Hi, I'm Erik

I'm a slacker, a cool uncle, an avid gamer, I speak Portuguese and Spanish, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm from San Antonio, TX--home of the San Antonio Spurs, the Riverwalk, and the Alamo-- and now I am serving as a full-time missionary in the MA, Boston Mission.

Before my mission I worked several jobs I worked as a food preparer and a cashier at Wendy's, I mowed lawns, and I fixed computers. Then I got the brilIiant idea to capitalize on my ability to design websites and I started my own business building websites for people. I designed custom, interactive websites that helped people promote their business on the internet.

After a while doing that, I landed a paid internship at a software development company in Austin, TX, where I used my web designing knowledge to improve and develop their existing website. I also got to do some research on ideas that the company could invest in to bring in more income, including computer games.

I like to play computer games and hang out with my family and friends. I love watching movies and also seeing new places with my own eyes. People are my interest. I love watching and listening to people and learning what life is like for them. Over time I've developed a love for teaching which has served me very well on my mission.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a family of active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, so I've always been familiar with its teachings. My parents worked hard to teach my siblings and I about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When they deemed me responsible enough they left me the decision to keep on attending church or not. Of course, I loved church because everyone there loved me and I loved all of them. The people at church were truly my second family! What a great blessing my faith has been to me in my life.

I didn't know that the church was true until I was older. For a while, I kind of just went along with what my parents and my friends were telling me was right, but eventually I reached a point where that wasn't enough. One quiet evening after a hard day's work at Wendy's, I felt impressed that I needed to know for myself if the Book of Mormon is true and if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is really His...

I kneeled down in the privacy of my bedroom and began to pray. I prayed like I had never prayed before, in my whole life! I had a burning desire in my heart to know for myself if it was all true. As I poured out my heart to God, emotions of peace began trickling into my heart and I started feeling tears building in my eyes. There came a warmth to my heart, like I sometimes experienced at church services or really moving stories, but this time it continued to grow and grow until my whole body felt...comfortable.

Next I remember being able to think so clearly...like a boulder had been lifted from my mind and now I could understand things with clarity, enough perhaps to unlock any puzzle or mystery in this life.

This experience was a clear answer to my question. I knew that it came from God. No other being had ever made me feel the way I did then and none have since. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is the true church restored to the Earth by God.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I've learned that in order to receive some blessings, Heavenly Father just wants me to ask first, that's why I make it a habit to pray several times a day.

I always pray before leaving the house and over meals and before I go to bed. I often pray during work and while commuting. Prayer is how I talk with my Heavenly Father. I know he answers my prayers. He will answer your's too. If He's not answering, it's either because you're not asking with enough faith and willingness to act upon His response, or He has answered and you didn't get the answer you were expecting.

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

The simplest and most effective way to share the Gospel is to be like Christ as best as you can each day--constantly trying to improve--and then not being afraid to show others what kind of a person you are. They see a reflection of Christ in you, and they've probably never seen that in anyone else before. Then they will start to wonder about you and ask questions.

If they do ask questions then you'd better be ready and willing to answer them, or they might get the wrong impression about you and He whom you promised to represent at baptism. Make sure you live in such a way that you're always ready.

Don't be shy about inviting them to do stuff like go to church with you one Sunday to see what it's all about. Invite, invite, invite! Ask them if they'd like to learn more about your beliefs from some friends of your's, the missionaries. If they say no, no harm done! If they say yes, then you have helped bring them closer to Christ and God will bless you. He's done it for me and he'll do it for you too!

Back before my mission I worked at Wendy's and I was one of three Mormons working there. I was not afraid to eat with my co-workers and talk about life. Often the topic of discussion turned to something like drugs, alcohol, women, or other worldly things. That's fine, that's normal. I didn't shy away from those conversations, I told them what I thought. I believe in happy marriages, my body is a temple, and God's commandments keep us safe and bring great joy! Every time I had an opportunity to change the conversation from the mundane to the holy, I would take it. Because of my efforts I gained respect from my co-workers and I helped my friends stay active at church.

You can have success too! Just try doing as I've done and sharing your light with the world!

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I'm a gamer, and I LOVE to play PC games! Because I am both a gamer and a Mormon, I can use my hobby to encourage others with the same hobby as me to have faith in God. It doesn't matter if you like to play sports, games, or music, all talents are given us by God to bring us and others joy and to further His glorious work: that is to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of all men and women on the Earth.

Mormon missionaries like me come from all walks of life. If you are a member and have faith in God, then you too should serve a mission. Talk to your local ward or branch leaders to find out how.

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

Greater harmony in the home can be found when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is its foundation. Parents should instruct their children confidently and without "dumbing down," but clearly and as often as possible about the Gospel. That's what my parents did! It works!

Parents and children should each strive to be an example of righteous living and Christ-like charity.

Sincerely love your family members, and show that love as often as you can by word and deed. Love God, and put Him first in everything you do.

Communication is vital in any relationship. Don't bottle up negative feelings! When someone offends you let them know in as loving a way as possible--without violence of any kind--what they did to offend you. Do so privately. Don't talk about your problems in a relationship with others unless there is abuse going on, then definitely tell someone else that you know you can trust! But don't complain about petty things to others, address the problem early on in as charitable a way as you can. I have learned a lot about communicating, while serving as a missionary.

Always be completely faithful to your spouse, and always treat your parents and children with respect.

Discipline is important, but should be done for the child's sake, never to satisfy feelings of anger or despair. Joseph Smith professed when he was confronted for having run such an ideal city, "Teach them correct principles and let the govern themselves." Practice that creed in your home and watch as your children blossom. When they mess up and break a rule, chastize them with sharpness, but also show great and sincere love afterwards. I have personally made this my creed when babysitting children, "I only give you the punishment because you broke the rule, and I love you enough to teach you to be accountable for your actions." The punishments for breaking a rule should match the severity of the rule broken.

Those are some things that have helped me have an abundantly happy home.

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was 8 years old when I was baptized, and honestly I don't remember too much. I do recall some of the location, some people there, my bishop at the time, the warmth of the water, and my Dad performing the ordinance. Something else that sticks out in my memory was that my mom and dad both asked me several times if I really wanted to be baptized, and told me it was okay if I wanted to wait. I got annoyed with them back then, but I realize now that even though they really wanted me to get baptized, they wanted me to do it for the right reasons. I am grateful that God blessed me with enough faith and understanding to want that great blessing. Make no mistake about it, it has truly been a great blessing for my life.

I now invite others to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized, and I always tell them not to be baptized for me or for anyone else, but because they truly believe in the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that to him was given the authority to baptize for the remission of their sins.

How I live my faith

I am a full-time missionary, or an Elder, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I devote all of my time to teaching God's children about Jesus Christ's Gospel by inviting them to repent and receive the saving ordinances of the Gospel. I work all day, everyday, to help people feel God's love for them. I don't get paid to be a missionary, in fact, I am the one paying for my time here in Rhode Island. But I wouldn't trade this experience for anything! I sincerely love the people that I teach and want them to be able to experience the joy and peace that I have in my life--for this reason I'm here.

What is the difference between attending church and the temple?

Erik answered...

LDS Churches vs. LDS Temples

Churches are blessed public meetinghouses where we worship and learn about God and His glorious Gospel. All people are invited to come worship with us, and the only limitation upon that invitation is whether or not a person is respectful during our services or not.

Temples are very sacred "Houses of the Lord" in which we receive holy ordinances that are needful in our pursuit for the greatest of God's gifts: eternal life. Attendance to our temples is permitable only to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are obeying God's commandments.

Don't think that we are trying to keep secrets from you, because we're not. Our temple experiences are very dear to our hearts; it's not that they're secret, but that they're sacred.

Besides, it's not that we want to keep you out, in fact we'd love to have you join us in doing God's work there. If you're interested, talk to the missionaries and they'll help you prepare for your own family temple experience. :-)
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Kimberly. answered...

We go to church weekly to worship and take the sacrament, which is like communion. Everyone, no matter their faith, is welcome to come to church services and learn more about the Gospel.

The temple is a special place where members make further promises to Heavenly Father that they will keep his commandments. It is also where we are married, or sealed together, and where we can be baptized and sealed for our family members who have died before having those opportunities in life.

To go to the temple you need a card called a temple reccomend from your church leaders that confirms that you are currently doing your best to follow Christ and His Gospel as a member of the Church.

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?

Leeny answered...

This is a question I had to really consider before joining the Church. My mother is a non-denominational chaplain, and both my sisters are pastors. Female leadership in church settings is very important to my family.

It is to me as well. I think many people become offended when they learn that only men hold the priesthood because they misunderstand it. The priesthood is a tool given to men in order that they might serve others more. It does not in any way give them power or dominion over women. Those people who suppose the priesthood is a way to control others are deeply mistaken.

My husband is a priesthood holder, this means I am too. I have claim on my husband's priesthood power. Even more than he does. If I am sick, discouraged, or in need of help I can call upon my husband to give me a blessing through the priesthood that he holds. I then recieve many blessings because of my husband's worthiness to work in behalf of Christ. My husband is never able to give himself a blessing though. If he is sick or discouraged he must call on other priesthood holders to administer to him. My husband holds the priesthood so that he can bless me and our child - never himself.

The priesthood is the power of Christ on the earth. It allows those who hold it to serve their families in the same way Christ served the Church. Did Christ do any deed for himself during his earthly ministry? No. Christ spent all his energy serving the people. This is what the priesthood does for my husband. It infuses him with Christ's compassion and ability to love, and then my husband is able to use that celestial love in our family.

Why don't women also recieve this special gift then? The simple answer is women don't need it. As women we are innately endowed with compassion, selflessness, and love. Think about the way a mother loves her child. I believe there is nothing more pure and similar to Christ's love for us, than a mother's love for her children. Women naturally have the ability to love as Christ does.

In an ideal situation, which is what God always intended for us, there are two partners in marriage. There is the husband and father, a priesthood leader who can be called upon to administer blessings and serve in Christ's name. And there is also the wife and mother, who is blessed with the ability to love as Christ loves and sacrifice for her family. These are two seperate and divinely appointed roles. Each complementing the other. Both make a complete home.

Women do not hold the priesthood because they do not need it. Women have other God-given powers that raise them up to the task they are called to. A man is appointed to serve his wife and children - it is the power of the priesthood that enables him to do this.

I am grateful to have a husband who is worhty to use the priesthood in my behalf. It has blessed me many times and I know that it is a special gift from God - not only to my husband, but to me as well.