Hi, I'm Ben B.

I love languages. I love to sing. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm 21 years old. I served a mission for the Church in Finland. I'm the oldest of four children, so I feel the need to be an example for my sister and my brothers. Sometimes they're the ones who are the examples for me.

I'm at school studying linguistics. I loved learning Finnish and learning about Finnish while serving as a missionary, so that's what I've decided to keep doing--learn about languages. Life as college student doesn't leave a lot of time for many hobbies, but I love to read--just about anything but textbooks--and I sing--in the shower, at work, while walking to class--everywhere. I also sing in my university's Men's Chorus.

My dad just lost his job, where he's worked my entire life. It's a new situation that our family has never experienced before. We're not in dire financial straits (my dad has seen this layoff coming for a while so he was able to prepare for it) but it's an adjustment.

Why I am a Mormon

My family has been in the Church for a long time. I was born into the Church and raised in it. But I'm not a Mormon because my family is. I'm a member because I had an experience as a 17-year-old where Heavenly Father answered a prayer, and the Spirit testified to me that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its teachings are true, and that I would be all right if I kept following what I had been taught. My life still has its challenges, and there are still times when my confidence in what I believe wavers a little, but I can't deny the peace I felt when I was 17. Heavenly Father, through the Holy Spirit, reaffirms to me often that I have chosen the correct path.

I know Heavenly Father lives and loves us in a deeply, deeply personal way. He knows us, because we are His children. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can become clean and pure, ready to be in the presence of God. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church, and the only place to find all of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible and other revealed scripture. We have a living prophet who speaks the word of God in modern times. I know these things because I have prayed to know, and I have received answers.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

I went on my mission because I knew it was the right thing to do. I'm not sure I understood exactly what a mission was, or why they were so important when I left, but since I've been home I've realized that at that time in my life, there was nothing more important I could have done.

We serve missions because we want to serve the Lord. We have testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, and we want to share the blessings we have received from this knowledge with all of God's children.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I try to pray every morning when I wake up and every evening just before I go to bed. I also pray throughout the day if I'm struggling in some way, like if I feel angry or depressed or things are just not going my way that day. I pray before I read my scriptures, before I take a test, when I'm doing my homework and I don't understand something, or before I sing for a performance. I don't usually kneel down except for my regular prayers in the morning and evening, but I do try to keep a prayer in my heart. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon that teaches that we should pray before we do anything, so that the Lord will consecrate what we do for our good (2 Nephi 32:8-9); I try to keep that in mind as I go throughout my day.

When I pray, I focus my thoughts on Heavenly Father as I speak to Him. I feel peaceful because I know that He knows my circumstances, and He will help me know what to do as I discuss my life with Him. I've noticed that when I pray, everything in my day seems to go better; when I forget to pray, I can see a marked difference in how happy, patient, positive, etc. I am during the day.

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

The Book of Mormon testifies on just about every single page of Jesus Christ. I'm reading through it again, and it strikes me how much Jesus Christ wants us to repent so He can make us clean and pure. His message is repeated over and over: Come unto Me. All the prophets and teachers in the Book of Mormon teach that Jesus Christ is the way we are able to return back to Heavenly Father. I don't know how you wouldn't be able to feel closer to God when you read a book that teaches things like this.

How I live my faith

I teach a class for adult men every Sunday. I prepare lessons about basic gospel subjects, like 'The Scriptures' or 'The Life of the Savior' and I lead the class discussions. It's a little intimidating to stand up in front of everyone, but I get better every week.

I am also a home teacher, which means that I and another brother in the ward are responsible for visiting and meeting the temporal and spiritual needs of some of the other members of our ward. We usually visit our 'home teachees' at least once a month to share a short spiritual message, but we are mostly there to be a friend and to be someone they can call on in a pinch if they need help.

My favorite way to serve in my ward is to sing in the ward choir.

Everyone in my ward is my age--we're all either students at the university or working and living away from home. I really enjoy being able to go to church with people my age--we're all having similar experiences, so we're able to relate to each other and strengthen each other.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

Ben B. answered...

The bishop and his clerks count it, then send it to Church Headquarters, where a special council distributes the tithing funds to run the Church and its programs. Tithing funds are used especially to fund the building and maintenance of temples, meetinghouses, and other Church facilities around the world. In addition to tithing, members of the Church pay fast offerings on a voluntary basis; these funds are used to run the Church's extensive humanitarian aid programs.
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 did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Shannon answered...

Because the Lord commanded it for a period of time. It wasn't easy for those who practiced it. Many, even Brigham Young (the second prophet after the death of Joseph Smith) had difficulty accepting the revelation. It took a great deal of soul searching and personal submission and communion with God for many of those individuals to reconcile themselves to the practice of plural marriage.

Even in ancient times, when the practice was culturally accepted, plural marriage was difficult. Moses, Abraham, and many others who practiced plural marriage because of God's commandment all experienced personal challenges arising from their family situation. But sometimes life is such: God requires difficult things. The difficulties never seem appealing to us, but if we are faithful, we will find that God had reasons for the challenges He gave us.