Hi, I'm Melissa

I'm an adventuress. I love to experience the sights, sounds, and especially the people of various cultures. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm the kind of person that wants to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel everything. I'm in a constant pursuit to find balance with so many competing interests. I love physical exercise, and participate in long-distant races and triathlons. I am in my element when expressing something beautiful through modern dance. I look for any excuse to be outside- reading good books in natural light, hiking, rock-climbing, snowboarding, and most recently I've tried a little ice-climbing. My family plays music together (we call ourselves a band), and so live music equals home to me.

I feel most alive when I am learning or exploring something new with people I love.

Why I am a Mormon

I seek Truth. Truth with a capital T. Truth that is unchangeable regardless of time or circumstance. I feel that I have found this in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I don't just believe in this truth, I love it.

I love it, even though I don’t understand or know everything. I look at it like a big puzzle. The more I learn about God and His ways, the more pieces are added and start fitting together. The pieces I have are individually beautiful and intricate. But there are also some pieces missing to my view. Some may say, “Too many missing pieces, doesn’t make sense.” However, these gaps can be filled in with faith… and therefore, I can see a whole picture, and it is grand. Some of these gaps may or may not fill in as I continue searching and learning, but the holes don’t bother me. Viewing that whole picture helps me find purpose in my life, and gives me perspective to get through rough times.

You can explore many of these truths here on mormon.org. And when you've finished that, you can study for the rest of your life, and never be finished with learning new truths! I am a student of the doctrines taught in the Church on a daily basis, and am still astounded with new nuggets of truth frequently.

All of these truths meld together in a most exquisite way within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So many “pieces of the puzzle” are here because of additional scripture to complement the Bible, a living prophet giving us current messages from God, and instruction on how to hear God's voice in our lives (not audible for me, but more like how he teaches my soul). And the missing pieces? We get to let faith hold their place for now. I see the picture. And I believe it- not because I am blind, but because I can see.

How I live my faith

My heart is drawn to alleviate suffering and poverty in the world through grassroots community development. This has taken me to different lands (China, Uganda, India), where I have been privileged to work with local people to identify needs and resources and been able to collaboratively come up with sustainable solutions. In China, I worked in an orphanage for children with disabilities, where I developed and implemented a program to help the children receive more appropriate care. In Uganda, we helped a group of poor women start a jewelry-making business to support their families. In India, we built toilets in the slums and did hand-washing and germ education.
Here in the US I attend a Chinese LDS congregation. My Chinese is very limited, but the members of the congregation are so lovingly helping me with it! Within the congregation, I work with the young women ages 12-18. We plan activities that help the girls grow physically, socially, and spiritually as they gain skills that will prepare them for college and to eventually be awesome mothers.

Mormons believe Jesus Christ is their Savior. Why do we need a Savior?

Melissa answered...

I believe because I have been able to change through the encouragement of a living Savior, One who literally is alive today and working in my life. Jesus died, but then overcame death! I have bad habits and personality flaws and tendencies to things that are wrong, that I cannot overcome on my own. I have tried to go it alone, and make these changes independently—with little success. But when I turn to Him, there is a new power there, His experience gained in suffering for me gives Him the power to help me change. And that is something that I know could only come from a LIVING Savior.
Meaghan answered...

Have you ever met a perfect person? I doubt it. Why? Because everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake or are confused on what you should do, you want someone to help you, right? We all need someone to help us. We all need a Savior. We always hear that Jesus Christ saved us, but what does that truly mean? It not only means that he suffered and died for you personally, it means that he lived and lives for us too. He wants to help us. Jesus Christ is the only one who underestands everything that we go through. He not only wants to make up for the mistakes we make, but he wants to carry our burdens too. All we need to do is let him carry our burdens. Everyone faces personal challenges and Jesus is there to help. Everyone makes a mistake qa some point in life too. The beauty of having a Savior, is the fact that we can be forgiven. Sometimes our hands get dirty, but they can always be washed clean.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Nathan answered...

I go to college in what many people consider the "bible belt" of America. Many people assume I'm not a christian or that I don't believe in Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God. Most people don't realize just how christian our faith is and they're usually surprised at how similar many of our beliefs are. The truth is Jesus Christ is the Son of God and there is no other name by which people can be saved. Jesus Christ is my savior and the Savior of the world. His goodness is available to all and brings happiness to anyone who reaches out to Him.