Essay Drafting

Over the course of the semester, our class worked on a personal essay project that taught us how to embrace our identity as Mormon writers while remaining true to our literary roots. We went through multiple drafts, striving to develop focus on topics and moments in our lives that would be engaging to readers while also incorporating connections to the Book of Mormon. This was a difficult process that had frustrations as we tried to find balance and triumphs as we shared our stories and learned just how powerful opening up in a literary way can be.

To help you (future ENGL 268 writers, English Department faculty, friends and family, random internet trolls) understand how we got to this point, we've compiled a record on our experience with developing solid personal essays.

Sharing Time

Christmas is the one time of year when we all get to slow down, even if just for a moment, to spend time with our loved ones and to share beautiful messages about our faith in Christ. During this time of the year, people become more sensitive and more willing to listen about the Savior.

Then, since my personal essay is about my conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I thought I would share my essay with specific Facebook friends who are not members of the church, and of course with the other six people I mentioned in my action plan.

Sometimes our own fears and feelings stand in the way to share about our faith but since Christmas it’s approaching, I though it would be a great opportunity. So, I did! I started out making a point about the true meaning of Christmas, which often gets lost in all the craziness of the season and how it’s very important that we share the love we have for others. Then, I introduced that getting to know Christ could be a life changing experience for everyone, and that I had my own story! So, I knew I had their attention to share my essay and video. It was a beautiful experience!

Sharing a Christian experience was a wonderful idea to invite others to come to Christ during this holiday season. I feel like sharing a gift that matters such as a life changing testimony could be more meaningful that a Christmas postcard that everyone throws away.

Seeing Christmas as a sharing time helped me to share my faith with others and to re-connect with people who are precious to me and whom I have not seen in a very long time. As a result, some of my friends thanked me for sharing such a personal message and of course some others such as my sister, who are not active in the church have not responded yet; but I am they know that Christ is the true gift of the season.   

La Ultima Pieza del Rompecabezas

Una amigable conversión, la última pieza que cambió mi vida!

Recovering Lost Contacts

Having an action plan would help me to locate my target audience. I’m sure that some people in my network will be more interested in reading my personal essay to know more about the gospel, especially those who are not LDS!

Although most people I chose have not been very close to me lately, now its a good time to reconnect with them... 

1. My friend, Montse who got baptized the same day I did. I’m sure Montse would be very interested in actually reading my personal essay via facebook and perhaps she might feel compelled to write about her conversion as well. Even though Montse and I used to be very close friends, we have been out of touch for several months since the beginning of this semester.    

2. Elder Alvarez who was one of the missionaries who taught me about the gospel. I think he might be interested since he speaks Spanish only and my essay is written in Spanish. Although I’m connected with him via social media, we have not been very close. However, I’m pretty sure he will be happy to receive a link to my personal essay.

3. Elder Heninger who was the other missionaries who taught me about the gospel. We are also connected via social media, but since he lives in Utah, we have been in touch several times this year. I can probably share my personal essay and video through Facebook. 

4. My mother, Rose Mary. Although she already knows about this experience, she would be interested in watching my video and reading my personal essay just because she is not LDS but she likes to read the Ensign. Also, she’d probably be okay with me just sending a link to her email.

5. My young women’s president, Sister Angels. Actually, I think she would be interested in reading my personal essay because I recently asked her for a couple of experiences from her mission for a class assignment. I can probably send an email with a link to my essay.

6. My high school teacher, Ara. She was a great literature teacher and we always had a great relationship. She would love to read my personal essay because she likes to read and also because she is not LDS. I’m sure Ara would be fine if I send her a link to my essay.

7. Finally, I would like to share Emily’s video when she talks about accepting her insanity, just because I feel it’s very engaging, funny and has a message about a path to succeed that I would like to share with my friends.

My LDS Conversion

I wanted to invite people to learn more about my conversion to the LDS church. It is fascinating how your life can change by knowing the true gospel! I highly recommend you to read my personal essay and practice your Spanish skills!

Escuchando el Consejo de mi Esposo

“Vuestra alma será bendecida al aprender a escuchar, y luego al escuchar para aprender de los cónyuges …todo lo cual aumentará vuestra capacidad para escuchar el consejo de Dios” Elder Russell M. Nelson, Abril 1991. “Escuchad para Aprender”

Con esta frase en mente, decidi compartir mi ensayo personal con uno de los hombres que posee mi entera confianza, a quien admiro profundamente no solo por sus logros sino por el afanoso deseo que el pone para ayudarme a ser major persona.

Después de haber compartido mi ensayo original con mi esposo, me percate que hay ciertas modificaciones que hacer. Uno de los primeros consejos que el me dio fue agregar detalles que ayudarian a dirigir al lector hacia una descripción mas especifica que yo, siendo el orador, doy por hecho algo que mi audiencia desconoce.

Con esto me die cuenta que doy pocos detalles, especificamente en como fue que los misioneros dieron respuesta a mis preguntas cuando decidi unirme a la iglesia. Incluso describir un poco mas acerca del proceso que los Santos de los Ultimos Dias seguimos cuando nos bautizamos seria muy conveniente para aquellos que desconocen del tema.

Asimismo, mi esposo sugirió que pudiera hacer que mi voz se escuche, para enfatizar que es un ensayo personal. En otras palabras poder agregar un dialogo en que mi voz se haga presente en la historia y que el lector pueda llegar a conocer mas el propósito de la lectura.

Finalmente, obtener retroalimentación de una tercer persona ajena a la clase me ayudo a tener un panorama mas amplio y en obtener ideas de como mejorar mi escritura. De la misma manera, el poder escuchar el consejo de mi esposo siempre me ayudado a poder tener un mayor conocimiento, pero mayor aun, a escuchar par aprender.