Hi, I'm Daniel Ernest

I'm from Utah, a graduate student in Spanish and ESL teaching, & I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am recently married to my sweetheart. She is going to school as a Choral Education Major and I'm starting to look for a full-time teaching job as a Spanish and/or English as a Second Language Teacher. I also work with the Boy Scouts as a High Adventure and Climbing Director at a summer camp, and this year, with my dear wife. I am very interested in the great outdoors, particularly the National Parks of Utah and Wyoming. Hiking and backpacking are among my favorites. I also have a love of singing, particularly in choirs. I've recently graduated as an Honors student from my university and I work part-time in an elementary school helping out with English as a Second Language students.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born to wonderful parents who were already members of the church. When I was young, I had thought that things I was taught made sense, but near the end of my high school education, I began to realize that I really didn't know for myself if all that I had been taught was really true. I began to ask questions to myself and I really wanted to know if God would answer my prayers if I asked Him about the Church. From then on I began to study the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and other scriptures more seriously, I began to pray more sincerely, and I continued to keep God's commandments that I had been taught. Over time I began to have sincere answers in my heart that what I had been taught, and what I was continuing to learn was true, and that the path I was following was indeed correct. It didn't happen all at once in a grand event, but it happened many times, and I could feel reassurances to this very day that God is listening, that this is right, and that I am on my way back to Him, with my family.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I served a mission in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in South America. I served two years in the mission. It was not an easy experience, but it was worth all the effort and I met some of the greatest people of my life. The first two months I spent at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, learning the Spanish language and learning more about the Savior. The rest of the mission I spent in Ecuador in large cities and in small towns in the banana fields. We work from morning to night to share the message of our Heavenly Father's plan for his children, along with Jesus Christ's divine role as the Savior and Son of God with everyone we can. We work in companionships and work in an assigned geographical area until we are asked to switch companions or go to a new area by our mission leaders. We not only teach the gospel to those who will listen, but we have the opportunity to give service, such as making houses, clearing fields, teaching English, and helping people move. There is no condition for the service. We help anyone who is willing to have our help. We are not paid by the church. I saved money for a good portion of my mission and my family helped fund the rest. I've also had the chance since I've been home to help contribute to missionary funds for those who may be struggling to help fund their expenses on their own as missionaries from our area as well.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

When I was young, I actually had some fear about going on a mission. I knew that it was what I should do, but I wasn't sure I would be able to do it well. I sometimes struggled with talking with people I'd just met. Despite my fears, and especailly after I began recieving answers to my prayers about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church, I knew that it was something God wanted me to do. Praying for help to do what He wanted me to do as a missionary, I had faith that He would help me despite any fears I may have had. These quickly went away and I knew that what I was doing was right. I have seen others find the happiness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as their prayers are answered and as God helps them find truth that my missionary companion and I helped to teach. It made any sacrifice made for the mission completely worth helping others. I'm very glad that I listened to God's answers to my heart and not to my youthful reservations.

How I live my faith

I have been helping as someone in charge of musical numbers in the Sunday services at the church and performing in some of the numbers. I also help out visiting other church members in the area with needs they may have and sharing messages with them to help inspire them for the month.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Daniel Ernest answered...

To return to our Heavenly Father, He asks us to have faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, to repent of our sins, and to do ordinances, or sacred ceremonies, to teach us more about his purpose for us and to make committments to keep his commandments. One of these is baptism. The Savior teaches in the Bible, in the book of John, and in the Book of Mormon, that all need to be baptized to enter into the kingdom of God. Because this ordinance is from God and is sacred, it needs to be done by someone who has had authority given to them from God. This authority is called Priesthood. God gave it to his prophets thorughout history. Jesus also had it and gave it to his apostles. It was has been given again today to worthy men who keep the commandments. When done in the proper way, by someone who has God's authority, baptism is an ordinance that lasts forever. Just like a regular citizen doesn't have the authority to write out a traffic violation, someone without God's authority cannot perform a binding ordinance of God.
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Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Tember Skye Harward answered...

Mormon's are viewed as a cult by some because we do not adhere to the fundamental creeds established by the other Christian churches, such as the Nicene or Athanasian Creeds, and their view of the Godhead. Latter-day Saints are viewed by other Christians just like the early Christians were viewed by the Jews and Romans of the time, which was as a cult, because they strayed from what seemed to them orthodox Judaism. Much like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who viewed orthodoxy through the lens of the rules laid out in the rabbinical law and their interpretation of the Law of Moses, the Christians of today view orthodoxy through the lens of the creeds that were established hundreds of years after the death of Christ under the opinion and counsels of men.