Hi, I'm Chelsea

I'm a student. I'm a hula dancer. I have traveled the world as a humanitarian. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Utah County although I moved a lot when I was younger. I currently am serving a full time mission for the church, but before was going to school to a nurse (major subject to change). I love to be involved in school and have served on Student Government for 6 crazy years and loved it! I love service and humanitarian projects and have been to Africa, Mexico, and Thailand to further that work. I love event planning and my true passion is getting other youth involved in service. I love to sing, hula, wakeboard, spend time on the boat with my family, the ocean, scrapbooking, movies, and seeing the world.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into the church and have parents who have always been strong in their beliefs. They taught me since I can remember that I had a Heavenly Father who loves and cares about me. I remember really wanting to know for myself at a very young age if that really was true and had been taught how to pray. At seven years old i got down on my knees and asked if he was there, if he knew who I was and if he loved me. I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of love and peace and I knew without out a doubt that the Lord was there and was very aware of me - that I truly am his child. That really started my journey of faith and I knew I could ask and pray about anything. Many years later I read the Book of Mormon and had heard countless times about Joseph Smith. I remembered those feelings as my prayers had been answered before and that led me to ask if Joseph Smith really was a prophet, if the Book of Mormon was true, and truly if this church is Christ's true church. I can tell you that I really have gained that witness for myself over and over again - I didn't just go off of my parent's conviction but know for myself. I know that God lives. This is his true church once again restored to the earth. It has the fullness of His Gospel and contains the answers to all of life's questions. His atoning sacrifice is what heals us not only from our sins and guilt - but from our pains, sicknesses, weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures. He is our Lord and Redeemer and Joseph Smith was his Prophet. Because I know he was a prophet, I can promise you the Book of Mormon is the word of God...and truly it is the BEST news Ever!

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer in my life is what gets me through each and every day. It is the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do a night. However, it does not stop there! I find myself praying all day long...whether it is on my food, to help me find my keys, to help me do well on a test, or even the tough questions : where should I go to college! I don't think I could make it through life without prayer because I know there is a God in Heaven who sees things much clearer than I do and knows the beginning from the end. Often times I get my answers through a conviction of the Holy Ghost, but also from the words of the scriptures. I believe that if you want to talk to God you pray and if you want to hear from him - you turn to the scriptures. I could write forever on the answers to prayers I have received, the comfort I have had, the joy I have felt as I pray, and the help that comes from knowing I can pray at any time and any place.

How I live my faith

I am very active in the church and right now am currently serving a mission to find those who want to learn more about Jesus Christ. I have been very involved in the youth programs all growing up and especially in college as we have organized groups specifically for young single adults. I loved also being able to be a teacher to the very youngest kids on sundays and that has been a joy.

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Chelsea answered...

We invite all people to come to the temple! However, inside we make very sacred promises with God and before we can make those promises we have to make sure we are living in harmony with God's commandments and laws. In fact, not all Mormons are able to go to the temple right away because of age, maturity, worthiness, and an understanding of the seriousness of the promises they will be making. Nothing is secret in the temple, we only do not talk about it because we find it to be too sacred to talk about casually and outside of the temple. I can promise you that everything that is done in the temple is uplifting and beautiful! We are married there and believe that by being married by proper authority in the House of God we can be married for all time and all eternity...not just until "death do us part". We learn of things about the eternities and gain an enhancement of the basic doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do work for those who have passed on and may not have had the chance to be baptized in this life or make those promises. We can literally stand in and be a proxy for our ancestors - this is an act of love and service. We believe that everyone will be taught this gospel whether it is in this life or the next and will have the chance to accept or reject the work done within the temple. I can tell you that in the temple is the place I feel closest to my Heavenly Father and hope all can come and visit the House of the Lord.
Don answered...

Recently I taught a Sunday School lesson about the Apostle Paul who was cast into jail because of being falsely accused of taking non-jews into the holy parts of the ancient temple. The penalty for doing so was death. It caused me to think of the sacredness of the temple, and that people throughout history have gone through a preparation process in order to approach God through temple worship.

In our time, both members of the church and non-members who have not prepared are turned away from the sacred parts of the temple not because of secrets, but rather due to the sacred nature of the temple and the preparation required to go there. Anyone can go to the temple, given they prepare themselves and demonstrate that preparation in a visit with those responsible for qualifying persons for entrance to the temple.

I love the peace that comes from being in the temple, having prepared myself to approach the Lord in His house. I feel His Spirit there. I am grateful that others who are there have prepared themselves in the same way.

Anyone who wants to know more about the nature of the temples can ask any missionary what it takes to qualify to go there. My personal experience and witness is that it is worth qualifying oneself and experiencing the beauty and peace that is constantly there.

How can I find someone to talk with, in person, about the Mormon religion?

Aly answered...

On Mormon.org you can chat with a missionary online. At first I didn't feel comfortable inviting missionaries over to my house, so I chatted online with a missionary in Utah. I found that missionaries are just normal people, with normal hobbies and interests. After that I felt more comfortable, and I submitted the form to request that missionaries come to my house to teach me. Missionaries are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you have about the Mormon faith.