Hi, I'm David William

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a freelance theatre artist. Production work, teaching, directing, occasional acting...I love music too. Singing and piano. I studied theatre and music in college and now I'm braving the arts world and loving every second of it. I love to read, make food...on my less lazy days, I enjoy running by myself or biking. I love American Sign Language as well - it's a beautiful language and I think deaf culture is beautiful as well.

I love reading. On top of daily scripture and gospel study, I'm always reading something. Fiction, history, plays, philosophy, sociological studies, whatever I can get my hands on. I love to read.

Also: I love to laugh. A lot. If you can make me laugh, you're destined to be a lifelong friend.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into the Church, more or less. I'm adopted. I was in and out of the adoption center by the time I was five days old and into the arms of the loving parents who've raised me and taught me the Gospel.

But people are born into traditions and faiths all of the time. Why do I STAY a Mormon? That's probably the more important question. It might take a few layers of answers leading into answers to articulate that.

So little is permanent for anybody in life but it seems to be especially that way for me. I've lived in five states in the last five years. Every couple of months, and that's being generous, I'm starting a new job. Again: freelancer. Add the daily adjustments needed to deal with people coming in and out of your life, a trial that will never become easy for me, etc., etc...Not much is permanent. It can be distressing.

But the Gospel of Jesus Christ promises permanence. It promises families that can be eternal, that friendships can be too, that the "same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory..." That's from the Doctrine and Covenants, 130:2. There are some things in this life that can actually last.

But they don't stay stagnant! That verse I just quoted says that we can enjoy the same relationships, except that they'll be "coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy." Things are permanent in that there are relationships that we can always have, a God who is unchanging, etc. But our understanding of those relationships, doctrines, of ourselves -- they can all continue to get better and brighter day by day. Permanence with an interest rate, I guess. And we don't have to wait till we're dead for the improvement. The Grace of Jesus Christ allows us to draw closer and closer to Him and our Heavenly Father everyday. And as we partake of that Grace, the socialities begin to improve before our eyes.

But, so what, right? These could all be empty promises? I don't think so. Not at all. I've spent my whole life working in the arts. I know a lot about emotion, both real and fabricated.

But what I feel studying the Gospel and living its attending principles...nothing like anything I've felt onstage or off. The feelings I've felt AREN'T an emotion. They're something from outside of me. I've come to learn that those feelings are the Spirit, they're something from God. While emotions may interact at the same time, the way the Spirit works is something completely different. And I think it's different for everybody. For me, when I get the witness of the Spirit, it's simply clarity. I tend to have too much going on in my mind all of the time. A thousand worries, a million thoughts - it can get a little messy up in my head. But when I'm thinking about that permanence, or serving somebody, or attending Church, reading the words of the Prophets...all that messiness in my mind disappears. Things just become very, very clear for me. Focused. Clarity, that's what it is for me.

Anyway. Permanence with an interest rate. It's a promise I've started to see come to fruition already. It's true. I know it. That's why I'm a Mormon.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I like the way that question is worded. Because my prayers have been answered in a variety of ways. Some prayers, I've received a resounding "Yes!" Some prayers, the answer has been a definitive, "No!" Sometimes, the answer has been, "You'll get an answer. Keep waiting for the right time." And sometimes, shockingly, the answer has been, "Either way you'll be fine."

Cynics out there will say, "What's the point of praying if it doesn't guarantee a 'yes'?" I understand that. But I also understand that God has a better perspective of what's best for me. He has the curriculum planned out. I'm not in a position, as the student, to be asking Him to change it for my convenience.

This isn't an issue of drudgery. It always turns out for the best. I have gone to schools He's guided me to with great reluctance only to be blown away by the miraculous lessons I've learned. I have moved to places I've had little interest in even visiting only to be blown away by the amazing caliber of people there. And I've received plenty of "yesses." I don't know if I've deserved any of them. But, that's the thing. We always will end up with more than we deserve. He knows what we can handle and when.

My prayers have been answered. And I'm so grateful for the opportunity, not only to receive answers but, to send my petitions in the first place.

How I live my faith

Currently, I help with the administrative side of things in my congregation. I file records, shred things, keep records organized, etc. I'm also called as a home teacher. What that means is that there are a couple of households from the congregation that I'm assigned to visit at least once a month. I check in on them, make sure all is well, share a message. I go with another member of the congregation to make sure those households assigned to us are in good shape. That's what I do FORMALLY. Make sure I'm pulling my weight to keep things afloat, you know? Not that God needs my help. I think I need to help Him more than He needs me to.

Informally, meaning what I do in my personal life...I read the scriptures daily. Currently, I'm focusing on the Old Testament. I read the words of living Prophets and Apostles. I pray. A lot. Before I leave the house, before meals, before bed. I say silent prayers as I sit on my bus or my train to work. I pray a lot. I try to seek guidance from Heavenly Father as to how I can become a better person, as to who needs my help. I plead for Grace to give me the strength to do what I need to do. I wish I could say I was great at devoting my time to serving others. Working on it. I go to weeknight classes at Church to learn more and to be with people who strengthen me. Currently, I'm in a weeknight class on the parables of Christ. It's awesome.

Music is really important for me spiritually. I devote a lot of energy and spirit to seeking out music that praises God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Singing hymns and songs of praise and worship provide me with a strength and spirit that is simply indescribable. I feel a closeness to God when I'm singing to Him.

When I'm at home with family, I read scriptures with them. I pray with them. We devote time every week to strengthening our relationships and our understanding of the Gospel.

What do Mormons believe is the purpose of life?

David William answered...

The answer is simple. The application is a little more difficult but still totally possible to achieve.

In short, our whole purpose is to become like God. We have been sent here to become like He is. We were designed to become like He is and the more we become like Him, the happier we become.

Simple, right? In a lot of ways, yes. "To become as God is" is succinct, fairly straightforward.

The application of that idea though is the work of eternity. First, we must know what God is like, who He truly is. He's given us scriptures, modern Prophets, revelation, and personal experience to let us know who He is. But knowing who He is isn't enough. We must strive to develop the attributes that He has. We do that first and foremost to show Him that we love Him and we do!. Neal A. Maxwell, a modern-day Apostle who died a few years ago, was known to say that the highest form of adoration was emulation. We emulate that which we love. If we love Him, we'll keep His commandments, which will change our very nature.

But God is so good and I'm so far from reaching His level of goodness. Well, again, He's given us scriptures, Prophets, revelation, and experience to show us HOW to become as He is. But more important than any of that, He sent His perfect Son, even Jesus Christ. Christ can change us as we turn to Him. Without His grace and mercy, none of us would have the strength to become like God. We can only do it with Christ's support and guidance. I fail everyday. Everyone does. But He's there to catch us when we fall. And the more we try to obey the commandments of our loving Heavenly Father, the more help we receive from Christ. And then, bit by bit, we become a little bit more like Him. Sometimes the process hurts. It can hurt a lot. But the ultimate outcome is worth the temporary suffering. "No pain, no gain," right?

It's really cool when you get down to it. The whole idea is that each day you're a better person than you were the day before. And you don't have to become better on your own. Jesus is there for you. All around, it's really, really awesome stuff.
Sarah answered...

Perhaps one of the greatest blessings I have received by being a Mormon is a concrete understanding of the purpose of life. We believe that every human being is a literal child of Heavenly Father. We lived with Him in Heaven before we were born on earth. Our purpose in life is to keep His commandments, so that we can be worthy to return to live with our Father in Heaven again after we die. We cannot be worthy without allowing the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Savior, to cleanse us of sin.

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

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.