Hi, I'm Steven

I study music in college. I plan to attend law school. I speak Hmong. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I currently attend college studying music and business management. As the youngest of six children, one of my favorite pastimes is playing with my 14 (soon to be 15) nieces and nephews scattered across the United States. I love to play intramural soccer and volleyball at my school and fill my spare time with composing contemporary songs and classical choral music. I lived in Jerusalem for four months for a study abroad and have a great love for the Holy Land and the peoples and cultures there. I speak Hmong and love to eat Thai and Vietnamese food.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born a member of the church, and have always loved the light and knowledge that has flowed into my life from it. I learned in high school, however, that I had to know for myself if this church is true. I cannot depend on the belief of my parents alone.

As I have read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it, I have felt the Holy Spirit whisper to my heart that it is true. As I have lived the counsel of our living prophet, I have seen happiness and light replace darkness and fear. As I have done wrong things, I have seen that light and joy disappear from my life until I have the courage to truly repent. As I confess my sins to the Lord and forsake them, I have felt rejuvenation and forgiveness.

That is how I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is of God. I have seen the fruits of gospel living and want to continue to live according to God's will so I can bless the lives of others.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I served as a missionary for the church in Sacramento, California. I was called to speak Hmong and thus worked very closely with that community for the two years of my mission. I love to see the global outreach of the church and how the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change the lives of people from any religious or cultural background.

Many of the Hmong people I met had never heard about Jesus Christ and we had wonderful opportunities to teach and share our beliefs. In addition to teaching lessons to those who were interested and inviting people to join the church through baptism, we were also devoted much of our time to serving the Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian low-income communities we lived near. This service included free piano lessons, English speaking and writing lessons, as well as Hmong writing lessons for the young Hmong who were not able to read and write in their language.

I learned many things as a missionary. First, God is with us when we seek to love and serve His children. There were so many times when I felt the Holy Spirit guiding me to specific individuals to help them in specific ways. Second, our Heavenly Father wants us all to come closer to Him. Much of the great work that occurs as missionaries is actually helping missionaries to gain a greater conviction of the love our Savior has for each of His children. Finally, I learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the single most effective way for people to find lasting peace and joy in this life. Any problem, any difficulty, and trial can be overcome through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

First and foremost, drawing close to and coming to know my Savior, Jesus Christ, through scripture study and personal prayer is a daily top priority. I find that these daily little habits make all the difference in helping me maintain kindness and consistency in my interactions with my family, friends, and even strangers.

One important way I reach out to those around me is by home teaching. I am assigned to four members of my congregation to visit them each month and be aware of any needs that they have, whether spiritual or physical needs.

In my congregation which consists of all students between the ages of 18-30, I am an instructor for the all-men class during the third hour of church. Previously, I have served as a choir director and music coordinator.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?

Steven answered...

When the Savior said "He who shall lose his life for my sake shall find it" I think of what I need to do to lose my life in service for those around me. How can I lose my selfishness and focus on another person's needs? How can I lose my greed and give freely to those who need it? How can I lose my pride and humbly admit my mistakes and work with God to improve upon them? It is not so much death that the Savior asks of us, but living according to God's will. We give up our lives and live His. As I think about this teaching, it helps me live a fuller, more selfless life.
Emily answered...

Proverbs 3:5-6 reads "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." During these tough economic times, I've really come to rely on this scripture and just how often it's necessary for me to acknowledge Him in this journey of life. Where I'm at now and where my family is at now is not a mistake or a chance occurrence, but a part of the Lords' unique and divine mission for me. Who I am is not a mistake or chance occurrence but a unique combination of what makes me able to most effectively carry out His plan for me. My mission here on earth is special and unique and precious. I sincerely believe that the Lord has a mission for each of us, and that only through being in tuned to the Holy Ghost can we carry out His mission for us to its fullest potential.

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.