Hi, I'm Chani

I'm a ballroom dancer, an avid librarian, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born in Utah, the youngest of five kids. I was going to College, majoring in English with a triple minor in Japanese, Ballroom and Editing. I'm serving my mission right now, Spanish speaking, so I think my Japanese minor will probably change to a Spanish Major. I love dancing, whether it be Ballroom or any other type, and playing Ultimate Frisbee. In short, I just like to be active. I'm a librarian by trade, and I love to read, mostly fantasy! In short, I'm just trying to live the best I can, which is always better with the Lord's help!

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into the church, but like many rebellious teens I decided to go my own way for a while. At that point, everything in my life went downhill. I didn't want anything to do with God, and everything reflected it. I was always fighting with my family, had rotten luck with boyfriends, friends, and everything else. I was suffering from severe depression, and without hope. It seemed I had hit rock bottom, and I didn't know where to turn.

Everything changed after one aweful Christmas fighting with my family. They were asking me questions I didn't want to, or know how to answer. When the missionaries were at my apartment teaching my roommate, I decided to listen. She had some questions that I tried to answer, but more than that we decided to read together. We read the Book of Mormon, and I started to really pray for help.

At that point, everything in my life changed. As I started to have a true testimony of the restored gospel, I found peace, forgiveness, and real, lasting happiness. My life turned around, and I will never look back!

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I found my eternal home. The hope of an eternal, happy family. No matter what problems come, I know the best solution is living the gospel of Jesus Christ. He'll never lead us astray, and He knows who we are individually. I know this is the true church, and I'm grateful for a loving father who brought me home again!

Personal Stories

What is hope and what do you hope for?

HOPE. Having Optimistic, Positive Experiences. We talk about faith a lot in the church. Faith is hope in things which are not seen, which are true. I always thought faith was just something people had, but really, that's just belief. Faith is hope. Hope is more than believing in a principle, it's believing that the principle applies specifically to YOUR life. When you have true faith, you believe in the promises of God, and you act accordingly so that you can receive the blessings! It's like believe that baptism is good. Of course it's good... but is it good enough that you'll make the changes you need to follow the example of Jesus Christ? It is. I have hope in a better world, and that this isn't it. That baptism is just a stepping stone in our lives so that we can keep going, and eventually get back to God! We're not perfect, we all slip and fall at times. But I have hope that the savior will always be there to lift me up again, and that we really can change. Every day, I have hope, and I look for the good of God. When you look for the good, you find it, and ditto to the bad. So, being optimistic, and looking for the bright side in every situation, that's what real hope is. It's believing that all things are for our good, so that we can learn, grow and progress. I have the hope to act on my faith... to trust in God until the end. That's what brings true happiness!

Why do Mormons go on missions?

I came on my mission because I realized how much the gospel had changed my life, and how it made me happy. I wanted to share that with everyone I knew, and even those I didn't! It's something so amazing, you just can't keep it to yourself, nor would you want to! Something that really stuck out to me was something I read on a gravestone. It said "No empty chairs, Please." It's like a dinner party- you've issued all the invitations, counted on the number of people you're going to have, made all the preparations, set a place for each person... only to have the party start, and not everybody showed up. I don't want to get to heaven, and have all the people I love not be there! I don't want there to be empty chairs, but it's please because I can't force them there. All I can do is invite them... so that's why I'm on my mission. I'm inviting people to come unto Christ, so that they can have Eternal Life and be happy forever! There's nothing that will make me happier, because honestly, this has been the most rewarding time of my life to help people change for the better. I went on my mission because of that desire to share the greatest gift we can ever have! I love my savior, and I love the people I meet every day. It's not easy to talk to a complete stranger and ask them if they want to change their lives, or even if they want to have a closer relationship to Christ. But I'm doing it because no matter how many don't want to learn, every person I can help to see the light of Christ, is one more friend for eternity! One person means everything to me, and I serve because I love them, even though I may not know them. Mostly, I serve because I was able to see myself as a daughter of God, with divine potential, and because I see everyone with that potential, and I want to help them rise to meet it!

How I live my faith

Right now, I'm serving a full-time mission for the Lord, and sharing my testimony of the atonement and restored gospel! There's no greater joy than giving back the gift of freedom and happiness I've recieved! In reality, the gospel has changed my life so completely, and I love sharing that with people! Sharing how the gospel blesses our lives every day, and inviting people to find out for themselves.

I live by sharing the joy of the restored gospel, of dedicating my life to the Lord. I love seeing people gain their own testimony, and really taking part in this gospel. How I live my faith is by giving back a small part of what I have been given... which is everything!

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Sean answered...

Before I was baptized, a missionary told me that I could read the Book of Mormon and find out for myself if it was true. I liked that idea. I've always been a person who wanted to know the truth for myself. After the missionary had suggested I read it, I decided to try. It was a big step of faith to pick up a book and read it without knowing for sure. Over time, I developed a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.

The same goes for knowing if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of Christ once again established on this earth. A simple prayer to your Heavenly Father can open so many doors of truth.

The real way that I know it is true is how it has helped my life. Without the Church, I'd be lost. I am grateful for it, and for the knowledge I have that it is true.
Ian answered...

Live it. If you can commit to yourself and God to give all you have to discovering for yourself if the church is true through living the principles taught and asking God, in the name of Christ, to reveal the truth to you, I can give you my personal witness you will feel in your heart the comforting reassurance that you have found the truth. Moroni 10:3-5

Where did Mormonism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begin?

Bari answered...

In the early 1800´s a wave of religious interest known as "The Great Awakening" swept the United States, and with it several new Christian churches. With so many different opinions on The Bible, many people were confused about which church was true. A young man named Joseph Smith lived in upstate New York with his family. They visted several churches and listened to several different preachers, but still came to no conclusion. A Bible passage in the first chapter of James reads "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God," and upon reading this and feeling very impressed by it, Joseph Smith decided that he could only get an answer through God. One day in the spring of 1820, he went into a grove near his house and began to pray. Unexpectedly, he was visted by God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, who told him that the Church organization Christ established on the Earth, the Priesthood authority to do sacred things, and many simple doctrines had been lost after His death and that of His Apostles. Christ also told Joseph Smith that with time, He would restore His church with the proper authority again on the Earth. After this visit, Christ sent other heavenly messengers inclding Peter, James, and John to lay their hands on Joseph Smith´s head and give Priesthood authority just like it was given in times of old. Over the course of 10 years, the same church that Christ established in His Earthly ministry with all its offices and the fullnes of the Gospel was restored.