Hi, I'm Dallin

I am currently starting my own business and love college football. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am currently a senior in college and am studying history and accounting. When I finish school, I am planning on going into business. Eventually I would like to start a small business of my own. I like the innovation and hard work that starting a business requires.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because I feel like my faith in Jesus Christ gives me a foundation. It gives me direction and purpose in my life. In a world where so many things are constantly debated, I feel like my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ helps me to learn what is truly important in life. When all is said and done it won't really matter what car you drove, what job you had, or whether or not your team won the championship. There are things that do matter. Family. Integrity. Doing what is right. Serving others. These things will ultimately bring us true happiness. Attending church meetings and living true to the standards endorsed by my church, I feel like I become the person that my Heavenly Father wants me to.

Personal Stories

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

The Savior taught: “What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?”
Many can relate to this woman. I sure can. Misplacing things drives me crazy! I can’t stop thinking about where they might be and check every place imaginable (and a few unimaginable places as well!) One day I lost something much more important.
When I was 17, my oldest sister had a baby girl. Amy Petersen brought so much joy and happiness to everyone. A few short months later, Amy’s fragile condition took a turn for the worse and God called her home.
My feelings of peace and happiness were replaced with a deep sense of emptiness. I went to my room, knelt next to my bed and began to pour out my heart to God. I described how unfair it seemed that someone so perfect and so innocent could die. In the middle of my grief, I suddenly felt warm and at peace. I felt God’s love—not only for me, but for families. I was certain that Amy was in a better place. I knew that if I was obedient, I could be with all of my family forever.
Heavenly Father has a plan for us. It is a plan of happiness and includes the reuniting of the things we have lost. The Savior finishes his parable: “And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.” I echo that woman. I rejoice. I have literally found the “peace” which I had lost.
I understand that many are feeling losses much greater than mine. To these I plead with all of my heart: Talk to God! Ask if His plan is true. He will reassure you as He did me. He is our Father. He loves us. He knows what is best for us, and sorrow and sadness are NOT what is best for us. He wants us to be happy—so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die to make this happiness possible. I know that He will share this joy with us as we turn to Him. He did for me!

How I live my faith

I live my faith by praying to my Father in Heaven. I pray to him in my own words and speak to him like I would to a close friend. I express my gratitude for the many things that he has blessed me with. I also pray about the things that I am struggling with and ask for direction in my life. I find that when I am consistent in my prayers, I feel greater personal peace in my life. Prayer also helps me to be more grateful for my blessings and reach out to those around me.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

Dallin answered...

The Mormon Church does not endorse political parties. It does, however, strongly encourage political participation. We believe that one of God's greatest gifts to his children is the freedom to choose. With this gift comes the responsibility to do our part to make good choices. It is a great blessing to live in areas where we have the opportunity to vote for our leaders.
John Odell answered...

Of course the Church does not endorse political parties. Political parties do not represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But all the members of the Church are encouraged to participate in the political system and many have and do. We will be held responsible for our actions in the political arena just as we are in every other activity of our lives. I feel strongly that we have an obligation to support the Constitution of this land and that the Lord had a lot to do in its founding and in the freedoms that we receive from adhering to its principles. The Founding Fathers were inspired by God and we should be inspired by them. There are many criteria that we can use to choose political candidates but none are of more value than that recommended by modern scripture, namely, to search after honest and good men. I love our American Republic and our Constitution and try to support men or women who support the ideas and principles found in that document. According to the Declaration of Independence we receive our rights from our creator and must be ever aware that we do not turn our rights to the whims of men, however well meaning they may be. I am not a fan of political parties and consider myself a Constitutional conservative and very independent.

What is faith?

Zen answered...

Of all the definitions of faith I have read or heard, I add the simplest and most complete to me, which is the Love of Christ. I cannot think of a better way to describe faith. Love of Christ is the substance of hope in something evident we can not see with earthly eyes. It is the faith in Christ or the love of Christ that enabled Able to make a more perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). That love is why we believe in Christ, it is why we have grace, it is why we have works, it is why we have belief, it is why we have hope, it is why we have charity, it is the very essence of faith, and faith is the very essence of the Love of Christ

Perfect knowledge is worthless without faith. For instance, most of us have perfect knowledge that applying a pointed pencil to paper will cause a mark. That knowledge will not make a mark if we do not exercise the elements of faith called works (picking up the pencil, applying it to the paper, and making a mark), belief (that doing so will make a mark), and hope (that it actually will make a mark). It is my desire that you would exercise works to find out about Christ and study Him, that you would believe on His words and His life and His sacrifice, and that you would hope that He would have an effect in your life. If you exercise this faith, you will truly come unto Him.