Hi, I'm Elise

I'm a nerd. I like to be around people, sometimes. I like to think I'm funny, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a history student at Brigham Young University. I love old stories of people I wish I knew, and places I plan to go. I love reading pretty much anything I can get a hold of, fiction or non-fiction, fantasy or sci-fi, great literature or silly teenage book. I especially love Harry Potter ;). Music is a huge part of my life, I would rather be blind than deaf. I love to sing, and I do all the time, even though I'm terrible at it. My favorite thing to do every day is make someone else laugh, or even just smile faintly. It's all worth it when someone you love smiles.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born to Latter-Day Saint parents in Salt Lake City, Utah. Many people assume I stayed Mormon out of convenience, and for the first part of my life I did. I grew up learning about Christ and His gospel, and believing what my mother taught me. But my situation at home required that I make an choice as to what I believed early in my life. At 8 years old, I acted on faith and chose to be baptized, and chose to continue living and learning about the gospel. At 15, I chose to find out for myself whether I knew what I believed, and whether it was true. I read the Book of Mormon, I lived according to its teachings, and I asked sincerely to know if it was true. I got my answer. Since then, I have had countless assurances from the Holy Spirit that it IS true, and because of it I know that I am not alone in this world. I have my Older Brother, my Savior, Jesus Christ, walking right beside me to help me, teach me, and sanctify me.
I believe in miracles. I have seen too many to deny them. My life is a miracle. I know that God continues to work by miracles and revelations just like he has always done. He is the most consistent person in my life, and I am forever indebted to Him for the miracles He has worked for me.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Everyone is different. Everyone has certain talents and personality traits that are unique to them. Sometimes I don't feel like that, sometimes I feel like just another face in the crowd. But I know that God loves me and has asked me to serve Him. And He has given me specific ways to do that service. A talent can be anything, as simple as being a good listener, or having a smile on your face. Those little things can mean the world to others. I know that as I listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, God will help my little talents to help someone else in a big way.

How I live my faith

Right now I am serving a voluntary full-time mission in the great state of Indiana, where a prophet of God sent me to go. I have amazing opportunities every day to meet and serve others and teach them about what has made me so happy.
I do my absolute best every day to love others and treat them how the Savior would treat them.
I repent a lot.
I look forward to raising a family and teaching my children how to gain their own testimony, like I did mine.

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

Trisha answered...

There are doctrinal answers to why we believe we need a Savior to redeem us from the Fall of Adam and to return us to our Father in Heaven that you'll probably come across here. But let me tell you why I need a Savior personally and what He does for me. Christ suffered personally for my pains, sorrows, and sins so that if I ask Him too, He can take them from me. I have been the victim of abuse in my life, and yet through Him I have been able to lay it all at His feet, freely forgive, feel peace, find love, and understand how important negative life experiences can be in teaching us humility. Daily He takes my pain and replaces it with pure love so that I am no longer a victim, but a victor. I need a Savior because He knows me, and through him my flaws become strengths and my pain becomes peace.
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.

Who is the Mormon prophet today?

Amber answered...

President Thomas S. Monson is our current prophet. He is called of God to receive revelation for us today. I am grateful for living prophets and apostles to lead and guide us in this troubled world. I know that they are called of God, and if we follow their counsel we will be happy.