Hi, I'm Mike.

I'm an artist and a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up not knowing what to dedicate my life to--until I found art, animation, and storytelling. I graduated from college with a BFA in Animation.

Why I am a Mormon

In high school some of my best friends were Atheist and I didn't know what I believed though I grew up in a Mormon household. I decided to clean the slate and start from scratch, so I became Atheist, too. I've been recording my spiritual history (why I believe what I believe) ever since, and I know the Church of Jesus Christ contains vital religious and spiritual truths found nowhere else.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Art is a tool that can be used to bless humanity or to hurt it. In our modern day too much art and storytelling is perverse, crude, pornographic, and violent. I believe in creating stories that are wholesome and beautiful, but this does not mean they have to be devoid of mature themes or powerful imagery. On the contrary, I have found that creative storytelling is often a better solution to uncensoring material. Graphic violence, nudity, sex, and crude humor and language I feel are similar to abuse to the senses. It is in wise censoring that we find a balanced and wholesome social standard, in movies and in our day to day lives.

How I live my faith

Because my art is such an integral part of my life I spend a great deal of time improving my talents. I have found almost every principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ pertains to artistic pursuits, and I love talking about, creating, analyzing, and making artwork, especially artwork that tells stories. I live my faith by incorporating those principles in all of my work and the characters I create.

Mormons believe Jesus Christ is their Savior. Why do we need a Savior?

Meaghan answered...

Have you ever met a perfect person? I doubt it. Why? Because everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake or are confused on what you should do, you want someone to help you, right? We all need someone to help us. We all need a Savior. We always hear that Jesus Christ saved us, but what does that truly mean? It not only means that he suffered and died for you personally, it means that he lived and lives for us too. He wants to help us. Jesus Christ is the only one who underestands everything that we go through. He not only wants to make up for the mistakes we make, but he wants to carry our burdens too. All we need to do is let him carry our burdens. Everyone faces personal challenges and Jesus is there to help. Everyone makes a mistake qa some point in life too. The beauty of having a Savior, is the fact that we can be forgiven. Sometimes our hands get dirty, but they can always be washed clean.
Nate answered...

The fundamental principle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the faith in, reliance upon, and relationship with Jesus Christ. We regard Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Everyone on the earth today has made mistakes. All of us have come short of the perfect example that Christ set for us. The problem is the laws of God state that “no unclean person…hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5) Because of these laws, we needed a way to be cleansed from these sins and mistakes. God knew that we would fall short of perfection and by His grace he provided us a Savior, Jesus Christ. Being a perfect soul without blemish, Jesus was capable and willing to take upon Himself our sins. Because He paid the penalty for our sins, the atonement, we must take upon ourselves His name to reap the blessings of forgiveness. We do this by having faith in Christ, admitting and repenting of our sins, and being baptized in the true and restored church of Jesus Christ.

What do Mormons believe about the nature of God?

Kathleen answered...

This question is easily answered in the words of one of the children's songs "I know my [Heavenly] Father lives, and loves me too". We believe in a loving God, who knows us each individually. Another way I know that God loves me because he has heard and answered my prayers many times. Some people think that God is angry, but I do not believe that is so. Matthew 7:11 reads, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those that ask him?" I think that just explains it all- as parents we want the best for our children. God, our Heavenly parent, wants the best for us, too. As parents, we recognize that giving our children everything they ask for isn't necessarily what's best for them. God does this for us also.