Hi, I'm Ben

My heart has been turned to my fathers. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a college student and I plan on becoming a social worker. I am the oldest of seven brother and have not yet started my own family. I love listening to music, reading, writing poetry, drawing, and doing genealogy.

Why I am a Mormon

I have been a Mormon since I was a boy, but every member of this church has to have a conversion, or in other words a change. I am a Mormon because I prayed to know if this church is true and I received an answer. I am a Mormon because I have felt so many times that this is all true. When I pray asking if this church is true, and I have many many times, if I pay attention, I receive an answer. It is a truly indescribable feeling, but the closest words I can say is that it is like a gentle fire that slowly spreads throughout my entire body infusing me with pure joy as it goes. This is the Holy Spirit which Christ promised he would send us, testifying that this church is true. That is why I am a Mormon.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

We do family history work because we truly do believe that a family can be together forever. And not only that! We know that every man, woman, and child that lives, has lived, and will live on this earth are part of one big family, God's family. We don't want any single person to be left behind. That's why we spend so much time and so many resources on genealogy, because we want our big family reunion in heaven someday to be complete. We find names and information so that we can perform ordinances, such as baptism, in their place so that they can stay with our Heavenly father.

How I live my faith

Since the age of twelve I have been fascinated by genealogy, the research of my own ancestors. Even now in college I try to put some time into finding out about the lives of my forefathers. The search is rewarding and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I am able to locate information about any one of the people who came before me. But, for me, as a Mormon, the satisfaction does not end at finding names and dates. As I work on my family I do it with one goal in mind: being able to live together with these people. As a Mormon I believe that families can be together forever. Through the power that God has given to men on the earth in our day, I can have the opportunity to get to know my grandfather, who was plagued by Alzheimer's disease before his death a few years ago. I can live with my parents and brothers even when this life is over. I'll be able to live with my future family forever. Through this power the links between past, present and future generations are strong and unbreakable. That is why I do genealogy, that is why I have hope.

Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?

Ben answered...

Yes. Though I am not yet married, I know that marriage can be eternal. The family is one of God's greatest creations, and in His plan he would not let something so important be destroyed by something so small as death. A hymn that we often sing in our church states, "I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me. I want to share my life with them for all eternity. Families can be together forever, through God's eternal plan. I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can, the Lord has shown me how I can."
Amanda answered...

YES!!! This is one of my favorite parts of the gospel. I believe that my family will live together in heaven. I will know my family as my family members. My husband is my husband for now and for all eternity. My children are my children here on earth and for all eternity. I know that if something happened to one of us that I will see them again. I love this about the church. Before joining, I always had a question about this concept and when taking the discussions from the missionaries this came up. Makes me love the church more and more.

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Megan Cosgriff answered...

Latter Day Saints(Mormons) donate 10% of their income to the church because the Lord has commanded us too! In Proverbs 3:9 it says, "Honour the Lord with substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." This is talking about tithing, tithing literally means one-tenth, which is 10%. So when the Lord commands us to donate one-tenth of our increase(income) that is what we do. If you look at Malachi 3:8-10 you will see that the Lord is asking for us to give him our tithes (10%) and in return he will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings, so many that we won't be able to contain them. Wouldn't you want to receive innumerable blessings for just giving Him 10% of your pay check? It seems like a pretty fair trade to me.