Hi, I'm Michael Reed

I'm an American college student. I got married last year. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a newly married college student doing my best to manage finances, work, school, and family life. I was a missionary in Toronto, Canada. I'm now studying Psychology and the Middle East and enjoying family life. My wonderful wife and I just had a baby boy! I hope the next year brings health for all three of us and acceptance to a good grad school in School Psychology.

Why I am a Mormon

As a child, my parents taught me to pray and ask God if everything they taught me was true. They said that their beliefs could never replace a personal revelation from God.

As a teenager, I went to God myself to ask Him what the truth was. I had read the Book of Mormon, and it made sense to me; but I wanted a personal witness from God. I got one.

Now, I continue to have that confirmation that Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ, and that the modern prophets and Apostles are really called by the Savior. Getting an education both by experience and by study, I have found that all truth is consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of Joseph Smith and the other prophets. The more certain or well-tested a philosophical or scientific theory is, the more likely it is to be consistent with what God has revealed to man through prophets, through the Bible, and through the new scriptures of the Restoration.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

I am grateful that I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost after my baptism. I have felt the Spirit teach me many times when I needed help or when somebody around me needed help.

I remember one morning in the middle of my summer vacation. I intended to sleep in, but I woke up early, and for some reason, I wanted to clean the kitchen. I knew it was messy from the night before. So, before anyone else woke up, I had cleaned up the entire kitchen.

I was just about to go back to my bedroom to read when my mother woke up. She almost started crying when she realized I had cleaned the kitchen, and she told me she had hardly slept at all. Then I knew that the Spirit had moved me to clean up so that she could have a little extra comfort that morning.

When and how God answers prayers is difficult to predict; but it is usually through another person. I pray that I can answer others' prayers throughout my life.

How I live my faith

I love finding out who Jesus Christ really is through earnest prayer. Over time, through persistence and faith, I have found that He is far more loving and safe than I every could have known. He encourages me in everything I do, when I am sensitive to His influence.

I do everything I know how to bring my wife happiness and security, and we love sharing our lives together. The Spirit gives her more wisdom than I usually expect from a fellow human being.

What is Mormonism? OR What do Mormons believe?

Michael Reed answered...

Mormons believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a continuation of the churches led by Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Peter, and others. Whenever God puts His Priesthood on the Earth, men and women are given special callings to testify of Jesus Christ.

We also rely on scriptures to guide us in getting the knowledge of God. God can never have an end to scripture, because there is no end to His words or His works. He is endless.

Jesus Christ speaks today, both in our hearts and to chosen men of God. There is no end to His love for us, and we need Him now more than ever. We should beware false prophets and accept true ones.
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Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Keith Proctor answered...

In the Temple we are taught some pretty powerful truths about who we are, where we came from, and why we are here. It's not the kind of experience you can just walk into and get. There is significant spiritual preparation and learning needed first. It's better to be prepared and enjoy the fullness of the experience than to rush into it too quickly and end up confused. The ordinances in the temple also require that you prepare yourself to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. The best way to prepare for the Temple ordinances is to begin living their teachings consistently before entering the Temple. This is your way of showing Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that you love them, obey them, and are ready for additional light and knowledge. Without this preparation, any ordinance of the Gospel would be an empty set of rituals. The Temple, in its fullest sense, prepares men and women to return and live with God as His sons and daughters. Anyone in the world can experience the power and beauty of the Temple, but a wise Heavenly Father has set out certain guidelines for their personal preparation first. Those who love Jesus Christ and walk in His ways will find in the Temple a power beyond their comprehension and a closeness to God not possible anywhere else in the world.