Hi, I'm Todd

I'm a Texan. I'm a twin. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I just wrapped up my senior year of college. I was raised in Southeast Texas, so, of course, I love college football. Hook 'Em Horns! I married the twin sister's best friend and we are very happy.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents each joined the church when they were teenagers and so I was born and raised a Latter-day Saint.

Living in Texas, especially in my high school years, I felt isolated because most of my friends were Protestant. My twin sister and I were the only members of the church in the school. I can say that the standards of the church were a great blessing to me in high school. I stayed clear of drugs, alcohol and all the other dangerous things teens get involved with in high school. Although I was sometimes felt picked on, I feel like my identity as a Mormon helped me feel unique and to be more socially involved with the school.

My life hasn't always been a cake walk though. I've had ups and downs just like everyone else. I've witnessed family heartache and more. I've even suffered with a crisis of my faith in God. Today, I can look back and see the love of God all around me. I know he lives and loves me. I've studied hard and I've concluded that he is still very much involved in the world today. My mind and my heart know that God has set up the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to bless the lives of people all over the world. I am a Mormon because I know it's right. I am convinced of the validity of the Book of Mormon. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I am sure in my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ he is the only way I can receive eternal life. Because of the church, I find purpose in my life. My family has been so blessed by the teachings of the church we are happier because of it. Many in the world are fearful of the church. Misinformation is everywhere. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I'm still here. I always will be.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

I went on a mission because I believed that I could help people come to Christ if I was brave enough to invite them. The missions served by young men and women of the church do so much good. I was serving on Mississippi Coast when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf States. I loved the people and wanted to help. I spent a month cleaning up homes and distributing food and basic needs items to families in the area.

We also helped people quit smoking and drinking alcohol. I saw lives changed for the better as the came to Jesus Christ.

Missionary work lifts up everyone involved.

How I live my faith

Currently, I am a Sunday school teacher. My wife is the choir pianist for the congregation. We both love music and it helps to strengthen our faith.

We also make it a habit to spend time together. We go on dates weekly, and we pray together daily. I'm grateful that the church organizes ways for us to get to know other members too.

What is the priesthood?

Todd answered...

The priesthood is the authority God gives to men to act in his name. We believe that a man must be called of God and receive this authority by ordination from those who already have this authority. That is why we claim that the priesthood only exists in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was restored to Joseph Smith by those who already had it: John the Baptist, Peter, James and John.
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Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.

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.