  We suggest a finite element method for computing minimal surfaces based on
computing a discrete Laplace-Beltrami operator operating on the coordinates of
the surface. The surface is a discrete representation of the zero level set of
a distance function using linear tetrahedral finite elements, and the finite
element discretization is done on the piecewise planar isosurface using the
shape functions from the background three dimensional mesh used to represent
the distance function. A recently suggested stabilization scheme is a crucial
component in the method.
