Hi, I'm Ben

I love music and I love Jesus. I'm a drummer, I'm a missionary, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am currently serving as a missionary in the California Carlsbad mission. I grew up in an LDS family, and we all are very close. We love to laugh, go boating, and watch movies. I grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota, but moved to Fayetteville, Georgia when I was 17. Miraculously, I gained admission to BYU and went there for a year before my mission.

I have a massive passion for music. All 5 males in my immediate family are drummers, from rock to latin to jazz. I, myself, have been in many groups, from symphonic and marching bands, to rock and metal bands. I also like to bake, mostly because I have a pretty over-active sweet tooth. Since I'm a missionary, I think that it's important that I also share my obsession with ties. I've got quite the collection.

And yes, a girl is writing to me.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I have discovered for myself that this is the true Church of Christ re-established on the earth. Although I grew up as a member, I did not have a personal conviction of my beliefs until recently. Just as God has promised countless times throughout the scriptures, all we must do to learn the truth is to ask Him sincerely. Turning to Him for help and doing my best to live the way Jesus taught us to is really how I have made the personal decision to remain a member. To me, this Church makes logical sense, more so than any other. But with that aside, the Holy Spirit has told me that this is Christ's church, and I will never deny what my Father in Heaven has told me.

Once we learn the truth, it can be hard to stand by it, and endure through all of the hardships in life. But I know that all we need to do is act. Christ will make up for the rest along the way.

How I live my faith

I live my faith currently by preaching the word down here in Southern California. Because the Church that Jesus established when he was on the earth is once again here, but not widely known, I am trying to spread the news to everyone that I can, so that they may be a part of it. As missionaries, we search through communities seeking those who are ready to have God play a bigger part in their life, or simply need an uplifting message or a lending hand.

I think one of the best ways we can live our faith is by being an example to people around us. The little things that we hardly think about can sometimes make all the difference in the world to someone else.

What are Mormon Temples used for?

Ben answered...

Many people probably wonder why we would build such beautiful, elegant structures, and then say people aren't allowed to go in them! The truth is that we want everyone to be able to enter the temple! But, just as you should attend high school first to prepare for college, so too need we to become familiar with the basic principles of the Church, and be baptized a member, before entering the temple. This is because in the temple, we learn more about how to serve God and what we need to do to live worthy of His trust and protection. We do this by making covenants, or promises with God, to obey His laws and thus recieve blessings from Him. The principles and doctrine discussed in the temple are present in the scriptures, and are nothing secret. Thus, the doctrine contained in the scriptures is put into action as we participate in sacred ordinances for both ourselves and those who have passed on. We know that through God's plan of happiness for us, we can be sealed together to our families not just till we die, but forever. The temple marriage, or sealing ceremony, binds husbands, wives, and families together so that we can enjoy each other's love and presence forever. Since many people die before they are able to be baptized, or sealed to their families for eternity, we also participate in these ceremonies by proxy for them, giving them the chance to make these promises with God, if they choose to, on the other side. What a great blessing!
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Bonnie. answered...

They are peaceful, pure places, where only those who have committed to live the most discipled lives can go to ponder and pray. They are places where we learn about God's plan for all of humanity, and where we promise to do all in our power to help all of His children, and receive promises that we can be with Him as well. We wear white clothing that is simple, and remove our watches and bling, to demonstrate a willingness to let go of our day-to-day concerns to focus on the real things: people, and their worth to God.

Why don’t Mormons have paid clergy?

Susie answered...

A ward or branch is the local unit of the church. This is the place where members have the opportunity to develop friendships and to help one another. We get support and lessons on the scriptures and how to improve our family relationships.

Our Heavenly Father expects us to lift and serve one another in this life. This is the principle behind a volunteer clergy. The local leader of a ward or branch calls on various members on the ward/branch to volunteer their services in teaching and leading the other members. We all donate our time and thus are able to lift and serve on another. The leaders seek divine guidance in making these callings. We who have been called to also seek divine guidance in fulfilling our positions.

We each try to follow the teachings of an ancient prophet who taught that when we are baptized we "are willing to bear one another's burdens, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 18:8-9).

Through our volunteer service, members lift one another's burdens and express our love to one another.