Hi, I'm Steffan

I grew up in Maryland. I'm a husband and father of 2 boys (with a girl on the way!) I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My wife and I live in the Midwest with our two little boys. I work for a Healthcare IT company and my sweetheart stays at home and takes care of our boys. I love to play tennis and ping-pong. I also enjoy golf, but I don't get to play very often. We bought our first house last year!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I know that it is the Lord's church. Jesus Christ stands at the head of it and works through his prophet on the earth to direct it. The Priesthood authority is on the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and contains God's word. The Bible also contains the word of God. These two scriptural records both testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ. I have come to know these things for myself through careful study and prayer. I know that God answers prayers because he has answered mine. Because I have felt the Holy Ghost witness to me that these things are true, I cannot deny them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has given purpose and meaning to my life. I understand who I am, where I cam from, and who I have the potential to become.

Personal Stories

How has attending Church services helped you?

Everyone in the church volunteers time. We are asked to do various things. Some people prepare lessons while others arrange for special musical numbers during meetings. Those are just two examples of the many things that people do. I love going to church because at the end, I usually feel a renewed commitment in my heart to do a little bit more, try a little bit harder, and be a little bit better.

Whenever I present a lesson in church, I always feel as though I learned a great deal more than those that attended my class (as a result of the preparation that I did beforehand). Serving gives us opportunities to learn new things and better ourselves. I am often touched by the service that I see other people render. For example, in our congregation, there is a boy with Down's Syndrome that blesses the Sacrament each week. I know that his family has literally spent hours and hours practicing the short prayer with him.

How I live my faith

I am the President of one of the men's organizations (called "Elders Quorum") in our local ward (congregation). I do my best to look out for the spiritual and temporal needs of those men. It can be very challenging, as we come from all different walks of life. We try to help each other and other people as much as possible. I'd say that we help somebody move in or out at least once a month. We also have the responsibility to look out for the well-being of many of the families in our congregation. We go out in pairs and try to visit them as often as we can to make sure that they are doing okay.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

Steffan answered...

I heard it once said that tithing is not paid with money--it is paid with faith. I learned from a young age the importance of paying a full tithing (10% of income). My father, a convert to the church, paid tithing for a full year, as a test, before he decided to be baptized. Now that I am older and married with children, it has been a wonderful blessing to be able to pay tithing. The Lord's promised blessings (see Malachi 3:10) have come. We have always been able to provide for our growing family's needs. More than once, we have had unexpected money come to us in strange ways. Tithing donations are used to fund the Lord's work. Things like church buildings, chapels, and temples are financed from tithing funds. There are many church programs and materials that we have access to because of tithing funds. In addition, the church's missionary program is supported from tithing. It is a wonderful blessing that those investigating and learning about the church can be provided with materials, scriptures, and videos (among other things) in order to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Lot answered...

The money received from members in the form of tithing goes directly to the headquarters of the church where a council decides what will be done with the money. Here are some ways in which the tithing funds are used:
1. Build, maintain, and operate temples, meetinghouses, and other buildings.
2. Provide operating funds for stakes, wards, and other units of the Church. (These units use the funds to carry out the ecclesiastical programs of the Church, which include teaching the gospel and conducting social activities.)
3. Help the missionary program.
4. Educate young people in Church schools, seminaries, and institutes.
5. Print and distribute lesson materials.
6. Help in family history and temple work.

*It is important to note that tithing funds are not used to pay leaders of the church. All leaders of the church are volunteers and receive no form of pay.

Why do Mormon missionaries proselyte?

Nick answered...

Our decision to serve missions is motivated by our belief in the Gospel and our desire to fulfill the Savior's command to "preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. The Gospel teaches us that we are all sons and daughters of God, and so we feel a kinship with all of God's children and a desire to help them enjoy the peace in this life that the Gospel provides.Our missionaries are not salesman and won't take much of your time, but I know that your decision to invite them into your home will change your life for good!