Hi, I'm Bryan

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a young adult that was raised in Idaho. I am currently living in California. I love history and obtained my Bachelor degree in History with a U.S. History emphasis. I am currently working on my MA degree in American Religious History, with an emphasis in Mormon Studies. I hope someday to be a professor at a university teaching U.S. History, and American Religious History.

Apart from being a full-time student I love to go running and play Ultimate Frisbee. My hobbies include listening to music, and respectfully learning more about other religions and the people who are a part of them.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a family that were members of the Church. As I grew up I had the opportunity to learn about the teachings of the Church, and see the blessings it brought into my life. I am grateful for the influence of my parents who taught by example and never forced me to go to Church. I grew my own love for the Church attending it every Sunday and participating in other Church events throughout the week.

I am a Mormon because in it I find myself coming closer to Jesus Christ. The teachings of the Church are the pure teachings of Jesus Christ. I find an imense peace that enters into my life when I read the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I know I am far from perfect, but the teachings I learn help push me to always better myself. I am also a Mormon because it gives me the answers to the questions I have had about life. Have you ever found yourself asking, "Why am I here?" or "Where am I going?" I asked those questions constantly as a teenager. It was the LDS Church that was the only place that could answer them.

Personal Stories

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

I think one of the things that people think about when it comes to Mormons are their missionaries that go around door to door talking about their beliefs. However, there is so much more to the missions of the Church than just door to door teaching. One of the missions of the Church is to help care for the poor and the needy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a huge Humanitarian Aid Program that helps not only members of the Church but people all over the world. We send food and supplies to countries where natural disasters occur. Such instances have been in the case of Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake in Haiti. I served a door to door mission for my Church in Ohio and we were encouraged to do community service regularly apart from that. I can never forget for several months as a missionary volunteering at a local food bank and helping give out groceries to those in need. I have also sat in a room with many other people and helped make hygine and supply kits for the Church's Humanitarian Aid to send all over the world.
It is a very important mission of the Church to share our beliefs. After all its members have felt very blessed by the teachings of Christ it contains and they feel that since it has blessed their lives that they know it can bless others. That is why you will see men and women in name tags going door to door. However, it is also important to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints works hard to not only bring people closer to Christ, but to help people in their temporal and physical need as well. That means that the Church works hard to build up all people, regardless of whether they are and choose to be members of the Church or not.

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

I couldn't begin to count the blessings that have come into my life through my faith in Jesus Christ. He is my Rock, my Redeemer, and my Savior.Life can be very hard and challenging at times. I think just about everybody has those hard days in which nothing goes right, or they suffer the tragic loss of a loved one. Faith in Christ has allowed me to be able to find comfort in these troubling times. As I have come to believe in and accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have found peace and comfort through him.

I remember when I was a teenager my grandmother passing away, and the very sad feelings that I felt. She was always supportive and encouraging to me. At the funeral as I looked into her casket, i could feel that her spirit was gone. However, even in this sad time I found comfort in Jesus Christ. I knew that I would see my grandmother again because Jesus Christ dies and atoned for our sins that we would be able to live again. He made it possible not only to live with Him again but to live with all our friends and family. I knew I would see my grandmother, and this faith in Christ brought me great comfort.

My faith in Christ has also brought me to strive to better myself. The life of Christ has taught me to reach out to others, to try to be more caring and charitiable to my fellow men. As I have worked hard on following his example I have felt the peace and joy of his light come into my life.

Truly Jesus Christ has blessed my life. To finish with a line from the hymn "I Stand All Amazed, "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me."

How I live my faith

My faith is at the very center of my life. In being a Mormon it is a 7 days a week 24 hours a day mindset. Which really is the way religion should be. I strive to live the teachings of my faith everyday.

I live my faith by going to Church every Sunday. In my ward, a Mormon term for congregation, I have been given the calling of Ward Membership Clerk. This means that I help the Bishopric, the leaders of the congregation, in getting to know the members of the ward, and helping them to meet their spiritual and temporal needs. I am also a Home Teacher in the Church. This means that I personally go and visit with several members of the congregation in their homes, share with them a Gospel message and help them out with any need they may have.

I also have other unique ways that I live my faith as well. As mentioned I am currently studying American Religious History for my MA degree. My personal emphasis in this broad field is in Mormon History. I often have been given certain settings in which I have been able to educate those who do not belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the fundamental beliefs of the Church, and the Church's past history. I have had the occasion to, along with other local church leaders and missionaries, take college religion classes on a tour of our ward chapel and to answer the questions that the students had about the Church. In this aspect of my school studies I do not try to force my beliefs on others but have learned to engage in friendly open dialogue that helps other religions come to understand my own. In this way I live my faith as well.

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Bryan answered...

I have talked to many people about the answer to this question. If you talk to other members of the Mormon Church you will probably notice that many people in the Church have come to know the truth of Mormonism in various forms or from various experiences.I think that "experience" is often the key word to answer this question. I often talk and discuss with people the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and also about Mormon practices and beliefs. In these settings I have told them that if they want to know if Mormonism is true they need to check it out for themselves. That experience is essential to finding the answer. Some ways to do this include: reading the Book of Mormon and the messages that it contains and pray with a sincere heart, with faith in Christ, to know whether it is true or not. Do the teachings found within help bring you peace, joy and understanding? Another way to learn that Mormonism is true is to go to Church meetings on Sunday and listen to what is being said and how it makes you feel. As Jesus Christ taught, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:17. That is the best way to know for yourself that Mormonism is true. Read and pray about the Book of Mormon, attend Church on Sunday at a chapel near you, and listen to the thoughts and impressions that you feel as others speak and share their thoughts. By searching with a sincere heart and doing and experiencing it for yourself you can come to know that it is true.
J. Sean answered...

Here is a simple step by step instruction on how to know Mormonism is true.

1. Meet with missionaries.
2. Pray to Heavenly Father with real intent and ask something like this, " I want to know if this is Your church, so is this Your church?".
3. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON! Ask God if it is true.
4. Look for an anwser from God. He speaks with us through our thoughts and feelings by the Holy Ghost. Ask the missionaries for more details.
5. Come to church to see for yourself.
6. Keep the commandments that the missionaries teach you.
7. Repeat until answer is received.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Michael answered...

My wife is a Mormon, and I love her with all of my heart. She is devoted to serving God, and raising a righteous family. We are equal partners in God's eyes, and her happiness is my enduring goal in life.

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