Hi, I'm Mike

I'm from southern California, I love to longboard, I'm a video editor, I live for adventures, I'm a missionary and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Names Mike. I was born and raised in southern California and just like to live life day by day. Growing up in California I loved taking up everything this place has to offer... the beach, the city, the mountains we have it all! I like longboarding, bonfires at the beach, and always looking to have an adventure. I am really into video editing, the idea of taking a bunch of video clips and making it into something sweet and seeing it come to life is a thrill to me. Other then that I am spending my time right now in San Antonio, TX as a full time missionary to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people here! Enough said :)

Why I am a Mormon

Where do I start? When I was 7 years old two missionaries came to our door and taught my family the gospel. My parents knew it was true. I however, didn't really get my testimony until after I had graduated from high school. At the time, I was searching for something more in my life but didn't quite know what. I thought that by living my life the way I wanted to and "living in the moment" would eventually lead me to knowing my purpose. In reality though, I had no direction. I was going to college, had a job, great friends and a loving family but I knew that there had to be something more to life then just going through the motions. I remember one day I was thinking about growing up in this church. How happy I was when I was going to church. For the first time, I really turned to God and I wanted to know if He was there. If He even existed and what He has planned for me. It was then that I felt Him saying to me that everything was going to be alright. I then knew that God was there and he heard my prayer and answered it. I knew that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is His plan for me. Turn to God, it never fails.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

A lot of people think that it is mandatory for Mormons to serve a mission. But that isn't the case at all. It's actually a very personal decision between the person and God. A few months ago I finally made the decision that I should serve a mission, after almost a year of debating about it. But it wasn't because it is part of Mormon culture nor because it was what my parents wanted me to do. It took a lot of thought, scripture study, prayer, and a desire to know what I should do. When I prayed about whether I should serve a mission, I put all my faith in the Lord's hands. Right after I prayed about it, I got a clear answer from God that I needed to serve a mission. All of a sudden, all the doubts, fears and concerns that I had turned into a strong desire to serve a mission. It takes a lot of faith to serve a mission. Missionaries are devoting 2 years of their life to build God's kingdom and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries do not get to pick where they go and the cost is at their own expense. But through our faith, it is all worth it. I'm serving a mission because of the Spirit I felt when praying about it. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and this is part of his plan for me. I know that Heavenly Father sent his only Begotten Son to atone for the sins of mankind. I know that this Gospel is true and that it has blessed my life in so many ways and now I get to share those blessings with others. There are people out there who are waiting to hear the truth, and us missionaries are called from God to bring it to them, where ever that may be. I am so excited to devote the next two years of my life inviting people to come unto Christ and know of the truth. I am serving in the Texas San Antonio Mission!! The Savior taught, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” Matthew 2819.

How I live my faith

I live my faith day by day. For me, it's all about keeping my relationship with God strong. Life is full of choices, decisions, and opportunities and sometimes we can get so caught up in the temporary pleasures of life that we end up losing sight of who we are and what are potential really is. But as I turn to God with the choices, decisions, and opportunities that life throws at me, I find happiness, direction, and purpose. I still make mistakes, all the time, but Jesus Christ continiues to be right there by my side helping me overcome my weaknesses and become the individual that God wants me to be.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Mike answered...

The Word of Wisdom is a health code the Lord has set for us. The main things it states is that we should not partake in alcohol, drugs, smoking, coffee, and tea. It is not only just for health reasons but also for spiritual reasons. If we have an addiction to something, it puts that addiction as a higher priority then God. The Lord knows what He is doing and if we obey his commandments we feel the spirit and live the life our Heavenly Father has planned for us.
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Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

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.