Hi, I'm Jonathan

I'm an artist, an electric guitar player, and a juggler. I love my wife and our children, I love my life, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

By profession I am a cartographer, and before that I was a pizza delivery driver and a juggler at an amusement park. I graduated from college in December 2002 with a degree in Geography. I married my lovely wife in January 2003 in the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles, California. We currently live in Southern California, and have three daughters. Besides my religion and my family, the most important thing in my life is being creative with playing electric guitar, juggling, drawing, and writing. I'm also a fan of Major League Baseball, and played baseball for about ten years when I was younger.

Why I am a Mormon

I consider myself a convert to the Mormon Church, even though I grew up in a family that was active in the Church, and I was baptized at the customary age of eight years. When I was high school age, I did not wish to be a member of the Mormon Church, because I did not believe it was possible to know with certainty whether or not it was true. This changed during my first year of college, when I went out with the local full-time missionaries a few times to do missionary work with them. I noticed how good I felt afterward, and decided that the Church was good and that I should serve a mission. It was when I was in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah that I was able to feel and recognize the Holy Spirit for the first time in my life. As a missionary, I learned the principles that helped me to be guided by this divine influence, and it has guided and directed me ever since, helping me with all aspects of my life. I can testify that the Holy Spirit is real, and that anyone can feel it and be directed for good if they are willing to exercise faith and give up all of their sins to know God, who loves us and who desires our eternal happiness.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

The Church calls full-time missionaries to serve in any of numerous places all over the world. Full-time missionaries are volunteers, and pay their own way. Young men who are worthy and able are expected to serve a mission, and young women who wish to serve as full-time missionaries are permitted to do so as well. Older married couples may also serve as full-time missionaries. A mission is typically eighteen to thirty-six months in length. I feel fortunate to have served in the Michigan Lansing Mission, speaking English. I am from Southern California, so Michigan was very different from what I was accustomed to. I very much enjoyed my mission, including the blizzards and sub-zero temperatures in the winter months. Serving a mission helped me greatly with understanding and gaining a testimony of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned to love and serve others, and was blessed with being able to teach several people who decided to convert and become members of the Mormon Church. I also helped members of the Church who had fallen into inactivity to become active in the Church again, and spent many, many hours serving others in numerous ways. Overall I think serving as a full-time missionary for the Mormon Church was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I am extremely grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for allowing me and helping me to serve as a representative of their Church.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I have learned that when we pray, we don't always get what we ask for, or God's answer isn't always what we want. However, God will always respond with what is best for us. It's important to keep in mind that when things don't go how we would like them to, God still has our eternal happiness in mind, and he will comfort us when things happen that are upsetting. The other important part of prayer, besides asking for that which we think we need, is giving thanks for what we are blessed with. I make sure to thank God for any blessings that I am aware of, and this helps me to view things positively, looking at what God has done for me that is good, rather than focusing on negative things that are not what I would want.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

When I think of hope in a religious context, I think of faith, which is trust in God. Trusting in God means believing in him and his plan for all human beings, who are his spirit children. We trust that following his plan, and obeying his commandments, will ultimately result in a reward of eternal peace, happiness, and joy in his presence. We trust God that he loves us, that he will fulfill all of his promises, and that with his help, we have the capability of overcoming any problems that would make us unworthy of being in his presence. I personally hope to be with my wonderful wife and our beautiful children forever in the Celestial Kingdom, a.k.a. Heaven. I have faith that God will help me to accomplish this.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

The way I gained a testimony of Joseph Smith, a testimony that he was truly a prophet called of God to restore true Christianity to the Earth, was by reading the Book of Mormon. I never attempted to read the Book of Mormon until I was nineteen years of age, and as I did so I knew that there was no way anyone could have just written the book, making it all up. I knew that the book was truly an ancient record written by inspired prophets who lived anciently in the Americas, and that Joseph Smith translated the book into English through the power of God. I have since read the Book of Mormon six more times all the way through, and have also read the Doctrine & Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the New Testament. Most importantly, I have made my best efforts to live how those books say we should live, and this has further increased my testimony of, and love for, the prophet Joseph Smith.

What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?

Although each member of the Mormon Church makes their own decisions of how to keep unwanted influences from harming their families, my wife and I have made some decisions that we think are best for our own family. We do not have any television or internet service, or any newspaper subscription. I only use the internet on my breaks at work, such as to check e-mails and to read the news, and occasionally to purchase something that I can't find in physical stores. Our children only watch DVDs that my wife and I have approved. Also, I have set careful standards for the music that I listen to. I do not own any music that in any way supports sin, is not uplifting, or is not peaceful and beautiful spiritually. We also don't receive any magazines with the exception of the Ensign, the official magazine of the Mormon Church, and we are careful with the books we allow into our home as well. We try to make home an environment where the Holy Spirit is welcome, and where the spirit of Satan is not welcome. We try to teach our children through setting a good example, and explaining the principles and truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to what we think they are capable of understanding. We say prayers together, and have a goal of being together forever, which we know is possible if we follow God's commandments. Although others may not have the same rules as we do, each family should be careful in their choices of entertainment, and what influences come into their homes. Also, each family should ensure that all members know and understand moral truths, and how to distinguish between right and wrong, and how to always do and support that which is right. Family members should support each other's efforts at living according to the words of Jesus Christ and his chosen prophets, and assist one another with any weaknesses or mistakes, especially when they violate God's standards.

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

Right choices are choices that are consistent with truth, including spiritual truths revealed from God to man. Wrong choices are choices that are consistent with untruths, or lies, including a rejection of spiritual truths revealed from God to man. When we make right choices, which often involves acting on faith because we don't fully understand spiritual things, we are rewarded with a testimony of spiritual things and knowledge that leads to peace, happiness, and joy. When we make wrong choices, we are often acting on fear which is the opposite of faith, and our understanding and testimony of spiritual things is diminished. Wrong choices will always lead to the opposite of peace, happiness, and joy. Right choices are encouraged by God's Holy Spirit, and wrong choices are always encouraged by the Satanic spirit. With the path that leads toward happiness, consistent action reinforces and builds upon what is already known, and what has already been accomplished. With the path that leads toward the opposite of happiness, consistent actions reinforce and build upon lies and lead one toward actions that increasingly lead to misery and hell. The second path leads to greater and greater separation from God, including reasoning that God does not exist and that there is no sin, and happiness comes from things contrary to what God has commanded.

Could you talk about your baptism?

I was baptized at age eight, at a time when my family was living in Northern California. I remember having an understanding that I was being cleansed of sin, and that I would come out of the baptismal font with no sin upon me. I remember trying hard to not do anything wrong. As a teenager my testimony diminished partially because of mistakes I made and partially because of negative events that happened in my life that were not my fault. However, I never lost that desire to be free of sin. I always sought to do what was right, and to know the truth, and ultimately I was able to gain a strong testimony starting when I was in my first year of college. It lead me to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church, and then to marry a wonderful young lady in one of the Mormon temples. And we have a goal to be together forever with our children, which we know is attainable because of the plan of our Heavenly Father, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the influence of the Holy Ghost, and the teachings of the holy prophets.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

There are a lot of people blessed with remarkable abilities, although each person varies with what they are able to do and how well they are able to do it. Using our talents and abilities for righteous purposes, which corresponds with God's will can help lead people to the truth. Conversely, when people use their talents and abilities for unrighteous purposes, they can do great harm with leading people away from the truth.

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

In my conversations with friends, and also family members, who are not members of the Mormon Church, it is inevitable that my religious beliefs, which influence everything in my life, will become a topic of conversation. I don't seek to force my religion upon anyone, and just look for whatever opportunities naturally arise to talk about it. This involves not being afraid to talk about my beliefs and the standards that I have chosen to live in accordance with. It involves speaking up when you disagree, but also remaining respectful and not contentious. I have found that my friends and family members who are not Mormons appreciate my point of view when I speak honestly and respectfully, allowing for them to express a different point of view. My goal is not to necessarily convert anyone, but to just share whatever bits of truth I can as circumstances permit. I know that I have had a good influence upon people, and I pray for divine assistance with being a good example, and with helping people to understand concepts that might be alien to them at first.

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost helps people in multiple ways, such as comforting us, confirming spiritual truths, guiding us in important decisions, warning us of spiritual dangers, and sometimes warning us of physical dangers. I personally have experienced the help of the Holy Ghost in each of these scenarios. As an example, in Fall 2001 I was attending college, and a late class was canceled. As I drove home, I remembered that the ward I was attending on Sundays, a ward for young single adults, was having an event at a park near my home. I didn't often go to the YSA ward events, but decided to pray and ask if I should go. I felt a very strong feeling that yes, I should go. I went and met the girl I ended up marrying. Without the Holy Ghost's influence, I may not have met the woman who is my very best friend, and to whom I hope to be with for eternity through God's plan.

How I live my faith

Some members of the Mormon Church, including myself, have severe disabilities. I have a very severe anxiety disorder, which prevents me from being able to attend church regularly. I work hard to keep my testimony strong through daily prayer, through studying the words of ancient and modern prophets, and through continuous efforts to improve my spirituality. I believe God has given me my specific challenges for a good purpose, even if it isn't always easy to see it that way. God has blessed me tremendously in many ways, and I am very grateful for the knowledge and testimony that I have of him, and of the Mormon Church. I know that God loves everyone, and that challenges or difficulties in life are an important part of life, and can either cause us to turn away from God, or to turn toward him in faith. I have personally experienced the peace, happiness, and joy that comes from putting my faith and trust in God when I could have chosen otherwise.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

Jonathan answered...

The Mormon Church does not endorse political parties or candidates for political office, and does not allow Church property to be used for political purposes. The Church rarely speaks out on specific political issues, as it has on same-sex marriage, abortion, and a few other issues. The Church encourages its members to be politically active. However, because the Church has not taken a stand on some political issues, and is officially neutral on others, Church members themselves may differ in their political beliefs, and in the political party or parties that they choose to support.
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Emrol answered...

Members of the Church are encouraged to be actively involved in their communities. This involvement may even include political activity. The Church is made up members who hold differing political views, positions and opinions. While the Church will support any measure or position that will allow for the free practice of our religion, and the strengthening and supporting of families in general, it does not endorse any specific person involved in political activity, platform, or party.

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?

Kara answered...

Women don't hold the priesthood in the church, as this is a teaching that has come from Jesus Christ. However, women have such a significant role to play in the church that personally I have never felt that this is an issue I am concerned with or even think about. My husband and I are equal partners in our family, and the church has such respect and reverence for women and their role in the world. Women in the church also belong to what is called the 'Relief Society' it is one of the largest women's organisation in the world, and fills me with such a desire to serve and do good that when we meet together wherever I am in the world I feel so proud to be apart of it.