Hi, I'm Nathanael

I'm a husband, father of 4, a graphic designer, a car salesman, and I flip houses. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm married to an amazing woman and we have 3.5 amazing kinds (in another few months it will be four). I have many hobbies from photography to graphic design, remodeling/real estate, drawing, carpentry, family history, astronomy, swimming, camping and hiking. I am almost finished with a bachelors degree but want to always continue learning.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in the church but that's not why I'm a Mormon. This church is different, it's a life commitment to live a certain way, to be a "practicing Christian" as a friend of mine once put it. Like anyone else who came to know the church is true I took the necessary steps of learning about it from those who belonged to it. I then read the Book of Mormon along with the Bible and other scriptures and asked God in the name of Christ and I got my answer through prayer that it was true. It is my faith that carries me day to day to hold to my morals and to keep my covenants with God. The church really makes sense to me. All of the doctrines feel right and make sense.

How I live my faith

To me living by faith is simple. It is living what by faith I believe to be true. That means praying everyday because I believe there is a God. That means attending church because I believe it will make me a better follower of Christ, husband and father. I follow what Christ teaches in the scriptures because I believe it will bring me happiness in this life and eternal life in the life to come.

I am the Sunday School President in my Ward (congregation) and I also put together the bulletin every week. Even though my contribution is small, it feels great to have been given an assignment but those who have been called of God and to fulfill that in service to Heavenly Father.

How is the Book of Mormon different from the Bible? How did Joseph Smith obtain the “golden plates” or Book of Mormon?

Nathanael answered...

It's simple. The Bible consists of a collection some of the writings of the prophets in the Holy Land and the Book of Mormon contains some of the writings of the ancient prophets on the American Continent. There are really more similarities than differences.

The message is of both is the same: " that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" Mosiah 3:17. Jesus taught that message personally in the Middle East and he appeared to the inhabitants in ancient America and taught them the same gospel after his resurrection. Jesus told his disciples, as recorded in the book of St. John, "other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" John 10:16. The book of Mormon records this amazing visit to ancient America as well as other stories that can strengthen our faith and commitment of God.

How Joseph Smith, Jr. received the plates: The last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon, Moroni, buried the plates in a hill in modern day Palmyra NY. The same Moroni appeared to the young Joseph and taught and prepared for the responsibility of obtaining the plates and translating the volume of scripture, which he later did. Today Mormons use the Book of Mormon along with the Bible to deepen our understanding and faith in our Savior. As God promises in James 1:5 and as is promised in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:5 we can gain wisdom and a witness from God of the truthfulness of all things. To know if the Book of Mormon is true of not we simply need to read it (not from it) and ask God in the name of Christ if it is true. I have done this and know for myself that it is scripture. I treasure its words and message about my Savior as I do the Bible.

What do Mormons believe about the Bible? Do they regard it as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

Jonathan Richardson answered...

We believe that the Bible is the word of God, given through his Apostles and Prophets in the days of old. Through generations the bible has been translated time and time again, and now it stands with some of the simple truths of Christs teachings being either removed or complicated. That is why there are so many different views on what the scriptures teach, and so many churchs created for those views. We believe that God has restored those simple truths and clarified the complicated view through the Book of Mormon which is a record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.