Hi, I'm Nadja

I'm a wife, a mother, a business partner, a teacher, a translator, a child at heart, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a wife, a mother, a choir director, a seminary teacher, a musician, a seamstress, a talker, and a lover of all things beautiful. Living in Paris affords me the luxury of indulging in many of my more secular passions: travel, languages, food, as well as the arts. But living in Paris also affords me the blessing and opportunity of being able to freely share my beliefs, my values, and my life with those around me.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents belonged to two different Christian denominations. After my father passed away, my mother was left to raise me on her own. I was first introduced to the Mormon church, their way of praying and children's songs when I was still very young. My mother's health required a 3-week hospital stay, and she had entrusted me to our neighbors, a young, faithful Mormon couple.

When my mother returned from her hospital stay, I informed her (at the ripe old age of 6.5!!!) that I would no longer be attending "my" church, but that I would be going to church with my neighbors from then on. I taught her the songs I'd learned and challenged her to pray along with me. My mother was open-minded enough to suggest a deal: we would both go to my old church one more time (she'd never accompanied me before), and then we'd visit the Mormon Sunday meetings...

...we were both baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when I turned 8.

I felt it then, and I still feel it today: the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His teachings give me hope, and strength, and the desire to please Him.

How I live my faith

Simply and naturally, I hope. On a daily basis, it means getting up at 6am with the teenagers for scripture study. This is followed by studying a passage from the Book of Mormon with the whole family.
On a broader scale, I teach a weekly class for the 14-18 year olds. I also direct the choir in our area, a task I find enjoyable, even though it's daunting to have the responsibility for making beautiful music :)

Other than that, I try to develop kindness, helpfulness, and caring-and to let my actions reflect my convictions. If I am the only Mormon those around me ever meet, I want them to get a sense of who "we" are by who "I" am.

Why do Mormons perform baptisms for the dead?

Nadja answered...

Baptisms for the dead is not a new practise (see 1. Corinthians 15:29). It is a doctrine that is dear to me, since my father passed away before I had the chance to know him, and before he had the chance to know the Church of Jesus Christ.

We believe that baptism by immersion is a mandatory step for salvation for everyone, but since so many have died without having that opportunity, we perform baptisms for the dead - an act they are then free to accept or reject.

This teaching gives me hope for my family, but not only for my family, but for anyone who died without being able to obey that law. God wouldn't be just if He prevented anyone from obeying His commandments, it just wouldn't make sense.
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Vinson answered...

As a temple ordinance worker for the Mesa Temple for the past 5 years, I have grown in appreciation for the temple and the ordinances that are preformed. I believe that those who have passed-on are given the opportunity to accept the work that is performed in their behalf as if they were here - physically. The initial ordinance of accepting Jesus Christ is baptism. The ordinance of baptism is performed as it was originally by John the Baptist for Jesus in the temple by emersion. The temple gives those that have passed-on the opportunity to accept the mission of Jesus Christ and all the ordinances that he performed.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Kevin answered...

I suppose that new and different things have always been a challenge for some. It seems possible that the New Testament Christians might also have been called a cult: they were few in number, taught new, or at least different, doctrines and were lead by strong, charismatic leaders (a study of the early apostles like Peter or Paul bears this out).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the Mormon church) follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We do not worship our founding prophet (Joseph Smith) or our current prophet (Thomas S. Monson). We teach that men are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrice on the cross and that as we strive to follow Him and keep His commandments, that redemption becomes personal.

If others persist in defining the Church as a cult, in spite of our rather obvious Christian beliefs and doctrines, then we will simply have to agree to disagree.