Hi, I'm Spencer

I was raised in America and Europe and am a Mormon.

About Me

I am a student studying Recreation Management. The outdoors is a special place to me, so my top hobbies include rock climbing, backpacking, rafting, and mountain biking-freedom!
Recently I was married to an amazing woman, and am forever grateful for her. I come from a family with step siblings and step parents, out of which I am child number 7 in the mix.
Books are so precious to me. Usually when I am not studying for a class I am diving into a good book that has caught my interest-I love to learn!
While the outdoors is a passion for me my faith is life, and I am always eager to learn more about how to better live the gospel.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised as a Mormon, however, it took me some time until I became serious about really living the gospel and not just going through the motions. In all simplicity, what my conversion came down to was learning about Christ and His gospel, and then living it. As time went on I could really tell a difference was being made in how I felt, acted, and thought about myself, others, and God. It was like eating fruit that tasted more delicious than anything I had ever experienced. Some key things that helped me to get where I am were...
1. A desire to really know for myself
2. The Book Of Mormon
3. Sincere and rigorous study
4. Asking God for truth through prayer
5. Living what I knew

Personal Stories

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

There are some key things that my wife and I have done that proved to be effective. We decided that first and foremost, Christ should be the center of our home. And, as a result there are things we do because we desire this. 1. We pray together, not just at night before bed, but whenever we feel the need for help beyond our own-this is quite often. 2. We study the words of Christ together and look for what we can improve upon. 3. We choose good media and music to be in our home. The reason for this is because what you bring into your home will have influence in your home; and that can be for good and bad depending on what it is. As a guideline we ask, "would the Savior watch, listen to, and enjoy this if He were here?" 4. We do all we can to spend quality time together. For us this can be something as simple as a walk, or making dinner together.

How has the Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

What fabulous question! This is a question that many still scratch their heads even today, but the Lord has provided a simple answer in the Book Of Mormon. Found in Alma 34:32, it says that our time here is to prepare to meet God. In more detail the Lord explains what this means and how we can do it by teaching us through Book Of Mormon prophets, just as He had in the Old and New Testaments.

How I live my faith

In my ward, or congregation, my calling is to help and serve those men who are usually around the ages of 21-30. I help to organize activities, lessons, personal interviews, offer help in various circumstances, give counsel where it is needed, and most importantly be a true friend and build faith in Christ. A great deal of my time not only consists of serving in these ways, but includes working with the leader of our ward, or congregation, as well as the woman who is my counterpart for the sisters.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

Spencer answered...

No. Not in any way does the Church endorse political parties. You will find that there are a wide range of political views within the Church, which is contrary to the popular belief that all Mormons are republican. What the Church does do is encourage us to vote and to be informed about what is going on. They don't ask us to consider a certain candidate or point of view, but they do ask that we make our own choice.
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Dario answered...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has no political affiliation, and remains neutral on political activity. As declared by the Church, its purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, not to elect politicians, and this applies to all the nations were the Church is established. In the same way, the Church does not endorse nor promote political parties, and its members are not directed to vote for specific candidates. Elected officials who are also members of the Church, does not represent the Church's position.

However, the Church does encourages us, members of the Church, to play a responsible role as citizens of the nations, to be informed, and to exercise our right to vote. Also, we are expected to respect others who think different and to participate in dialogue and exchange of ideas to reach consensus.

In the Church, we learn since we are young to be responsible and to seek to serve our communities and families. The Church's programs aims to strength our capacity and willingness to serve others. In this same context, we support leaders and programs which purposes are to make a better world. I personally support leaders who inspire those principles, and pray that whoever is elected would make wise decisions for the welfare of our nations and those of others. To obey, honor, and sustain the law of our country is an important responsibility of every member of our church.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Tamara Forsyth answered...

We are all saved by grace no matter how we have lived our life, as long as we believe in Christ and believe that he is our Savior. Most Christian religions believe that this is all there is to being saved. Mormons believe this for the part of being saved in which the body of flesh is reunited with the spirit. For this part of being saved, yes, Mormons believe that all people, no matter how they have lived their lives, will be saved and have their body reunited with their spirit at the resurrection through the grace of God. However, Mormons also believe there is another part to Christ's atonement and being saved, and that refers to his taking on of our sins. To be saved from our sins, and take upon us the name of Christ such that his atonement will wash away our sins and we will have everlasting life in God's presence, we must repent of our sins. After we have done all that we can do, then the grace of God will wash away our sins because of Christ's atoning sacrifice on our behalf.