This week's sister spotlight:
Sharon Nielsen
Who is Sharon Nielsen?
Born May 13 and raised in Provo, Sharon Nielsen has gone on
to live a life of international mystery. Already in the 2nd semester
of her freshman year at BYU, Sharon’s life changed when she participated in a
Study Abroad at the Jerusalem Center where she fell in love with Israel and the
bible (and other scriptures, too). Her
experience there changed the course of her life. Upon returning to BYU, she
dropped her German class (gasp!) and picked up Hebrew on her way to a BA in
Near Eastern Studies. After graduation, she completed an MA in Biblical Studies
at the University of Michigan. Her grad school choice was motivated by a desire
to gain an outside perspective on the scriptures to enhance the LDS perspective
she already had. In short, she wanted to see what others were saying about the
scriptures. Today, she puts her training to use as the content editor for the
Joseph Smith Papers website (check out her work http://josephsmithpapers.org/).
The pivotal role of a single scripture
It was a scripture in seminary that played a pivotal role in
her life. When “struggling to figure out if [she] really had a testimony of the
gospel” she expressed this in a testimony meeting. A friend stood up right
after and quoted Alma 32:27: ‘even if ye can no more than desire to believe,
let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give
place for a portion of my words.’ Exactly what she needed to hear, Sharon “put
Alma’s words to the test” studying and praying in earnest. The answer was
simple: “[she] didn’t need a huge manifestation, because [she] already knew the
gospel was true.”
For anyone who has ever struggled when they’ve heard others
say “I know X is true” in their testimony, Sharon’s story provides comfort,
hope and wisdom.
I’ve got music
It’s not surprising that Sharon’s favorite calling was her
time as Relief Society Music Person when she was able to share cool things
about composers, music styles and even the meaning of words of favorite hymns.
Sharon’s pretty darn tootin’ musical! (Pun intended!) Not only is she a soprano
with the Timpanogos Chorale, but a classically trained violinist. Sharon was
invited to become the fiddler for a local Irish Band when one of the band
members heard her play at the Church History Library. If you’ve never seen one
of her concerts, you need to check one out!
Giddy up
Like many of us, Sharon has had a lifelong love of horses.
But unlike most of us, Sharon’s love materialized into reality! She took a BYU
riding class as an undergrad and then when living in Virginia, she volunteered
at a therapeutic riding center she had often passed. She found another
therapeutic riding center in Highland to volunteer at after returning to Utah
several years ago. This time she got to help her sister enjoy riding before she
herself took up riding for her own enjoyment. Since then, she has taken
lessons, rides regularly and has taken cool riding trips to places like Iceland
and Bryce Canyon. And this July, she’ll return to Iceland for 6 days on Iceland
sized horses.
World Traveler
Want to find out about cool places in the world? Ask Sharon.
Not only does she recommend that everyone needs to go to Iceland at least once
in a lifetime (and as her example shows, as many times as you can!), but she’s
lived out East in the DC area and has visited destinations across the US as
well as cool places like Israel, Egypt and Jordan (she’d like to go to Iraq if things
ever calm down there), as well as Europe (including Germany, Switzerland,
Austria, Scandinavia, Czech Republic, and France), UK, Russia, Japan (for her
mission) and that ultraforeign country, Canada.
So funny thing . . .
Sometimes Sharon complains she’s too busy. Yet then when she
thinks about what she’d cut out to free up her time, the answer is simple: NOTHING.
Yes. She’d not cut out a single thing. Why? Because it all keeps her sane. As
Sharon will tell you, ’tis better to be busy doing things you love than be
bored.
Never too busy for a friend
If Sharon could be remembered for anything, she’d want
people to think of her as a good listener and that she knows how to make the
most of life, taking on new adventures and experiences. Sharon is the epitome
of these things among everyone who knows her.
Come expand your own horizons by joining Sharon this week at
her concerts:
This Wednesday:
Her Irish Band plays the Orem Library, 7pm-8pm
No tickets required: it’s FREE!
On Friday:
Her Choir will perform at the Hilltop United Methodist
Church (985 East 106 South, Sandy), 7:30
Tickets $5/person or $20/ for 6 or more (do not need to be
related!)
Can’t make it this week? More performances on the way. And
she’s always looking for hiking partners!
Check out more of Sharon’s awesome talents. . .
at work: http://josephsmithpapers.org/
So cool to hear more about the amazing Sharon!
ReplyDeleteI love Sharon - thanks for spotlighting her! She is truly an outstanding, talented, and diversely fascinating woman!
ReplyDeleteA delightful read!!!--both in getting to know Sharon better and in the presentation of her dynamic life. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the spotlight, you did a great job. I feel I am right there in the middle of the conversation.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I am coming to one of your concerts soon. Get ready for a rowdy Sharon fan section.
I'm super excited to see Doralia get a mosh pit going at Sharon's next concert!
DeleteI'll always remember the email Sharon sent me after my mom died. It was so tender and sweet and meant so much to me. So not only is Sharon all of the things that Laura so wonderfully described but she is loving and thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Katy. Sharon is a rock and has been there by the side of many people. A real example of empathy and tirelessly putting the needs and feelings of others into a place of importance!
ReplyDeleteI knew many of these things, but it was so awesome to learn about Sharon's educational background! I did not realize all that, and how she changed the course of her studies based on the Study Abroad in Jerusalem. So cool! I agree, Sharon is a fabulous and amazing person! :)
ReplyDelete