About the Authors
Thaddeus – I grew up in a grand LDS family and served a two-year mission in beautiful Wisconsin. It was a fantastic experience to share with people the joy that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I taught people of all backgrounds, many of whom knew next to nothing about the Church. Now, back in Utah, I’m a student at Utah State University, studying mechanical engineering. I had a kind of inkling to do a blog like this months before it happened; it finally tumbled out when I heard Elder Ballard’s encouragement to ‘join the online conversation’ about the Mormon Church. Contact me
Megan – I was raised in an active LDS family and have been a member of the LDS church since my baptism at age eight. I was married in the Manti temple in 2003 and have a lovely growing family that I delight in caring for and nurturing full-time. Currently, our family consists of an almost four year old son, a two year old daughter and a newborn baby boy. It is horribly humbling and hugely rewarding to see my children learning the gospel in our home!
Ben – I grew up in Southern Utah. At the age of eighteen I finally decided that I needed to find out for myself the truth of the religion that I had grown up in, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I searched the Book of Mormon, the truthfulness of this book and the man by whom it was translated, Joseph Smith, was affirmed in my heart and mind. Not long after this experience I went to Russia to teach the people there the knowledge that I had received and share with them the joy that my religion brings me. This period of my life had an enormous impact on me. The wealth of knowledge that I gleaned from those two years still buttresses me in my day to day life. I currently attend medical school in Texas, am married (to the best woman I have ever known), and have two children. Life couldn’t be any better; there is nothing but happiness to be found in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jancisco – I also grew up in an active LDS home (very similar to Thaddeus’ – okay, exactly the same home). I became converted to the church myself, though, in high school. I also served a mission in Russia for a year and a half and saw the miracle of joy that enters people’s hearts when they understand their purpose on earth and God’s love for them. That’s why I am so excited about sharing the gospel–it makes people happy. Currently, I live in Texas with my attractive husband and two wonderful children.
Bret - I grew up near Seattle until I was 12 and then in Highland, Utah. Being related to the Gillespie clan has gotten me into writing articles for this site, something that I enjoy very much. I am a student in the USU Electrical Engineering program and I served two years as a missionary in Southern Brazil, teaching the people there and loving it. I am a great fan of fine music and literature and I love to read and play musical instruments. Eu amo o evangelho de Jesus Cristo e traze muito alegria e paz para minha vida.
Curtis - You may recognize me as the guitarist of Coldplay. If you do, however, you are wrong. But, I do love playing and recording music of all kinds. I also believe that basketball and ultimate frisbee are the two greatest activities ever invented by humans. And my life went like this: I was born in Alaska and lived in Germany for a time while my dad served in the military. Then, eventually we settled in Utah where I lived till the ripe age of 19 when I went to serve for two years as an LDS missionary in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I now profess to study mechanical engineering at BYU. I owe much to the man who, in an English class, introduced my dad at age 19 to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s ridiculous the amount of good that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has brought into my life.
Beetle – I also grew up in the same house as Jancisco and Thaddeus. I love my family and being an aunt to four of the sweetest little humans on the planet.
I’m currently studying Continental Philosophy and Community Health at UVU. I spent the summer of 2008 in a little village called Lugazi, Uganda with a group of volunteers working on various humanitarian projects.
Africa has a very special place in my heart. It really opened my eyes to the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Turns out, it all comes down to love. Recently, I have completed the paperwork necessary for full-time mission service for the LDS church and I am preparing to enter the mission field at the end of this semester.
Bus – I was born and raised in Provo, Utah in the shadow of BYU the Church’s university. Therefore I got a Building Construction degree at Utah Trade Tech., a bachelor’s at Utah State University, a master’s at the University of Utah, and another master’s through the University of Phoenix. I grew up in the Church, served in many positions including: Sunday School Teacher, Primary Teacher, Scoutmaster, Young Men’s Leader, Elder’s Quorum President, and most recently as a Bishop. I served a mission in the beautiful land of Austria, und ich spreche noch ein bißchen Deutsch. I am the proud father of six wonderful children who are engaged in doing good in their respective spheres of life. After teaching high school history and government classes for 28 years at Orem High School I retired and shifted my career path. I work as an educational counselor at Alpine District’s alternative school, East Shore High, and I also teach classes in everything from philosophy, psychology, history, and sociology for the University of Phoenix.
Dave – I am a student at Brigham Young University, studying biochemistry and economics. I grew up in the starkly different towns of Las Vegas, NV and Provo, UT. I was raised LDS, but it was around the time of late high school that I feel like I was really converted to the faith. My mission in Texas shortly afterwards was an epic time of my life: I left Texas with a firmer testimony in my own faith, and an appreciation for other faiths as well.
Recently I have become involved in interfaith dialogues with evangelical Christians and visitors to Utah (if only I could do that for a living). I love Mormonism, and I love talking about it. Oh, another thing I learned from my mission was Spanish. So if you speak Spanish, feel free to ask a question, and I’ll try my best. My email address is mixterhealey@gmail.com if you want to contact me personally.
Steve I’ve lived in Utah for the majority of my life. I served an LDS mission in the states of Washington and Oregon. I’m happily married and have two adorable children. I’m currently going to medical school in Des Moines, Iowa. I love playing basketball and am currently working on my goal of dunking a basketball.
Kendra – I am a convert to the LDS faith. My mom, brother and I joined when I was 11 years old. Prior to this we were active Lutherans living in Mesa, Arizona. Although I was surrounded by Mormons I was a little skeptical of the religious beliefs I heard from my friends, and my stepdad who was also a Mormon. When my family moved to Indiana, my mom started listening to the LDS missionaries and decided to be baptized into the Mormon church. My brother and I then began taking the lessons and my young heart began to change. I always believed in God and loved going to church, but as I listened to the missionaries, I felt something new and I began to understand who God really was. I wanted to be baptized, and it has been the best decision I ever made. Later in life, I served a mission to Argentina to share my testimony with the wonderful people of that land. After my mission I moved to Utah where I now live and enjoy life.
