Hi, I'm Adam

I'm a grad student studying Human Security and ethics. I speak Japanese. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Hi! I'm a first-year grad student, studying Human Security. I love my major and I love the thought about studying cultures and how they interact with each other!

I think because I study politics, philosophy has snuck in as well. I love philosophy, and tracking where the basis of ideas come from. It helps me understand myself and other people a lot more. I also love comedy, maybe to balance out the seriousness and how serious people in my career can get. So anything with Stand-up comedy I like! I grew up with Jerry Seinfeld, but I'm all for John Pinette, Bill Cosby, Zach Galifianakis, too. I think sketch comedy (SNL) is finally getting back to where it was years ago. Physical comedy is a love of mine, as well. I watched a documentary of Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) teaching comedy, and it. was. awesome!

I try to keep my literature up with all this, too. This past summer I got sick of being a little hypocritcal calling myself a lit critic when I have only read classics while in high school and college classes, so I tried to read a book every week or so. It was awesome! I'm trying to work on a habit to always be reading and somehow juggle it into my final year at school.

Why I am a Mormon

Now, I was raised in the Mormon church. My parents and their parents were Mormon's and so on back. So when I grew up it was a habit to be a part of the church. I got used to following the motions and making my parents happy.

But, when I was a young teenager my parents and church youth leaders started emphasizing the need for me to ask God and learn for myself whether the Mormon church was really what it was proclaiming to be. They challenged me to get on my knees and pray to God and ask him for an answer to whether I was being misled or not. I wasn't too worried about getting the answer, though, because I had heard of so many other people having their own intimate experiences in response. So I started praying each night for some kind of answer from my Heavenly Father.

Around my fourteenth birthday, all the youth from 12 to 18 years old within a 50-mile radius came together for two days to have little classes about the Gospel of Christ, study scriptures, have dance parties, and go on hikes. The final activity of the youth conference was a testimony meeting where whoever wanted could go up in front of everyone and share feelings, experiences and impressions they received while there. After a good hour of having random strangers (there were probably 500 youth at the conference) we were all feeling pretty spiritual. The closing song we sang is called, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." As we sang it I started to cry, and had the most peaceful feeling come over me assuring that the words I was singing were true. It was like a light bulb turned on that made the truth of the words SO obvious. It was a beautiful, personal experience. I haven't been able to look back since.

So when people tell me I'm just confusing emotions with desire, it's pretty easy for me to understand that I received the answer to my prayers, and that God was letting me know where to find the truth about Him.

Personal Stories

Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it has been restored perfectly to the earth through Joseph Smith, means EVERYTHING to me. Christ taught me how to be a human and a neighbor to everyone around me. Christ also helped me understand what he is expecting from each of us and how to reach the goal of perfection through His eternal atonement (sacrifice of himself for my sins). The gospel is a means whereby we can live with God, know why we aren't living with God now, know what we need to do to prepare to live with God, and how we can even learn to become like God more and more.

Now, if that was what you believe in, wouldn't you want to share that with other people around you? That's why I share the message of Jesus Christ whenever I can. It's a little hard for me as I go to school in Utah since I am surrounded my people of my faith, but I have decided to share it through my blog. http://collegeadam.wordpress.com. That way I know I am doing my job of helping other people understand the peace of mind that comes from realizing what is and isn't important in this life, and what is truth and not. Feel free to go to my blog, it's just my own little thing I do when I feel like sharing something gospel oriented. Feel free to comment or ask questions, too!

How I live my faith

I live my faith through service. I have a duty as a guy who holds the priesthood of God to go monthly and visit assigned people in my ward to see how they are doing spiritually. We call it Home Teaching since we go to their home and teach them. This is really important since I am at college and nobody has the support of their family anymore. So my assigned companion and I go each month to visit some girls and guys in our church ward and share with them a message from the prophet. I also have the opportunity to serve them and help make their life a little easier while they are here at school. Something I like to do is buy pre-made cookie dough and bake cookies for them when it is mid-terms or finals weeks. It's the easiest way to help someone have a better day!

What do Mormons believe about the Bible? Do they regard it as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

Adam answered...

I LOVE the bible! Not only is it inspired writing but it is so amazing to read this literary masterpiece that helped teach the world the meaning of morals and spiritual right and wrongs through the thousands of years it has been around!

I, and Mormons, believe in the Bible! We believe it to be inspired writing that we can learn from on a daily basis! The book is over a thousand pages long, anyway! I'm sure there is SOMETHING I can learn from it daily, as long as I actually study it and look for it!

A favorite scripture of mine is 2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Richard Gaffney answered...

As a convert I was concerned that the bible was replaced by the Book of Mormon. How far from the truth that concern was, as the Bible is the LDS primary teaching tool and the Book of Mormon is simply another testament of Jesus Christ and serves to verify the truths found in the Bible. Cerrtainly the Bible is Holy Scripture and the Word of God, as is the Book of Mormon. I have come to love the Book of Mormon and cross-reference the Bible and Book of Mormon finding the same truths in both volumes of scripture.

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.