Chat With a Mormon Online

Your privacy is important to us. Please read our Privacy Policy.

Hi, I'm Mike

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am 70 years old. I retired four years ago from the insurance business. I also worked for 25 years in the grocery business. I graduated from college in 1965. I enjoy fishing, golf, and travel. I also enjoy researching my family history. I have a wife, three children, and seven grandchildren.

Why I am a Mormon

My mother was a member of the Church her whole life. Her father was a patriarch in the Church. My father coverted from Catholicism at the age of 25 before he and mom got married. I was born into the Church. During my early years growing up in Idaho, our family wasn't active in the Church, because mom and dad owned and operated a drive in restaurant, and it required their attention 24/7 during the nine months of the year that it was open. Consequently, the family only went to Church during the three winter months. At the age of 16, I began to become very interested in religion. I decided to read the Bible, so that I could learn more. At the age of 17, after graduating from High School, I went off to college at BYU in Provo, Utah. When I got to the Y, I discovered that everyone had to take one religion class per term. That was a blessing to me, because I came to know the Church, and to develop a testimony of it. At the age of 20, I decided to serve a 2 1/2 year mission for the Church. There my knowledge and testimony continued to grow. When I got back from my mission, I got a job with a grocery chain, and continued to pursue my education at the University of Utah. I graduated in 1965. I got married in 1964. In 1966, I had the opportunity to go into management with the grocery chain. As I worked my way up, I finally became the Assistant Store Manager. In that position, I had to work six days a week, and every other Sunday. I was working between 70 and 80 hours per week. I loved the outdoors, and didn't want to spend my two free Sundays per month at Church. I prefered to golf, fish, and ride my motorcycle in the mountains. One day my son, who was four years old, asked his mother why he had to go to Church. "Why can't I stay home with Dad?'' That was a wake up call. Previously, I had told myself that the only one this was affecting was me. How wrong I was! I then determined to become active in the Church again, and I am so glad that I did! Some of the features of the true church are things like: (1) being built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets; (2) having the Holy Ghost present and functioning in our lives; (3) having the priesthood of God, coupled with the keys of the priesthood; (4) modern day revelation; (5) additional books of scripture that support and clarify the Bible; (6) modern day miracles, and (7) the spirit of testimony. I can't consieve of life without the Church. It has been such a great help to me, my children, and now my grandchildren.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

There is a Mormon author who wrote a book and talked about the difference in believing IN Christ, and BELIEVING Christ. If Christ says that if you keep my commandments, you can have eternal life, do you believe Him? I love Christ. I appreciate the fact that He took upon Himself my sins, and that if I repent and endure to the end, I can be with Him. I know that's true. I know that He lives. I have utmost faith in Him and in all that He said. I know that it is true.

What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?

I was once told that you can't shield your children from ideas, etc., but that you can prepare them to deal with those ideas. If you give your children a solid religious foundation. If you keep an open line of communication with your children. If they know that they can come to you with anything, then you will be able to combat these influences. If you have a computer, put it in an open and high traffic area of your home, so that every one can pass and can see what is being viewed on the computer. Talk with your children openly and honestly. Let them know of your values, and your expectations for them. Let the Church and the Gospel be the center of your lives. If you do these things, it will help you a great deal.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

The scriptures talk about faith, hope, and charity. Hope is optomism tempered by realism. It is good to have hope and dreams. If you have hope and dreams, you then may want to set goals to accomplish those things that you desire. It helps to focus your life on important things. You hope for good things. You hope to live a good life. You hope to have your family with you eternally. You hope to be a good influence on those your associate with.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

We have a daughter-in-law, who upon giving birth to her last child was discovered to have cervical cancer. She was treated with a brachial treatment, and after three months was declared free of cancer. However, when she went in for a follow up exam three months later, it was discovered that there was cancer in her lymph nodes in five or six spots in her body. At that point in time, the doctors weren't very hopeful. She has had chemo treatments, priesthood blessings, and numerous prayers have been offered in her behalf. A couple of months ago, she was told that her cancer cells had been cut in half. We acknowledge all of the factors involved - medical technology, faith, prayer, and priesthood blessings.

How has the Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

There is a story in the Book of Mormon about the Tree of Life. It is a vision which the Prophet Lehi had. It talks about a straight and narrow pathway. It talks about an iron rod, that led the way along the path. It talks about the tree of life that had fruit that was exceedingly white and exceedingly delicious. It talks about clouds of darkness, and that many lost their way because they let go of the iron rod. It talks about a filthy river which was next to the straight and narrow path. It talks about a great and spacious building filled with people in fine apparel, pointing at and mocking those who were on the straight and narrow path. Lehi state that he partook of the fruit, and it filled his soul with joy. He looked for his family and wanted them to partake. Part of his family did, but his two oldest sons didn't, and that caused him great sadness. Later after his son Nephi heard about his father's dream, he prayed and asked for an interpretation of the dream. He was told for example that the iron rod was the word of God. He was told that the fruit represented the pure love of God. The spacious building represented the pride of the world. This scripture and others have greatly helped me.

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

Knowing that we came to earth to gain a body and to prove ourselves puts things into perspective. Knowing that families are the focal point of Heavenly Father's plan, lets me know of the importance of marriage and raising children. Knowing that the Lord said, "This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," shows me how much He loves us, and how much He wants us to succeed. One of Satan's tools is discouragement. Just know that it's not over until it's over. If we just try to do better each day, once we have done our best, the Lord will make up the difference. We can be with Him again.

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was nine years old when I was baptized by my grandfather. I was excited because grandpa was a Stake Patriarch and one of my best friends. I remember that I was nervous. I wasn't sure how long I would be under water, and the water was cold. It all went well, and I was ecstatic when I came up out of the water.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

As we set goals in our life, we set short term goals that we can realize soon, and we set long term goals that may not happen for many years. If the short term goals are related to the long term ones, then as we accomplish the short term goals, we will automatically over time accomplish the long term ones. Our goal related activity may be our education and graduating from college. It may take four or five years or more to accomplish this goal. Our goal related activity may be reading entirely through our scriptures. It may take us a year or so to accomplish this, but if we read a chapter per day, we can do it.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

I am trying to set a good example by attending Church every week; working in the Temple twice per week; being kind and caring to my family; being prayerful; and delegating to my children and grandchildren things that they can accomplish - especially things of a religious nature. I love to hear my grandchildren pray, especially the three year old who prays that her "mommies hair will grow back." Her mother is going through chemotherapy and has lost her hair. Her three year old doesn't need to be prompted, but she knows.

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

The Book of Mormon has helped clarify things about God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It has been uplifting to read about His dealings with the people of this continent. One thing that really struck me was when the Savior personally came to this land after His crusifiction. He taught the people for several days. On one occassion He called the children unto Him. He showed His love for them. The angels encircled them and ministered unto them. It showed me how much the Savior loves us, and especially loves the children.

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

I feel like the Holy Ghost has prompted me a number of times. I was prompted to propose to my wife 46 years ago. I was prompted when I had a job transfer, but my family was staying at our previous residence until school was over. I would drive home on the week ends. On one trip, I passed a car in the middle of the Strawberry Valley, but was prompted to return. As I did, I discovered an Hispanic family whose car broke down, and they had been stranded for hours. I picked them up and took them to my home town, which had been their destination.

Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?

Early in our marriage we paid tithing, but not always a full 10%. I had the opportunity to serve in a leadership position in our local unit. We met weekly in a presidency (leadership) meeting. At one of these meetings our Bishop (local unit leader) asked us what it took to pay tithing. The immediate thought was money. If you don't have the money, you can't pay your tithing. He said, "No, it takes faith to pay your tithing." That struck home and gave me a whole new perspective. Since that time, I have always paid a full tithing, and it has blessed our lives. If we pay our tithing first before paying anything else, we always seem to have enough money to go around. The money stretches further than it ever did before.

How has attending Church services helped you?

Why do I attend Church? First of all, it's a commandment to come to Church to participate in the sacrament service. Second, I come because of the things that I will learn and be reminded of. Third, I attend Church for the sociality of it, and because I truly love my brothers and sisters in the Gospel, and I look forward to seeing them. Fourth, I attend Church, because I know that it will make me a better person. I feel like we need to at least try to give the Lord "equal time." We spend the week working, playing, watching TV, etc. Why then can't we spend three hours on Sunday worshiping the Lord and learning about Him? I am also more motivated to pray to Him. I am more motivated to read the scriptures. I am more motivated to be a good neighbor. I am more motivated to love my fellow man.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Just like you like to talk to your earthly father, it is equally important (probably more important) to talk to your Heavenly Father. Return and report. Express your gratitude for His blessings. Ask for the help that you need. I have made an effort to pray morning and evening; to pray over every meal; and to pray under special circumstances. We never take a family trip, for example, without first praying before we leave. We have a daughter-in-law, who has a serious case of cancer, and we pray for her all of the time. She has four little daughters - 1, 3, 6, and 14, and they need their mother! I have found that one of the things that helps me is that I need to be specific when I pray. Many people pray in generalities - bless the sick and the needy, etc. While there's nothing wrong with that, prayer is so much more powerful when you pray for specifics, including specific people. After you've offered your prayer, wait for an answer. You may have to go to the scriptures for your answer, but that is alright. Prayer keeps me aware of my relationship with Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer also grows my love for them. It builds faith. There are times during the day that you will have a prayer in your heart. Prayer is so important! I can't overemphasize it.

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

There are currently over 50,000 full time missionaries serving throughout the world in over 200 missions. When I was 20, I served a 2 1/2 year mission to the Spanish speakers in California and Arizona. It was a blessing to me, and I came to appreciate and love our Spanish brothers and sisters! When I was 66 and retired, my wife and I served a mission in Minnesota as the office couple. My wife was the Mission Secretary, and I was the Mission Financial Secretary. We were also involved in training new missionaries as they came into the Mission. We were also involved with the departing missionaries as their missions came to a close. We were both impressed with the young missionaries! They were outstanding. We often went with them joint teaching investigators of the Church, and once again, they were very impressive! It renewed my faith in the youth of the Church.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Everyone has talents and gifts of the spirit. Some have more than others. A rare few have virtually every gift. I believe that the only reason we have those gifts is to bless the lives of others. We may receive joy from these gifts as well, so it truly becomes a win win situation as we use them. For example, someone may be a gifted piantist. As he/she plays our spirits soar and we are uplifted. By the same token, they are uplifted as well. There are not many things in life that are truly win win situations, but this is.

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in the grove of trees in the spring of 1820. Joseph had no preconcieved notions, but went to the grove with the intent to seek an answer as to which church was right. He was told that none of them were right. "They worship me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." was the response from the Lord. Over the next ten years Joseph was tutoured and taught, and finally ordained as a Prophet. Through Joseph the Church was restored to the earth on April 6, 1830. Joseph also translated from golden plates buried in the earth, a record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, and God's dealings with them. This book came to be known as the Book of Mormon. I know that this is true, and I know that you can know it's true if you just put it to the test. Read the Book of Mormon. Attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pray about it, and if you do it with a sincere heart and real intent, the Lord will let you know the truth of it by the Holy Ghost.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

Since we believe that family is central to Heavenly Father's plan, we belive that all family is important - both going forward and backward for generations. I would like to make a distinction between the two terms - family history and genealogy. To me genealogy is the outline or skeleton of the larger family, just showing family names of direct descendents. Family history on the other hand fleshes it all out. You find out interesting things about those names. Perhaps it was a relative, who served in the Civil War. He may have been injured chasing his horse then falling off of a fence, and sustaining a serious injury, that resulted in an eventual pension to his widow. We do family history, because we want to link our families as far back as possible. I firmly believe that family is important to all of us, especially our children. It's important for them to know and have a relationship with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and how fasinating to go back generations. It completes the feeling of family and of purpose.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

Because we believe that the Gospel and the Church are true, we want to share those things with others. In the Church, because we don't have a paid ministry, we depend on the lay membership to staff various positions and to run the local units (wards). In a local unit of about 300 members (100 to 120 adults), it may take 80% of them to staff all of the leadership and teaching positions. Therefore, service is important in the Church. It is through service that we grow to love those whom we serve. A mission is another way to serve in the Church. Young men (19 and up) serve for two years. Young women (21 and up) may serve for one and a half years. Senior couples (retirement age) may serve 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, or 23 months, depending upon what kind of mission they serve and where they go.

Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?

We believe that the Church is true, and that the Gospel is true. Once we have something of great value, we want to share it with those we love. We want them to have the peace and joy that we have. My philosophy is to talk about these things freely and easily. I don't want anything to seem to be threatening, but I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so I will speak about it naturally, and as the topic or topics come up.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?

I have learned from all of the Savior's teachings, but the parables have become more powerful to me over time. The Savior said that He taught in parables, so that people could understand what they were able to understand at a given point in their lives. A parable could be related, but it would be understood differently by different people. The parable of the Lost Sheep, and the parable of the Ten Virgins have especially been impactful. I understand them much differently than I did when I first read them, or even ten years ago. It proves to me the power of parables, and the impact that the scriptures can have on your life.

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

Life is about developing good habits. Someone once said that if you repeat something 23 times it then becomes a habit. It doesn't matter that it takes 23 times, but the point is to develop a habit it takes work, or you're going to have to do it more than once or twice to become a habit. As we make a right choice, and feel the satisfaction from doing so, then we do want to make more right choices. We like how we feel. We like who we are becoming.

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

It starts with the parents who set the ultimate example. We are loving and kind. We talk together. We listen. We share our hopes and dreams. We are Gospel centered in our homes. We give our children responsabilities. We spend time together as a family. We work together. We play together. The father should not be a dictator, but a kindly patriarch in his family. Father and Mother should lead together in unity. We should respect one another.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph was a young man of 14 years when he had the vision of the Father and the Son. He was 17 when he learned of the golden plates, which later became the Book of Mormon. He was 24 when the Book of Mormon was publish, and when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in the state of New York. He was 39 when he was martyred for the cause. The Church has grown from six members in April 1830 to over 14,000,000 members today. Joseph was born in humble circumstances. He was unlearned. He only had a few years of formal schooling, yet that is exactly one of the reasons that the Lord chose him to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He didn't come with preconcieved ideas. The Lord was able to tutour and teach and mold him to His specifications. Joseph was a prophet in the very same way that Moses, Abraham, Noah, Jeremiah, and others were prophets. I know that he was a prophet. I am grateful that even though he was persecuted, tarred and feathered, etc., that he stayed true to the truth.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

If the Lord and the Church are the center of your lives, then there will be greater harmony - not that there won't be any disagreements or arguements, but they will be fewer in number, and they will be more civil and more respectful. If you are Church oriented, then it's easier to put things into perspective, and to have the right focus in your life. Family and spouse become the focus of your life.

How I live my faith

I am convinced that surrounding yourself with good people makes you better. I enjoy attending Church every Sunday. I enjoy socializing with the members, and I also enjoy the lessons, and being able to participate in classes. The Sacrament service is always good. It gives me an opportunity to partake of the sacrament. I also have an opportunity to listen to two or three talks. During a service there are at least three hymns, and sometimes there is a choir number or a special number by members of the Church. Going to Church becomes a habit after you've done it for awhile. It is a good habit to develop! I have served two missions for the Church. The first was a Spanish speaking mission as a twenty year old young man. The last was with my wife in Minnesota. We were the Office Couple. It was a great experience! I was not active in the Church when I was a young man. My parents were members, but less active. I became active at the age of 17 when I went to BYU. I fell into inactivity once again for a few years as a young father as I was trying to establish myself in the grocery business. I worked 70 to 80 hours per week, and didn't see much of my family, and didn't feel like I had time for Church. One day my four year old son asked his mother why he had to go to Church. "Why can't I stay home with Dad?" That became a wake up call. I have been active ever since. I have served in numerous positions in the Church in both the ward or branch level, and also on the stake level (a church unit with 6 to 10 wards). Serving is great! It is a win - win situation, and you grow to love those you serve, and those you serve with.

What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to sacrifice His life?

Mike answered...

The atonement was a two step process. First, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior took upon Himself the sins of all the world. That process caused him so much pain that he bled from every pore. Second, was on the cross, when he was crucified and died for us. He was the only perfect man, and therefore, the only one eligible to atone for our sins. Because of what he did, we will ALL resurrect. Because of what he did, we MAY regain His presence through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We must endure to the end. The first is a free gift. The second requires our effort.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Keith Proctor answered...

In the Temple we are taught some pretty powerful truths about who we are, where we came from, and why we are here. It's not the kind of experience you can just walk into and get. There is significant spiritual preparation and learning needed first. It's better to be prepared and enjoy the fullness of the experience than to rush into it too quickly and end up confused. The ordinances in the temple also require that you prepare yourself to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. The best way to prepare for the Temple ordinances is to begin living their teachings consistently before entering the Temple. This is your way of showing Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that you love them, obey them, and are ready for additional light and knowledge. Without this preparation, any ordinance of the Gospel would be an empty set of rituals. The Temple, in its fullest sense, prepares men and women to return and live with God as His sons and daughters. Anyone in the world can experience the power and beauty of the Temple, but a wise Heavenly Father has set out certain guidelines for their personal preparation first. Those who love Jesus Christ and walk in His ways will find in the Temple a power beyond their comprehension and a closeness to God not possible anywhere else in the world.