Hi, I'm Jared

I'm an author, an actor, a gentleman, and an aspiring scholar. I'm part of an awesome family. Oh, and by the way, I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born in Utah and have lived there for most of my life, though I'm currently visiting the Southern United States. I'm hoping to work in the writing and acting fields, and so far I've been in two plays and had some of my work published in school magazines. I have a ridiculously active imagination, which I often use to come up with all sorts of stories for my writing. My work tends towards prose, but I've tried my hand at other writing styles.

I love doing impressions and quoting movies, books, and just about anything else. My favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, though I'll occasionally pick up something different. If you ask me about any series or subject I'm into, I can happily give you a long, in-depth overview of it: I'm something of a talking encyclopedia at times. I'm not an athlete nor overly fond of working out, though I can move pretty fast when it comes to getting some pepperoni pizza.

I love hamburgers covered in ketchup, learning interesting facts about history, and playing adventure video games (military games, not so much). I'm a collector of action toys, movies and books, especially the good old stuff that's been out of production for a while, but if there's an item that I don't like, then my collection is complete without it.

I enjoy making people laugh, especially babies and little kids. I like telling jokes and funny stories, and I'm not afraid to share ones that I've heard. I tend to take life seriously, because I want to do what's right.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born and raised in the church and attended it just about every week. However, for some years I did so mainly because it was what my family did and it was something that I was used to doing, rather than something I knew was true. After deciding to read the Book of Mormon myself, however, I realized the truthfulness of its teachings and how it could help me live my life better. My family and several wonderful church members also served as examples of how truly living the gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to happiness. The Book of Mormon and the teachings of the church provide answers to all the truly significant questions and doubts of my soul, and I am glad to be a member of the church.

My faith in Jesus Christ is a great comfort to me in this world where it is so easy to be surrounded by unrighteous influences. The knowledge that Jesus Christ's sacrifice makes it possible for me to repent and be more like my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is a source of great hope. Furthermore, the restored gospel provides the knowledge that we can be together as families forever if we do all that God has asked us to do. It is his grace that makes it all possible, but our work demonstrates that we truly are seeking for His grace.

We all experience feelings of inadequacy at times, and it can be frustrating. The gospel serves to teach us that we aren't expected to be perfect now, but we can make steps towards it with the help of our Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also brings together everything that seems missing or hard to understand in the Bible. There is so much confusion in the world, but with a living prophet of God on the earth everything can be sorted out and understood properly. The restored gospel makes sense, not only to my head but also to my heart.

A knowledge of God also persuades me that it is essential to continue to hear from Him. His guidance is ever necessary and His love unchanging, so why wouldn't he keep talking to his children?

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

Many people feel a need to be closer to their ancestors and to know where they came from. Mormons feel that need as well, but there is another level to it. Through the scriptures and living prophets we have learned that everyone who has lived on this earth will have the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and accept his blessings. As such, we seek information about those of our ancestors who have passed away so that we can perform ordinances or special religious ceremonies-such as baptism-for them that they did not have the chance to perform for themselves while here on earth.

As we perform these ordinances, we are in no way disrespecting the beliefs of our ancestors. We believe that they have the choice to accept or reject the gospel as it is taught to them just as living people do on earth, and if they have no interest in the ordinances of the church then they do not have to accept them. We are simply "giving them the option" you might say, and making it possible for them to enjoy these blessings if they so choose. It also serves to link all the generations of our family together and make us stronger.

One of the great principles of the gospel is that all people are God's children, and we are all part of one big family. As we go back through the ages, we find links that connect us to our brothers and sisters of the past and the present, showing us that for all of our differences we are all family. For my part, I can trace my heritage back to several other countries besides the United States, giving me cultural connections to these lands and the people there. It is truly thrilling to learn about the different people whose choices have all in some way helped shape who, where, and what I am.

Doing family history is also a great opportunity for education. By learning about the lives of my ancestors, I come to know more about the times and circumstances that they lived in. Their experiences help to teach me more than I could learn through my own efforts alone.

How I live my faith

I'm currently doing missionary work in the Southern United States. In addition to sharing the gospel with others, I do my best to offer service to all those who are in need, whatever faith they may be of. Like many Christians I pray, read my scriptures, and attend church in seeking guidance from God through his appointed servants. I particularly enjoy studying the scriptures and trying to learn everything I can, however obscure or seemingly unimportant it may seem-something that carries over into other interests that I have. I also strive to live in accordance with the standards the Lord has shared with us through his prophets. This really taps into my lifestyle, including doing my best to be a loving son, brother, and uncle-which isn't hard to do, because I've got great parents and siblings, and was recently blessed with a niece.

I'm also trying to live in such a way that when the time comes for me to be a husband and father I will be one whose example can inspire and uplift others. In this I strive to follow the counsel of God's servants, such as when James in the New Testament said "faith, if it hath not works, is dead" (James 2:17). As such I see my faith as something that requires action-not that I can work my way into heaven, but that my actions are how I show my desire for the gift of God's forgiveness and grace in my life. As the scriptures say it is a free gift, but no matter how free it is a gift doesn't do me any good until I reach out and take it and show that I'm willing to use it.

As a missionary, I'll spend two years of my life preaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ full time. I pay for the expenses of the mission-namely food and clothing, and contributing money for rent and gas to a church fund-using my own savings. It may sound like a sacrifice, and it can be hard to be away from friends, family, and many of the things I enjoy. But I'm really just trying to express to my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for all that He has blessed me with.

Is it true that Jesus appeared in North America after his crucifixion and resurrection according to the Book of Mormon?

Jared answered...

Yes, it's true that He appeared somewhere in America. The Book of Mormon contains an inspiring and beautiful account of the Savior's visit to faith-filled people who lived here, the ancestors of the Native Americans. It is a testimony to us of the great love the Savior has for all His people, that He would come to visit His "other sheep" who were not of the fold of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The account of this visit also contains many of the Savior's teachings that He shared with His apostles and disciples in mortality, which He then shared with those who believed in Him here so that they could know better how they might follow Him.

In visiting these people, the Savior organized them as He had His disciples in Jerusalem, and taught them the proper ways of performing baptism, administering the sacrament, and other important features of His church. Slight variations appear between the Savior's words to these people and the Sermon on the Mount He gave in the Old World, but this is a result of timing. In the Old World, the Savior spoke before He had fulfilled His great mortal mission and performed His sacrifice; when He spoke to the people in America, He had completed that stage of His work. He also performed many miracles of healing the sick, blind, deaf, lame, and raising the dead, just as He had done in the Old World. One of the most beautiful parts of this account is when the Savior, as He had done among the Jews, took little children and blessed them one by one.

Why do you have 12 Apostles? They were just meant to be around for the time of Jesus Christ, not to be replaced with new apostles.

Mark answered...

The principle of a perpetuating body of twelve special witnesses of Christ comes in ancient times from the fact that the eleven survivors of the death of the Savior chose a twelfth to replace Judas Iscariot (see Acts of the Apostles 1:15-26) Two were considered worthy to take his place, but only one was chosen. When the apostles cast their lots, the inspired choice fell upon Matthias.

In modern times, the Church's organization has been one of gradual building. As the needs of the Church have continued to grow, the prophet of the Lord has been directed to add not only the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, but other supporting quorums of the Seventy as well. The structure of the local organization of wards and stakes has been given by revelation to complete it. But as the needs of the Church continue to evolve so will the structure which supports it. Christ remains the chief cornerstone and the Apostles as the foundation with Him. (see Ephesians 2:19-20 also Ephesians 4:11-14)