When I first started chatting online in 1996, there wasn’t an LDS.org website. I was also a bit naive, not realizing most people I encountered online had no idea who Mormons were. When the question of where I was from was asked, there would always be one person in the room who would say, “Utah eh? Are you a Mormon?” When I responded “Yes,” the conversation in the room would always turn into a Q&A session about Mormons. It didn’t take me long to realize that most people just wanted to find out more about what I believed. They didn’t want to talk to the Missionaries, at least not at first. One person in that I was talking with in 1997 did contact the missionaries and was baptized. But, there are many others that only wanted a few curiosities resolved. It was then that I learned the most important thing I could do is set a good example for my religion, because I may be the only Mormon these people would ever talk to. I would be the one who would determine their perspective of all Mormons.
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My Roots in LDS.net
Investigators from Finland
A few months ago I was asked by Mailis and Hanne_Line if there could be a site created for LDS members from Finland and Norway, respectfully. I created a Finnish and Norwegian forum and chat room for them on LDS.net, and Mailis and Hanne_Line agreed to be the moderators. Mailis and Hanne are such wonderful women, and it has been so amazing to have them be a part of the site. I really appreciate all their dedication and effort they have done to build up the information for the Church in their native language. It’s been such a wonderful experience to see the feedback from having these forums available to members and investigators of those countries.
Because of the Finnish and Norwegian sections of the website, I regularly get messages from people in those countries wondering where a Church is located and how to find out more. Mailis has currently been talking to two investigators from Finland, TMS1 and Tytto_19. TMS1 really wants to be baptized, and Tytto_19 went to Church with Mailis last Sunday. It is so neat to see the missionary work that is happening everyday on LDS.net.