Hi, I'm Mark

About Me

I grew up in the church. My mother did too. My father joined after there were five children. I am the sixth. When younger, I attended primary and learned about Heavenly Father and His plan for my happiness. I learned that Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer. This knowledge has brought me much peace and certainty to my life. I work in manufacturing. I love the outdoors and gardening. I read a lot, especially about history. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a father. Now that I am a father, and a "young" grandfather, I can say that fatherhood it is the hardest and greatest experience ever.

Why I am a Mormon

I have remained Mormon since childhood because of prayer and personal inspiration from Heaven. I was taught in my youth to take my problems and questions directly to God. I came to know that I could find out truths, for my self, on my knees. "Finding out" and learning truth for myself is beautiful and personal. This method of learning from heaven has taken practice. Most of the time I have had to work hard at it. I have had to learn, through study, as much as I could about a particular subject. After study, I take my findings to the Lord and ask for confirmation about my reasoning and decisions. My correct thinking He confirms through personal inspiration via the Holy Ghost. My errors He declines with no confirmation. Personal inspiration, and how He gives it through the Holy Ghost, are difficult to explain. For me inspiration comes in the form of reassuring feelings of peace and love that wash over me when I am "on track" with truth and right. Also, inspirtation leads me to productive and encourages creative thinking, as well as thoughts on how to stay out of harms way. Personal revelation is as real as the shoes on my feet. It has been a great blessing to my life.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

After years of careful study of both the life, from several points of view, and the works of Joseph Smith, I am convinced that he had to be guided by heaven in bringing about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth. More importantly, over the years I have petitioned my Heavenly Father many times that I might know the truth of this Joseph Smith. After patiently pondering each of my questions regarding this man, I have received my own sure witness that he is exactly what he claimed to be--A Prophet of God.

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

Christ's teaching to come to Him, that he will help carry our burdens, is very important and very real to me. As I turn to Him I feel greater peace and greater strength to deal with life's challenges.

How I live my faith

Faith to me is maintaining a relationship with my Heavenly Father and trusting in His plan. To do this I have to constantly be learning of His plan and participate in it. I pray regularly to Him and then strive to listen to the whisperings of the Spirit as He answers my questions and as he inspires me on how lead a happy and productive life. I like to think of faith as striving to create a partnership with both my Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ. As these partnership grow, I discover more and more peace and lasting happiness in my life.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Mark answered...

All young men are asked to make missions a top priority in their lives--to prepare morally and financially to serve missions where they will teach of Christ, of baptism and of the restored gospel. Young woman are invited to participate too--as they feel inspired and motivated to do so.
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Taylor answered...

Quite simply, no. The young men of the church have been strongly encouraged to serve a mission at age 19, and the sisters are able to serve at age 21, but no one is required to serve. We do it because we want to! Who in their right mind would give up two years and pay that's right, missionaries pay their own way to go somewhere they had never been and do all that they do? We serve missions becuase we know that Jesus is the Christ, and we want the happiness that knowledge bring to be available to everyone! So no, Mormons are not required to serve a mission. It's a personal choice to share the happiness and joy they've received from the Gospel.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Joshua answered...

In the New Testament Paul preaches against homosexual behavior, as does Moses in the Old Testament. In this day, God still speaks against homosexual actions through His holy prophets. Regardless of the good and bad choices we make in this life, we are each beloved sons and daughters of God. We were spiritually begotten of Him before the world was, and He offered the Plan of Salvation to us so that we could return and live with him again after this life. Not one of us here on the earth is perfect. We each struggle with different things on this journey and because of those things we could never return to Gods presence unless a greater power came to our aid. Christ has provided the means whereby we can overcome these things and return to God again. Anything can be overcome, for Christ has already overcome the world Alma 711-14 We strive to love everyone, for everyone deserves that. The Family is being bombarded on every side with the evil influences of Satan, and to stem that tide we must stand for the Sacredness of our Families. We celebrate and honor the Sanctity of the Family, and invite all men and women everywhere to do the same.
In the words of Beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, "We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord.