/**
   * Adds the membership request to the database. Also notifies the appropriate model listeners.
   *
   * @param membershipRequest the membership request
   * @return the membership request that was added
   */
  @Indexable(type = IndexableType.REINDEX)
  @Override
  public MembershipRequest addMembershipRequest(MembershipRequest membershipRequest) {
    membershipRequest.setNew(true);

    return membershipRequestPersistence.update(membershipRequest);
  }