Hi, I'm Mark

I'm a computer consultant that works from home, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I left home at a young age and joined the USAF, spending the next 10 years defending the nation. Got married, had a child, got divorced, didn't see my daughter again for the next 13 years. Was poor, lived as a bum on a rickety sailboat, then decided to use my military benefits to go to school. I earned my BA degree in Psychology, but got a job in the computer field when it was first starting, and have stayed in that field ever since. Now I work from my office at home, helping large companies automate their computer data centers.

I love the out doors, and camp as much as I can. I enjoy playing the fiddle, but as with all things, I need to learn more and practice often!

My lovely wife is my eternal companion, best friend and wise counselor. I love working from home so we can spend as much time together as possible.

Why I am a Mormon

I was lost and had no hope of my salvation. I thought because of the mean and terrible things I had done in my life that there was no hope for me, and that I was damned to hell. I woke up each day with nothing to look forward to but yet another day of toil in the world, trying to just survive. I had seen so much evil in the world, but had been told so many times that there is a God and that everything that happened fit into His glorious plan. I could not understand how a loving God would plan for so many evil things to happen on the Earth, so I turned away from Him as something I could never accept. If there was a God, surely He would treat His people better.

Then I discovered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints though my new wife. She gave me books to read and I learned that I could be saved and that my sins could be forgiven. But I also learned the God is not the reason for the evil in the world, but it is all from Satan, who is the enemy of God and all his children. I learned it is only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we have any hope of being saved in the Kingdom of God, after all that we can do.

Now I know there is a loving God who cares for all His children. In my position in the Church, I feel His love and the love of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I feel His presence with me and I know that the Holy Ghost speaks to me. I know that God lives, and that Jesus Christ also lives and is the head of this Church and he directs it through the men that He has called to administer. And I know these things as surely as I know I am alive, because once you feel the presence of the Lord in your life, and you feel him standing with you, it is something you will never forget and can never deny.

Personal Stories

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is knowing there is a purpose for me in this world....that I am a servant of God and am here to help those I meet to learn of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Hope is the knowledge that someday I will be called to stand before God and Jesus Christ, to be judged and redeemed from my sins, and that I can be saved in the Kingdom of God, not because I am special or because I am a Mormon, but only because I tried to live the commandments of God to my best abilities. Hope is knowing that no matter how far I have stumbled in this world, that I can be redeemed and brought back into the Kingdom of Heaven.

I look forward to that day, when Christ will look into my soul and see what I have become. I hope that He will see my love for Him and God our Father. I hope that when He sees the blots on my soul for the sins that I committed in my life, that He will wipe them clean because of His atoning sacrifice and I will be saved in the glorious kingdom of God forever.

How I live my faith

As the President of my Branch in the Church, I am responsible for the temporal and spiritual welfare of all the people in my area, both members and non-members. In this position, I work 20 or more unpaid hours each week conducting Church services, directing the teaching of the Gospel, helping the members to improve their spiritual selves, meeting with members and non-members who need help, and generally caring for the people as best I can.

I feel the love of the Savior and of God the Father for his children, and feel the influence of the Holy Spirit that directs me in what to do and what to say to those in need. The love of Christ is sometimes nearly overwhelming as I try to help the people that are hurting or in trouble. This feeling of the Savior's love uplifts me in ways I can't understand, and it fills my soul with love and a desire to do more. I look forward to every moment that I am doing the Lord's work as it brings me closer to God and makes me a better man.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Mark answered...

The Word of Wisdom is a commandment from God for His people to refrain from taking into our bodies substances that are harmful to us. This specifically means alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, coffee and tea. We are also counseled to eat meat sparingly, and refrain from anything that can become habit forming.
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Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

What is the difference between attending church and the temple?

Kimberly. answered...

We go to church weekly to worship and take the sacrament, which is like communion. Everyone, no matter their faith, is welcome to come to church services and learn more about the Gospel.

The temple is a special place where members make further promises to Heavenly Father that they will keep his commandments. It is also where we are married, or sealed together, and where we can be baptized and sealed for our family members who have died before having those opportunities in life.

To go to the temple you need a card called a temple reccomend from your church leaders that confirms that you are currently doing your best to follow Christ and His Gospel as a member of the Church.