Hi, I'm Moroni

I grew up on the Navajo Nation, study the politics of co-optation and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am graduate student and study policy processes, specifically the intersection of co-optation and collaboration in policy development.

I like reading (mostly non-fiction). I like keeping up with current events. I also like hiking, camping, and it turns out working with my family.

I am Navajo. Navajos emphasize the family, so I spend a lot time with my family. One of my favorite things is laughing with my family. I love to laugh and look for every opportunity to laugh.

Why I am a Mormon

Over time, I have developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know He is my Savior. I do not always honor that knowledge, but I try. Reading in the Book of Mormon, I have come to know, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus took upon Him all my weaknesses. Through Him and His infinite mercy, I can know that if I but do my best to be a good person, His grace will lift me and change me. Through Him, I have hope and a calm assurance that things will always work out. Through Him, I can have a peace of conscience and mind. I am Mormon because I have learned this through reading, pondering, and praying over the Book of Mormon. It has saved and continues to save my life!

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

When I was 19 I doubted that God existed. I struggled. But one day I chose to believe that God was real, I did this so I could go on an LDS Mission. I remember starting my mission still not entirely sure of God's existence. I prayed a year before I left for my mission and nearly an entire year during my mission to come to know that God was real. I clearly remember one morning, as I prayed, the Spirit touched my heart and my mind. I knew at that moment that God the Father was real, that Jesus Christ was real. But more importantly, I came to know that they live. I had prayed for a little over two years to have that knowledge.

From that experience, I came to know that God answers our prayers according to His timeframe. Often, I would pray expecting to be answered a certain way, but often that is not the way God would answer. I learned that prayer is very powerful and can help change our very desires. Prayer has saved me from doing things that would take me away from the Savior. And prayer has helped me back from doing things I shouldn't have. I know prayer works. God simply wants us to talk to Him.

How I live my faith

As a Native American, I am not immune from disparaging comments about my faith. Yet, I strive each day to be kind to others, to show compassion, to be patient, in short to do what the Savior or Jesus would do. I pray for that strength. I do not always live up to that standard, but striving to do so, provides an inner peace and happiness.

I always try to help others when they ask, no matter the task, no matter when they ask. I try my best to help others feel good about themselves and know they are cared for and loved. I am not always successful, but I try!

My faith is central to everything I do. In the morning, I pray that I will be a kind person. I pray a lot. In addition to prayer, I always try to act. My faith is about action. I believe God and Jesus Christ would show compassion to my failing student and give him or her special attention, outside of office hours. Because I believe this, I try to help those in need. It's hard, but it's tremendously rewarding because I know, that when I am in the service of my fellow beings, I am only in the service of my God (Mosiah 2:19).

I try to show my faith and love to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by helping others in need.

What is the First Vision?

Moroni answered...

The First Vision is considered the foundational event for the founding of the modern Church of Jesus Christ. A young man, by the name of Joseph Smith in the early nineteenth century was confused about religion. He wanted to know which church to join. He described his own confusion by noting that the different churches understood the same Bible verses so differently, this, he observed, weakened the ability to resolve any question by looking to the Bible. At 14 years of age, he sought to understand some basic questions, he sought to know God's will for him. He wanted to know which church to join.

Joseph Smith decided to ask God after reading in the Bible, James 1:5, which explained that anyone who does not have answers can ask God. And that God would answer. Joseph believed this. He went to a grove of trees and kneeled and asked God. I always found this interesting, He asked God which church to join. He did not anticipate the answer.

While he prayed, he saw a pillar of light. It rested over his head and he saw two personages. One of them, said, pointing to the other, "this is my beloved Son, hear him." This is the First Vision. Joseph saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In that moment, questions about the plagued Christianity for centuries about the nature of God were answered: they were separate personages, but one in purpose. In that appearance, God the Father told Joseph to join none of the churches.

The First Vision is the appearance of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith. This is significant, because it helps us to know that God did not forget about His children, that He still speaks and cares deeply for us His children.

I had payed for several years to come to know this for myself. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I know that this event did happen. Knowing this helps me understand that God knows me, that He knows and cares about me. About me!

Do you really believe there is a prophet like Moses alive today?

Kimberly answered...

Absolutely! Heavenly Father loves us, His children. He loves us so much that He listens to our prayers. He also loves us so much that He has given prophets throughout history to lead us, teach us, and guide us.

We have a living prophet on earth today, Thomas S. Monson, who speaks on behalf of God. We have lots of opportunities today to listen to the words of the living prophets. I invite you to visit http://www.lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today