Hi, I'm Brandon

I am a goofball. I'm the youngest of five boys. I love my family. I'm a missionary. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. I played lacrosse for six years and football for three years. I was actively involved in the business marketing club, DECA for part of high school. I am the son of two very in love parents. I am the youngest of a family of five boys. I have two awesome sisters-in-law, two nieces, and two nephews.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because it brings joy! It brings more joy into my life than I can possibly put into words. It makes me so happy, I am resisting the urge to click my heels and shout as I type this. There is no greater happiness than that which comes from being obedient to the truths of God.

Was I raised in this Church? Yes, thank goodness.

However,

Did I have to find out for myself that it is true and gain my very own testimony? Absolutely! And that's why I love this so much. I know for myself, independent of anyone else that the Gospel is true.

But guess what? You can know of these truths for yourself. That's the good news that us missionaries knock on your door and talk to you in the grocery store proclaiming. God has not limited the truth to just some of His children. He makes it available to everyone through prayer and the Holy Ghost. Any honest and sincere seeker of truth will know that this is true with some prayerful effort.

Did I mention that this message brings joy? I think I did, but I want to mention it again.

Read the Book of Mormon, pray to know that it's true, attend some of our church services, and get rid of all the sinful garbage in your life and you'll know without a doubt that these things are true.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I believe prayer to be a literal communication I can experience with God. Growing up, I had a somewhat formulaic view of prayer. I thought that prayer was simply the time you asked God for stuff and thanked God for stuff. But as I have made prayers more heartfelt and personal, I have understood that prayer is simply a gift given to us by God that allows us to align our desires and wishes with the desires and wishes of God. Prayer is not a time to bargain with God. Prayer, for me, is a time to plead for forgiveness for my imperfections with the very real intent to change. Prayer is the time where I seek comfort and counsel with Heavenly Father. Prayer is the time that I can most effectively allow the love of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ into my heart to change me. Prayer is how anyone can know if the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through Joseph Smith.

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

Because I love them. I love them too much not to share this amazing blessing with them. If I didn't share the greatest blessing I've been given with them, then I wouldn't be their true friend. I would not be following the commission given by Jesus Christ to teach and baptize in His name. And I love Christ too much to not share this gospel.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by the way I look at other people. When you seriously internalize the truth that everyone of us is a child of God, it changes the way you view other people. It really really changes the way you view yourself. I know that I have so much more potential than I am currently fulfilling. And that pushes me to change, improve, and repent. But I'm not really strong enough to do any of those things on my own, but I have my Savior, Jesus to help me out with that. He is really good at helping me grow, I've found.

Oh, and I live my faith by currently serving a full-time mission in the Florida Jacksonville Mission. I love being a missionary. It's amazing how much happiness comes when you stop thinking about yourself all day and work for the eternal welfare of others. It's an overwhelming yet wonderful responsibility!

If you're looking for a church (or a gospel for that matter) that doesn't make any real demands of its members, you're looking at the wrong website. This is a church where we pray for others, get off our knees, roll up our sleeves and get to work! And I love it! But if you're looking for a church where you can actually contribute to the Lord's work, click on that "chat with us" icon on the side and a missionary can tell you more about it.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Brandon answered...

With some very close friends I have discussed how it is we are saved. There seems to be a growing divide in the world of Christianity concerning grace vs. works.

I have pondered, prayed, and studied heavily on the subject and I have come to feel that the question is an irrelevant one.

Of course we are saved according to the grace of Jesus Christ. He willingly took upon himself every sin and pain that I have ever experienced so that I may be comforted in times of trial and have the opportunity to be return to live with my Father in Heaven. Without this voluntary sacrifice, I would have no hope for salvation on my own merits.

However, to actually accept Christ as my Savior, I strongly believe that it requires true faith. And true faith compels a follower of Jesus Christ to act. When properly understood, the sacrifice of Christ ought to alter our actions, thoughts, habits, values, and our very identity. When we understand what Jesus Christ did for us, we want to exercise our faith in any way possible. Living a Christlike life and making promises, or covenants, with God are the natural result of understanding the grace of Jesus Christ.
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Tan. answered...

We believe 100% that we are saved by grace. Absolutely. Period. No person can be saved by his or her works, no matter how great he or she is, and how many good things he or she did. In order to qualify for Christ's grace, however, we must live righteously, repent, and humble ourselves before the Lord.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Cynthia answered...

Family is very important in the church for more reasons than can be explained here. Holding the priesthood is just one of these reasons. Husbands act and bless their family with their priesthood, but wives benefit and honor the priesthood through their husbands. It is a symbiotic relationship. As I have participated in the church in various activities I have come to understand my importance as a woman in the church. There cannot be one without the other.