Hi, I'm Jeff

I was raised by parents that were entrepreneurs, and ended up working in the technology field. I became a Mormon when I was 21.

About Me

I seem to enjoy a little bit of everything. The things that i enjoy the most are based in art. I like to paint and play music (although I'm still not that good), and just generally create things with my hands. I also enjoy acting (although I haven't done it since high school - I still enjoy it though).
My music tastes are pretty varied, I tend to listen to electronic dance music, but when I'm surfing the radio, I'll stop on just about any station.
I also really enjoy spending time with my children (I think partly because my kids have made me realize that I'm still a child at heart).

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up for the most part believing in Jesus Christ, and that the Bible came from God. I didn't start out as a Mormon and did not want to join, because I thought that Mormons didn't believe in the Bible or in Jesus Christ.
One day when I was 21, some missionaries came to my door and we started talking. I was very surprised when they told me that they believed in the Bible and Jesus Christ as well. I started taking the lessons, but did not want to become a Mormon at all. As they started teaching me, I started realizing that I had a lot of incorrect perceptions about the church. And then there was one night when they were teaching me, that right then and there, I knew that what they were teaching me was true. It's hard to explain how I knew, but I knew that it was God letting me know that this was the right thing. I guess the best way to explain it was that from that point on, I understood 1 Kings 19:12 when it talks about a 'still small voice'. I feel it was that 'still small voice' that had let me know that the things those missionaries were teaching me were true. Even though I had grown up with all those misconceptions, I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ, and that I'm glad to be a part of it. I have also found that the things I learned after becoming a member have increased the love I have of the Bible and the Savior.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost has helped me to make right choices in my life, has guided me to do things that didn't make sense at first, but I was glad to have that 'prompting' later. The scriptures refer to the influence of the Holy Ghost being like a 'still small voice' and that's what it's been like for me most of the time.
I served a mission in Cambodia a while back and a war had broken out in the city I was in. There was a night that it seemed like there was a very good chance that I was going to die, and I just remember the holy Ghost letting me know that I was going to make it through the night (I actually had a lot of help like this from the Holy Ghost while I was in Cambodia).
One of the greatest things about the Holy Ghost is that I've always felt that if God truly does exist, that He would have a way to communicate with his children, and through the Holy Ghost, that's sometimes how I just know and feel that Heavenly Father is aware of me personally.

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

It has brought me closer to God because I feel a direct connection to him through it, or rather it shows me that God is as much aware of us and concerned about us in our day, as he was in times of old.
Before I became a Mormon, I used to read the Bible and could see that God had some very direct dealings with many different people of ancient times. I would wonder however, why it seemed like that kind of directness and closeness felt missing in our day.
When I realized that the Book of Mormon was written for our day, it was very comforting to know that God is with us as much today as He was with the people of ancient times.
The Book of Mormon also helps to bring out simple truths of the Gospel that I used to be confused about before.

How I live my faith

I try to take a little time each day to study the scriptures and to also be a good person. I've found that I have a long way to go, but I still try to be kind to people, and to help people when they are in need.
I have had the chance to do missionary work, like those missionaries that taught me, and have enjoyed it very much. I had the chance to spend a couple of years doing missionary work in Cambodia, which was an amazing experience. While I was in Cambodia, I got to see that the teachings of Jesus Christ truly do apply to and can help everyone - no matter where they are in the world.
I have also been a Sunday School teacher to younger children, which has been something that I truly have enjoyed. I think it's fun coming up with creative and fun ways to engage children in the Gospel.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Jeff answered...

I think some call Mormonism a cult mainly because they don't understand what it's about. Before I was a Mormon, I used to believe that Mormons did not believe in the Bible, in Jesus Christ and a good deal of other things. I didn't realize how incorrect I was. There have been some pretty amazing things that have happened in conjunction with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and if you don't get the whole picture, then some of the stuff can sound pretty odd, and I think that's where I was before.
An example I sometimes use is: if someone told you that he had cut a man with a knife, from that limited piece of information, you'd probably report him for stabbing someone. But if you found out that this someone was a Doctor, and that he was preforming a surgery to save a man's life, having the full story completely changes your perspective on the situation.
In regards to the church I belong to, once I did have the whole story, I could see that Mormons were not cultish, but that they really are in fact Christians. I've even found that I have a stronger love of the the core things I believed before I was a Mormon, like the Bible and Jesus Christ.
Dan answered...

I grew up thinking, at one point, Mormonism was cult. I made this assertion based on nothing but hearsay, and didn't actually know any tenets of the LDS faith. Now, as a person who has thoroughly investigated the sincerity and divine truthfulness of this Church, I can resoundingly say that the Church of Jesus Christ is by no means a cult. I find that the major reason why people think Mormonism is a cult is simply due to a lack of understanding of the Church. For instance, not many people really know that Mormons believe in and strive to be closer to Jesus Christ we believe Him to be our personal savior and redeemer of the world. We read the Bible and know it to be the word of God. We take communion. We have an unpaid clergy. We live to serve others as Christ would have done.

When people take the time to understand what Mormonism is really all about, like I did, they will understand that Mormons are normal people with normal problems, and each of us relies on God to be a better, more Christlike person.

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.