Thursday, January 20, 2011

"The Gospel Made Me Free"



I watched this music video before reading the back-story about the LDS female pop-singer Jonna Christensen (catchy name, yeah?) who sings it.  Since becoming a Mormon, Jonna has started using her music to express the principles of the gospel which bring her the most joy.  In this song, she is singing the praises of being modest, and being in charge of your choices.  Give it a listen and see if you don't fall in love with it too.  Then read this excerpt from the article about her from MormonTimes.com:



Jonna says, “It’s saddened me to see how most of the media in the world wants to take away the most valuable treasure — the purity and virtue of women. I believe that our virtue is so important to our Heavenly Father that the adversary wants to attack it,” Jonna said. “I found that out for myself when I woke up and realized that immodesty made me a very sad girl. I wrote this song so that I could talk about this issue openly and hopefully help others avoid making the same mistakes I made.”
Jonna said her life prior to finding the gospel was “almost the opposite of what it is now.”
“I used to think I enjoyed the attention that you get when you're dressed in revealing clothes, but, like I say in my song, it did not fill up the hole I had inside of me," she said. "I wasn't really looking for that kind of attention, I was looking for love. And I have experienced in my life that it is very rare to find love where lust is."
Jonna has realized more of her divine worth as she’s dressed modestly.
“(I’ve) felt more valuable and (have) learned to respect myself on a whole new level.”
Jonna said she is grateful that the missionaries taught her about modesty and many other life-changing principles. They have given her a new vision to share in her music.
Some of her Finnish fans didn’t respond well to her conversion, but Jonna was and is determined to keep moving forward. God definitely has his hand in this new turn in her career.
“I know that everything happens for a reason," Jonna said. "I have never regretted joining the church even though my popularity did take a hit as I had feared. My choice was the unpopular one in Finland at that time. But I always knew that my Heavenly Father had a plan for me. As I made the covenant with him, I promised to take (Christ’s) name upon myself and to do everything, even my career, within the boundaries that he has set. I knew that I would be happier that way. And I am.”
___________
To that, I say, ROCK ON, Jonna!


So, what do you guys say?

17 comments:

  1. SO awesome. thanks so much for sharing the whole story.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is great! What an inspirational story! I'm an advisor in YW in my ward and this would be an excellent thing to share with the girls! Thanks for sharing such uplifting things! You know I love your blog!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So last night we talked about being modest with my son (age 3). He had a story book of some of the girls not dressed super modest. We gave him to choice if he wanted to get rid of the book or to keep it. After we talked with him about why Heavenly Father wants us to be modest. He told us he wanted to take the book to the car and give it away. So I'm probably a little extreme in having a children's story taken out of house but with the fight against respecting a woman or a man in how they dress I felt like it was important. Great follow up for us from last night.

    ReplyDelete
  4. interesting video...wonderful to see someone standing for right who is in the spotlight...our teenage girls are lost in immodesty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I say, "Good for Jonna!" Really impressive!!

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for doing what is right even if it was scary. I remember all to well how hard high more college was with immodest being how you should dress. If you didn't you were strange or crazy like me. Your not a lone we love you and I think your amazing for doing what is right :0)

    ReplyDelete
  7. JC, If you were a pop star, this is exactly how I'd picutre you. Cool,funky,sassy and smart! I can even picture you writing this song. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It is so hard to change from what you are used to to something new and better. And to do that while in the spotlight ... good for Jonna!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for sharing this. That is an awesome song. She has an amazing voice!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love it! Her voice is beautiful and the song is really catchy and fun! And how brave of her to stand up for what she believes in. I just go called to YW and now the first thing I want to do is show this video to all the girls! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow! Rock on, indeed, Jonna! That's wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have never heard of her, but I will be purchasing her music for my girls! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wowwwwwwwwwww! This is an awesome story and I love her perspective. God really does have a miraculous plan in mind if we can only listen to his guidance in our own lives.
    Amazing...
    -CK

    ReplyDelete
  14. I shared the video with my teenagers, they loved it! thanks for sharing once again!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jocelyn & readers, thank you for sharing this article and your wonderful comments. My wife has recently released a new song you might also appreciate. The song is called, "Simple Life, and it is about choosing uplifting priorities. You can listen to it
    here.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jocelyn & readers, thank you for sharing this article and your wonderful comments. My wife has recently released a new song you might also appreciate. The song is called, "Simple Life, and it is about choosing uplifting priorities. You can listen to it
    here.

    ReplyDelete