Hi, I'm Matt

I'm currently a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. I'm a cowboy and a track runner. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm currently (last I checked) the oldest in my family! I have 3 sisters and my mom and dad! I'm now serving a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I love to ride horses, I worked on a family ranch before I came out. I also love to teamrope with my dad and friends! I ran cross country and track! Was region champ in the 400m dash and relay! Ultimately I like to have fun! wether at work or at play! I always try to do my best even when it doesn't seem to matter or when the standard is lower. I only want to make sure that i'm satisfied with whatever my choices are, so I always do my best when making those choices.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because I chose to be one. I was raised in the church all my life. I have awsome parents that showed me the way, However, I believe that because your raised a certain way doesn't mean that you will be that way when you're older. I mean that it doesn't matter what you been raised with, what matters is the choice that you made with yourself! I chose to be a mormon. My parents had nothing to do with my decision, all they did was show me what blessings come from being obiedient to the gospel. I decided to be a Mormon on my own free will. After I graduated, I was blessed with a job, friends, school that I was able to pay for, and roping! I was good at it! I was happy. As I was preparing to serve a mission, I told myself that I better make sure its the thing that I want to do. So, I started to read the Book of Mormon, I started to pray to know if it was true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I got my answer...it took a bit of reading and praying but finally it came. I knew, and now know, that the Book of Mormon is true! Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration! I found true happiness and peace. This is why I'm out here on a mission, to tell people of the miracle that has happened. Like wise I ask you to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, if the Book of Mormon is true. I know he will answer you and tell you it is true...and you will find true happiness, in this life AND the life to come.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

Well me being a missionary, I can tell you exactly why we go on missions. We go because we love the people! We see how much the Gospel blesses our lives and ultimatly our familes, that we want to go share the thing which has brought us so much peace and happiness so that others can partake of the same blessings that we have enjoyed!

How I live my faith

I live my faith just the way I live my life! Sounds like the greatest cop-out answer I know! But I'm serious about it as well! Instead of applying the world and its teachings into the church and its teachings, I take the chruch and try to apply it to the world! If it doesn't fit with the chruch or the Gospel, I just cast it aside! or don't worry about it! I also like to do the best I can, if I can't do the best I can then I really don't want to do it! I also try to serve others. Christ set the perfect example of serving others! And because I was baptized and covenated with God to follow him and witness of Him, I do that by following His role and His Commandments! So I literatley live my faith!

What is the priesthood?

Matt answered...

The Priesthood is the power and authority to act in Gods name. I like to explain like this, Imagine you and I are driving down a road in seperate cars. So lets say I see you do an illegal thing...I dunno, speeding. Anyways, I end up flagging you down and telling you to pull over. You do so, I walk up and tell you what you did and give you a ticket to pay. Well, I can't do that! if we all could do that, it would be chaos! You have to have the authority to do pull people over and give them the ticket! Well, just the same as authority to pull people over, God has authority for people to act in his name and to perform saving ordinaces such as baptism and the laying on of hands! In Matthew 10:1 it shows Christ giving the Apostles "power" to do the same thing that he did! He gives that power by the laying on of hands! That is what the Priesthood is, the power and authority to act and do in Gods name. Because we are to do Gods will, He will not allow us to do anything contrary to his will.
Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Kathy answered...

In 1776 the Declaration of Independence declared all men to be equal. However in 1830 when the Book of Mormon was published and the church established women and people of color still had no legal rights. The Book of Mormon declared 'Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one... (1 Ne 17:35) and '..black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile' (2 Nephi 26:33). Joseph taught and lived this. He authorized the Church's women's organization The 'Relief Society'.

When the church moved outside the U.S. borders, they created the State of Deseret with their own constitution which gave ALL adults the right to vote. The State of Deseret was later divided into US states. When the Woman's right to vote began in 1913, women had the right to vote in 4 states: Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and Utah.- all part of the original State of Deseret with their large Mormon populations. The Relief Society actively supported the Sufferage movement.

The church has always encouraged women to develop their skills and education. The Relief Society sent and paid the schooling for one of the first women at Medical School. Nothing has changed. Motherhood is emphasized because it can be a woman's greatest role - for children are our future. It can also be a woman's greatest joy. Jobs, looks, accomplishments etc will fade or be forgotten, but a loving close family won't, And thanks to grandchildren it will continue to expand.