Hi, I'm Chad

I am a college student preparing to be a doctor. I'm from Colorado, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Among many other things, I enjoy being outside. I race triathlons as a hobby, but do so mostly for personal enjoyment because I'm not very fast. I play the piano and the organ; mostly classical music, but occasional pop music as well. I am currently in school studying to become a trauma surgeon.
I work nights as a 911dispatcher for the local police department to pay my bills and keep life exciting. I also volunteer as an EMT in my spare time.

Why I am a Mormon

Life is rough. They say that things happen for a reason though, and I believe that. I've always found that when I have a hard time or need help, God has been there to help support and guide me. I have consistently found that my faith in Him has helped me through difficult times in my life.
I have had many opportunities and blessings in my life, and I have found a direct correlation between keeping the commandments and being blessed spiritually and temporally.
Most importantly though, I know that God talks to each one of us - we are able to receive answers to our prayers from Him if we seek Him diligently. I know that God has shown me that this is the right path for me.
My study and faith have shown me time after time that this church is the church of Christ on the earth. He died for me and my sins, and this is the way he has predetermined for me to return to His presence if I choose.
I hope everybody else can know for themselves that this is the correct path to return to live with God as families forever.

Personal Stories

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

Life is a journey, not an event. I have noticed in my life that it is easy to make bad habits and hard to keep good habits. Nevertheless, we humans are creatures of routine. If we start making right decisions, even just one, the next one becomes easier because we know we've done it once and that it was good for us. And over time, it becomes harder to make those bad decisions because of the good habits we have. Good habits aren't formed overnight, but God wants us on the right path and will help us to get there and to stay there.

How I live my faith

My responsibility at church is to play the organ every other week for the congregation and to prepare the typed program for the service. A couple times a month I visit several friends from the congregation and check to make sure they are doing well spiritually, emotionally, and temporally. I also volunteer as a translator for some of the local missionaries.

Are Mormons Christians?

Chad answered...

In the truest sense of the word, most certainly yes!
The main belief of the mormon church is that of Christ and His Atonement for mankind. We believe that anybody who wants to can be saved through Christ's Sacrifice for us.
Without Christ, our church would be meaningless, void, and pointless. He is the core of this church. In fact, He is the leader and head of this church.
Some people say we don't believe in Christ, but I wholeheartedly disagree; Christ is everything to us - He rescues us from sin and fear, He is the reason for our being.
We celebrate and rejoice in His life and works and know that He lives today! Christ is risen and is ready to help us in our lives.
Charlotte answered...

Living in a place where Mormons are a small minority, this is probably the question I get asked the most. For me, nothing is more sacred and personal than my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe he was born of Mary and is the Son of God. I believe he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and died on the cross on Calvary so that all of us might be saved by the gift of His atonement. I believe he was resurrected three days later and that he will come again. I absolutely whole-heartedly believe in and love Jesus and am teaching my children to do the same.

Generally though, I've found that when people ask me this question more often they are asking what makes Mormons different from other Christians. There are 3 major differences: 1) We believe that God, the father, Jesus, his son and the Holy Ghost are distinct beings (the first two having a body of flesh and blood, the third being a spirit) that are united in purpose. So, we don't believe in the concept of the "Trinity." 2) We believe in an open cannon, meaning that God still reveals scripture. We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God but we have companion scriptures as well that we believe are holy and inspired, most notably "The Book of Mormon." It is another testament of Jesus Christ, in addition to the Bible. 3)We believe that God still talks to man. Revelation didn't stop with the prophets in the Bible. When Christ's church was restored through Joseph Smith, prophets once again returned to the earth. We having a living prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, to whom God speaks. In addition, we believe in personal revelation. Rather than telling people they must follow unquestioningly like sheep, Mormons are encouraged to ask God themselves about doctrine, actions and anything else they are concerned about. He answers prayers.

Mormons believe Jesus Christ is their Savior. Why do we need a Savior?

Trisha answered...

There are doctrinal answers to why we believe we need a Savior to redeem us from the Fall of Adam and to return us to our Father in Heaven that you'll probably come across here. But let me tell you why I need a Savior personally and what He does for me. Christ suffered personally for my pains, sorrows, and sins so that if I ask Him too, He can take them from me. I have been the victim of abuse in my life, and yet through Him I have been able to lay it all at His feet, freely forgive, feel peace, find love, and understand how important negative life experiences can be in teaching us humility. Daily He takes my pain and replaces it with pure love so that I am no longer a victim, but a victor. I need a Savior because He knows me, and through him my flaws become strengths and my pain becomes peace.