Hi, I'm Scott

Artist. Writer. Mormon.

About Me

I am currently a missionary serving in the Montana Billings Mission, the greatest mission in the world. I was born and raised in southeast Wisconsin, outside the great city of Milwaukee. My family moved around a bit during my teenage years. As consequence, I attended four different high schools. One in Wisconsin, two in Idaho, and one more in Utah, where my family now lives. I've met a lot of people and seen a lot of interesting stuff. Those years truly molded me into the person I am.

I enjoy graphic arts, writing, photography, and music. Those are... pretty much the main things that I do. I don't play sports, sorry. I love the Brewers though, and the Milwaukee Wave (indoor soccer). Those are my teams.

When I get off my mission I'll attend Brigham Young University and study graphic design or art education. I'm also currently writing a book (which is now on hiatus with me being on my mission) and have a number of other stories on the way. I like all types of music, but you could say I'm into what most people refer to as "the heavier stuff." Coheed and Cambria, Killswitch Engage, Breaking Benjamin, We Came As Romans, August Burns Red, and The Classic Crime are a few of my favorite bands... in case you were curious.

I've been called pessimistic, draining, irritating, judgmental, opinionated, negative, immature, unfiltered, and unaware, but old women think I'm adorable.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I've had the principles of Christ's gospel taught to me all my life. But of course, as I grew older, I could no longer rely on my family and friends to keep my faith in Christ strong; I had to let go of their testimonies and strengthen my own.

I am a Mormon because I felt the comforting witness of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is indeed the word of God, that Joseph Smith was and still is a prophet of God, and that through Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ restored His gospel to the Earth to never again be taken.

I have never seen my Heavenly Father's face, but I have seen His hand in every moment of my life. I have never seen Jesus Christ, but I have felt His loving embrace and received a witness of his redeeming grace through the Holy Ghost.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost has played a critical role in my life. He has helped me through so much I quite literally don't know where to begin.

The Holy Ghost has taught me and testified of truth to me. Because of Him I know the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church once again restored to the Earth.

This knowledge has blessed me with profound comfort and strength that has brought me through countless trials with my spirit, body, and testimony of the Gospel intact.

The Holy Ghost has helped me through the most difficult of times. From family struggles to personal hardship. Whether it was school, work, or my own thoughts that were bringing me down, the Holy Ghost was there beside me, giving me the assurance that He, Jesus Christ, and my Father in Heaven love me.

The Holy Ghost also warns me of danger, whether physical or spiritual, and He has guided me, and still does, to great opportunities. Many times I have felt prompted to do something and have not seen the obvious results of my actions, but the Holy Ghost assures me that what I did was the right thing.

All in all, the Holy Ghost has been my companion throughout life. He has strengthened me, comforted me, taught me and testified to me of many truths, warned me, and guided me. I am thankful for His companionship. I know so long as I live my life in harmony with Christ's teachings, the Holy Ghost will always be by my side.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

For young men, it's viewed as an obligation to the Lord to serve a mission for two years. Young women can also serve missions for eighteen months if they so choose.

Mormons go on missions because they want to serve the Lord and because they want to bless the lives of others, by sharing something that has greatly blessed their own. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I sincerely believe that I would not have a family at this present time. I don't think we would've survived this long, intact, without the knowledge that we possess.

Mormons go on missions because we know that the message we carry is the one true source of happiness in this life. It is a matter of eternal significance. We cannot keep it to ourselves.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer is my communication with my Father in Heaven. It's how I talk to Him. Of course, He knows the thoughts and intentions of my heart. He always knows what I'm thinking and feeling. I can send up a quick thought to Him with no doubt in my mind that He heard me. But a quick thought or feeling... that's kind of like... a text message or a phone call.

Prayer is much more. Prayer is like sitting down with Him and having a conversation. I feel much closer to Him when I'm praying, and I believe that God respects effort. Getting down on your knees and taking the time to pray is showing God that we do care, and therefore, He'll listen even more closely.

Prayer is basically the every-medicine. It works for everything. Bad day, pray. Feeling sick, pray. Feeling angry, pray. Lonely, pray. Hungry, pray. Bored... pray. It just works. If I haven't sold you on this yet, that's okay. I'm no Billy Mays. But I can testify that prayer is what everyone needs. If more people prayed more often, the world would be so different. There would be less death, less hunger, less war, less divorce, less violence, more love, more peace, etc. The world would be a thousand times better... at least.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. Specifically, he was called to be the prophet to help restore Jesus Christ's church to the Earth. It was through him that Jesus Christ brought back His priesthood authority, necessary for the operation of His kingdom.

Joseph Smith was a great and honorable man. We praise him as a prophet of God and esteem him as the first prophet in this last dispensation. He was not educated in the ways of the world, but he was one of the most enlightened and brilliant men to ever live because he was instructed by angels sent from Heaven.

He was a modern day Moses, and so are his successors.

How I live my faith

Because I am on a mission for the Church, I have countless opportunities to live my faith each and every day. I testify of the truthfulness and divinity of the Book of Mormon. I testify that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet called of God. I testify that Christ and God the Father appeared to him and restored Christ's true church upon the Earth. I testify that the priesthood keys that belonged to the Apostles, that were lost, are also once again restored in their fullness upon the Earth.

I live my faith by trying to be like Jesus Christ. Unlike Him, however, I am imperfect, and therefore I also live my faith by repenting each day of my sins, by embracing Christ's love through His Atonement. I live my faith by praying sincerely to my Father in Heaven. I live my faith by keeping the commandments I have been given and covenants I have made.

As J. Golden Kimball once said, "I may not have walked the straight and narrow, but I crossed it as often as I could!"

And so, I know I can't live the perfect life Christ lived. I can't walk the same path He walked. But I sure as heck stumble across His footsteps whenever I can.

In whom should we have faith?

Scott answered...

We should have faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, that He Atone for our sins, and that through Him and only Him can salvation come.

We should also have faith in our Heavenly Father, that He hears and answers our prayers, that He loves us as a father would, and that He is the ultimate Creator and Overseer of our universe.
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Are Mormons Christians?

Debbie answered...

This question always surprises me when I am asked. I always answer with a resounding "YES". We are Christians in every sense of the word. We believe in Christ. He is the head of our church. All of our teachings are based on Him. We have hope in His eternal atonement.