Hi, I'm Jesse

I'm a dreamer. I think in stories. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I don't think I've ever taken "this is the real world" as an answer. I believe in story. I believe in my story. I'm close to the end of a big family, and I spent a lot of my childhood reading books. I refuse to believe this world is as good as it's going to get, and I'm in school trying to find out what it is that enchants me about great stories, so I can make new ones and share them with the world.

I want to know everything about the universe I live in and the people in it. I can listen to strangers' life stories for hours. I love seeing new things and being in new places. I love new gadgets and new forests, new houses and new people. I live at the beginning of the kind of story I'd love to read about.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents didn't try to indoctrinate me, make me repeat creeds or memorize dogma so I didn't embarrass them. They simply presented their view of how the world is as fact. I grew to reject that, deciding that nothing can really be proved at all.

My first truly spiritual moment came after I watched an action movie. A minor character had been shown in a throwaway scene on a random adventure, riding an elephant. That picture stuck in my mind and I knew that no matter what really causes everything we see, I would rather live my life in the way that would lead me to be on random adventures riding and elephant. I knew, right then, that that was appropriate.

Faith doesn't just happen, it grows. The more I followed that then-elusive feeling the more I learned about what attracts it, what repels it, what it comes from and what it means. It was the Holy Ghost testifying of truth. I still have a lot to learn, but I know I always will.

Try it. The deepest, most personal experiences you've had, compare them with how you feel (not on a skin-deep level! If you and me were the only two people in the universe!) when you learn about this church, these truths, and me. This church tells the truth. This is the way things are.

Personal Stories

How has The Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

It has pieces of the life stories of dozens of people, every one of them wanting to be happy. As the simple doctrine of Christ was presented I found out that every one of us has the potential to be perfect, to stop doing things that hurt us. Someday you and me can stop making mistakes and never feel the disappointment of a loved one again. I saw in the stories a museum: a display on how hurting others always leads to unhappiness. A diorama on how if we don't give a good example other people won't know what to do. A piece on how even the worst of us can be saved. Most of all, on how Christ is already doing all He can to reach us, and how we need to try every moment of our lives to do all we can to reach Him.

How I live my faith

I have a really goofy grin. Big overbite, huge buck teeth. I share it when I'm on the street, on public transportation, competing with traffic on my bike. It brightens peoples' days. If I could spend every moment of the rest of my life doing things that made people really, truly smile, deep inside and outside too, I would be happy.

How are the activities of the Mormon missionaries funded?

Jesse answered...

I worked. The Lord prepared my way, and I found excellent jobs with Sears and with the U.S. Postal Service. I saved up all the money I would need for two years and left it with my parents, and they made sure a bit of it was donated to the missionary fund every month. I'd already done the work, living on ramen noodles and peanut butter and sharing a studio apartment, so for those two years I was free to concentrate on helping people.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Kathryn answered...

As a primary president in my ward, I share in the direction and leadership of our ward. I don't feel secondary in any way. Whether you have the priesthood or not, you are still responsible to listen to the direction of the Savior. The priesthood is a tool and power that is the same power of the Savior. It allows the human authority to do work on earth, particularly perform ordinances, and bless others. As if the Savior was here in person during His ministry accounted for in the New Testament. I would use an analogy to compare the priesthood as a car. A car is an amazing tool allowing you to get you from here to there. I don't mind my husband driving and I can offer some navigation or work the radio, as long as we and our children get there.