He has in me.

How I live my faith

I treat others very kindly and be honest with myself and others. I serve as a secretary to the women's organization for my local congregation, which is full of other single college students, just like me. I visit my friends at the University's Institute of Religion to talk and brighten their day, when I'm not busy with homework or wedding planning. I am also on the LDS Student Association at my university, to come up with activities so other students with my beliefs can have fun together and bring others to this wonderful religion.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Jess answered...

Women have our own form of power from God. We can give life. We bear and raise children. For us, that is as much responsibility, if not more, as the men have with their priesthood power.
Women have our own organization to help support not only other women in our local congregation, but anyone who is in need of help, whether they are Mormon or not.
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Madelyn answered...

I feel that men and women both have different but equally important roles in getting us back to God. In God's eternal plan we were spirits in His presence before this life. To progress we needed to get bodies on this earth, then perform specific ordinances (eg baptism, marriage) to return to God after this life. Women were given the godly power to bring spirits into this world and give them bodies, then nurture and raise these children with God's inspiration and guidance. The men were assigned the responsibility (through the God's Priesthood power) to serve others and administer the ordinances that will bring God's children back to His presence after this life. Both roles are necessary and equally important to God's plan for us.
I don't think women need the Priesthood to be powerful influences and to do God's work in their homes and in the church. I see men grow spiritually, and their characters become more godly when they act in God's name through using the Priesthood.
I have never felt the need to hold the Priesthood myself. I can still receive all the blessings offered by the Priesthood, my prayers can be just as powerful, and I still have access to the inspiration of God in my life.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

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.