Hi, I'm Braden Scothern

I'm 19, I love music, playing ice hockey, and I'm serving as a missionary in Northern Georgia for 2 years. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a musician, I could spend all day working on music and not get sick of it! I love to write, play, and record music. The guitar is my favorite! I also enjoy playing ice hockey. I am currently serving a mission in Northern Georgia and I love it!

Why I am a Mormon

I have been raised in the church but I have seen 2 completely different lifestyles while growing up because my parents got divorced when I was very little. I lived with my Mom. But every Friday afternoon I would go to see my Dad. Then I would come home Saturday night. That way I could attend church with her on Sunday. Because of this I have seen what life is like inside and outside of the church and I love how this gospel makes me feel. It makes me happy all the time and I can feel myself growing and becoming the person I want to be because of the many blessings the gospel brings. The church makes me happier than anything! I love everything it provides! I especially love knowing that I can be with my family forever and that I have a Savior and Heavenly Father who love me and everyone else!

Personal Stories

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

I do my best to live and share the gospel with my friends because it means everything to me. This gospel is to bring us happiness through this life and eternity. So that is why I strive to live the gospel and be open about what I believe because everything I do matters. I know that within this gospel I have received more joy than I ever could without it and I want that for everyone.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

I am serving a mission because there is NOTHING better I could be doing than sharing the most amazing thing in the world. Having the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life has brought me more happiness than anything else. And because I have experienced such joy I want everyone else to have the same thing. I want them to have never ending happiness.

That happiness is found in only the Lord's kingdom. I know that this is His Kingdom once again on the earth. I know that because I have put it to the test. I have done what has been asked of me and have prayed for the spirit to testify of the truth. It has done that for me and millions of others. That is why I am on a mission. I want everyone to have the truth available to them because it is only fair that our loving Heavenly Father would give them a chance.

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

The Book of Mormon has brought me closer to God in many ways. But the thing that is perhaps the most important is that it has helped me begin to understand how much our Heavenly Father loves us. It shows me that He does care about us, He doesn't want us to be lost, and so He speaks to us today. The Book of Mormon has helped me see the path that God would have me take. It has helped me make important decisions in my life that have brought me happiness. The Book of Mormon testifies of God's love for me and all people, so in return I want to show my love to Him as the Savior taught and keep His commandments. And as the Book of Mormon invites the Spirit into my life and helps me keep those commandments I know that I am coming closer to the Lord.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer plays an essential part in my life. This past October President Thomas S. Monson urged members of the church to have a relationship with the Lord One which we not only cherish but would be completely lost without it.

Ever since that talk by the prophet I have strived even more to be that close to our Heavenly Father. I have put my whole heart into prayer and seen how much greater it has become. I have tried to follow Lehi's example (he is a great Book of Mormon prophet) and pray with all my heart as he did (See 1 Nephi 1:5).

As I have done this and poured out everything to the Lord I have been filled as Lehi was the way he felt was described as "his soul did rejoice, and his whole hart was filled" (See 1 Nephi 1:15) and it has been the same for me. I have been filled with joy, happiness, peace, direction, and in a very real sense come to know my Heavenly Father.

Through my continually growing relationship with God I have come to understand how much He loves not only me, but all of us as His children. I have seen countless miracles in my life and the lives of others. I have been able to make the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of my life. I have been able to follow another Book of Mormon prophet named Helaman's advice to his sons, which is: "remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation... which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

Growing up in the church, in Utah I was spoiled rotten by the gospel. I had and still have the most wonderful message in the world and yet I did not understand its value. But now that I am on a mission my understanding and testimony has grown so much.

I know that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ took place. The original gospel of our Savior which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, is on the earth again. And just as it was taught by ancient prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and eventually the Savior Himself, that gospel is taught today.

Because the full understanding and the authority were lost as the church had unofficial changes made within, it had to be restored in the same way as it had before. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) So once again a prophet was called to the earth to bring back the church of Jesus Christ under His direction.

The prophet of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was Joseph Smith. I know that he was called and given the authority from God to establish the Lord's kingdom on the earth in these last days. I know that because I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have read and prayed and the Holy Ghost has again and again born witness to me of its truth, and I know that it will do the same for anyone else who reads, has real intent, and asks in faith. Because I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, only Joseph Smith's story of how he received and translated it stands. He did receive it from our Heavenly Father.

Because of the Restoration, I have been given purpose in life. I know where I came from, why I am here, and where I am going after life on earth. I have been given happiness. I have been given the chance to come to know our Savior, Jesus Christ better than I ever could without the Restoration. I know with all my heart that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ took place and it brings happiness!

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

While every part of our Savior's teachings plays a role in my life. The one that has played a very large role over the last year or so is one of the things He taught on the night of His Atonement. While the Savior was talking to the apostles, before entering the garden to suffer for us, He told Peter this, "when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32)

I find it amazing that even at this point of Jesus Christ's ministry, the chief and head apostle is not converted. Peter is the one who walked on water for the short time, he was there as they went up onto the mount of transfiguration, he said "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-19) and he would soon be a short distance from the Savior as he suffered unexplainable agony in Gethsemane. I am truly humbled by this simple phrase to Peter.

Because of that verse I have put more effort into not only having a testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. But into being truly converted, being what the Savior asks of me. This is because the Savior said Himself, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

So every day I get on my knees and ask for my Heavenly Father to forgive me, to help me, to guide me, and to ultimately let me become who He would have me be. Then I strive to change myself for the better and follow the directions I receive through the influence of the Holy Ghost.

I do this because someday I will have to enter our Redeemer's presence and account for not only my actions, by what I have become. I want to be able to tell my loving Savior that I have done my best to become who He would have me be. I want Him to know that I am forever grateful for the price He has paid for not only me, but all of us. I want to show my love for Him.

How I live my faith

I am currently serving as a missionary in Northern Georgia. I have left my friends, family, hobbies, job, school, and everything for 2 years to be out here in Georgia. As a missionary I do my best to help others see the joys that come with this gospel which is all about not only bringing us happiness in this life, but happiness through eternity. To help others recieve those joys forever, I help people gain more faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Repent. Be baptized by proper and restored priesthood authority. Recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. And accomplish the most difficult thing of all... endure to the end of life here on Earth. As I strive to help others understand these five points and what our Heavenly Father is offering to all of His children, I am building a stronger personal relationship with God. Having that personal relationship has brought me so much in this life, it will continue to do so, and I want others to have that relationship and happiness that comes with our Saviors restored gospel.

How can I find someone to talk with, in person, about the Mormon religion?

Braden Scothern answered...

Well if you know a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you can talk to them. They would love that! Most members of the Church are more than willing to share their feelings and our beliefs with anyone who asks.

You can also go to the top of any page on mormon.org and click "Missionary Request" near the top right corner. It is in the orange part of the webpage. Then read and fill out the information requested on that page. It is very simple and very short!

If you want to go to church and talk to someone there on Sunday then go again to the top of the website in the orange area. And in the top right click on "Visit Us" and that can direct you to your local congregation of the church along with meeting times!
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Stephanie answered...

One of the best ways to learn about basic tenants of our religion is by checking resources like this website, chatting with the missionaries, and have them send you some resources (like a Book of Mormon, videos, etc.) and then try finding the closest LDS chapel in your area by looking in the phone book or online. They can have missionaries come to your home and teach you if you wish. Another good way is to go to church with a friend or an acquaintance of yours who is LDS, and they can also connect you with the missionaries. If you don't have any of those resources nearby, chat with the missionaries and they will find a way to have someone connect with you. There's probably more Mormons around than you think.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Bradley. answered...

The family is a key component to support us in God's plan for gaining immortality and eternal life. All of God's children (all the inhabitants that lived, are living, and will live on Earth) are inseperably connected to each other, both (physically) by our Earthly families and (spiritually) by our Heavenly Father.

Families help us to understand our divine heritage. In this, life takes on purpose and meaning. Our immortal spirits were created by our Heavenly Father before Earthly existance, and we are directly connected to Him in this way. As a spiritual family, our collective purpose on Earth is to follow the commandments of God that lead us to live in heaven with Him again.

Our spirits need to progress, learn, and grow. In order to achieve that, Earthly existance was created as our test. Our Heavenly Father knew that being exposed to opposing forces on Earth was the only way for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.

However, we will not always choose righteousness, and so our Savior, Jesus Christ, is that great mediator to pay the debt of our mistakes. He is the only way by which we can be saved from our sins and transgressions. He is the ultimate example by which direction we need to live our lives. With the support of our earthly kin, we can learn from each other, serve each other, and strengthen our mortal weaknesses by being disciples of Christ. Our families are a gift from God, and we can be together forever.