Hi, I'm Phil

I'm a Marine, an avid runner, a missionary, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I just returned from serving as a missionary in the Oklahoma City Mission. I served in the Marine Corps for a few years before my mission and still have a few more years to serve now that I'm back home. I've been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and I kind of miss Afghanistan. I love trail running, mountain biking, singing, and playing the drums, piano, guitar, and UKELELE! I also love Swedish Fish and Yoo-hoo and being in the desert and enjoying nature!

Why I am a Mormon

I was born and raised in the church, but when I was a teenager I wanted to know what God wanted me to do. I had been raised praying, studing scriptures, and going to church, but I didn't have a firm testimony of my own. So I started really reading the Book of Mormon for the first time and praying about it and I felt a very strong impression that it is true. Since then, I've been overseas twice in the military and have read the Book of Mormon through it all to keep me strong and firm in my faith in Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer and knowing this gives me a firm hope that each of us has something specific that God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to do.

Personal Stories

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

Knowing the Plan of Happiness has brought me peace through a lot of hard times. When I was in Afghanistan, I had a few friends get killed by IEDs, improvised explosive devices. They were the nicest guys in the whole unit! I thought it was strange that of all the people God would let die, He let the nicest guys in the unit go. I still don't fully understand why it turned out that way, but I do know that my friends aren't completely gone. They're just at another point in God's plan for all of us. God is in control and I know I'll meet my friends again.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

God gives us talents and gifts for a reason. He wants us to become better and He desires that we bless other people along the way. It's like the parable of the talents in the Bible. If we use our talents to lift up others for example, I like singing and music, so I could sing a song for someone, then God will multiply our talents. So if you want to get good at something, share that talent with someone and God will help you out!

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

In John chapter 15 verse 10, the Savior says, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Feeling the love of Heavenly Father and the Savior has been something I've sought after a lot in life. As soon as I understood this verse of scripture, all I wanted to do was follow Him as best as I could so I could be filled with His love and be able to share that love with others. Sometimes, life has been hard, and it's hard to feel His love for me. Every single time I turn to Him and try my best to keep His commandments, I feel much better than before. He is there to help us and He wants us to be happy. That's why He wants us to keep His commandments. I know that His commandments are the only way to true happiness.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I've noticed that when I pray sincerely, it's like having a conversation with God. It's as if we're next to each other and I'm trying to understand what He has going on. I tend to pray more when I'm confused or frustrated, mainly because I want to try to understand what's going on. Sometimes He answers quickly. Other times, He takes a little longer. When He takes longer to answer my prayers, honestly, I don't like it that much, but I realize that it's one of the ways He is helping my faith and trust in Him grow.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

We have a message that we know is true and God has commanded us to share it with the rest of the world.

I went on a mission because I felt it was my duty. I knew that this gospel and Church are true and people need to know the truth. There are many philosophies and ways of life that are generally accepted, but they are contrary to the commandments of God. God has revealed truth in these days and people need to know about it. And so, we go on missions!

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

When I read from the Book of Mormon, and especially when I really get into it, I feel that God is really there, almost right next to me. My prayers become more sincere. I feel that my prayers are answered more, or at least I recognize God's hand in my life more. I feel happiness and joy when I apply the teachings found in the Book of Mormon into my own life. I feel that God is pleased with me when I read it and then try to live its teachings the best I can.

When I was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, I relied heavily on the Book of Mormon. I read from it everyday and it helped me get through some rough times. I felt peace when I read from the Book of Mormon. I felt that God was in control and as long as I turn to Him, it'll all work out in the end.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

To hope for something means to look forward and move toward a desired outcome. I hope that I'll have a happy family someday. I hope that I'll make correct choices throughout my life. I hope to write a symphony someday. I hope to be married for all of eternity. When I go through struggles in life, I hope that I'll be able to learn something from them and I hope that I'll come out a better man. I hope to be with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father again someday.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

When I take a shower, I turn on the hot water and I hope hot water comes out! When I turn on a light switch, I have faith that the light will turn on. When I eat breakfast, I have faith that the food I eat will give me energy. When I turn the key in my car, I have faith that it will start. When I feel tired at the end of the day, I have faith that if I get enough sleep, I will feel energized the next morning.

Faith moves me to do everything in life. Without it, I don't know if ANYTHING would happen.

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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same Church that existed when Jesus Christ was on the earth. I know this because I know the Book of Mormon is true, which also means that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth and I have received a witness that these things are true. Anyone who sincerely reads from the Book of Mormon and prays to know if it is true will also receive a divine witness from the Holy Ghost that these things are true.

How I live my faith

I try to do my best to follow Jesus Christ. I read scriptures and pray each day and go to church on Sunday. I try to do nice things for people as I go about my days. It's simple, but it feels good.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Phil answered...

We fully believe that it is only through the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ that a man or woman can be saved. Grace is conditional though. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expect us to follow Them. When we follow Them and keep the commandments Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us, then we qualify for the full grace of Jesus Christ to take part in our lives.
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Matt Gibson answered...

We believe in grace 100 percent . No one can be saved, except by grace. There is nothing we ourselves can do to earn eternal life. But, we do believe that we will NOT receive grace unless we live our lives in accordance with what Christ has taught. When Christ ransomed us, became the author of our salvation, and also the perscriber of the conditions of repentance. He's told us that we need to have faith in him, repent, and be baptized for the remissions of sins, so that we may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. He also told us that we need to endure to the end, meaning continue to strive to live by his teachings, otherwise we cannot be saved by grace. There are many today who teach that baptism is not necessary because it is a "work". We know that Christ set the example to make it perfectly clear. He also said in John chapter 3 verse 5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
You might be thinking now, "what about those who never got a chance to be baptized?", well Heavenly Father is perfectly fair, and that opportunity will be provided for everyone to make that decision, whether in this life or in the next. The point of Baptism is making covenants. Without making these covenants Christ cannot give us grace.
Hence the doctrine of grace, and doctrine of works, coinside with each other. One cannot be without the other.

What do Mormons believe is the purpose of life?

Aileen. answered...

This question started my whole spiritual quest, so it is only most appropriate for me to now answer it.

Mormons believe that we were chosen by the Heavenly Father in the spirit world pre-existence to receive a physical body and to come to Earth to our specific mother and father. We agreed, and we essentially are fighting on Heavenly Father's "side" in the war with Lucifer. It is our spiritual "job" in this world to live a certain way, to use our agency to choose between good and evil, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father's only son, whom He sacrificed to allow for our atonement to allow for our spiritual progression.

Mormons believe that while here on Earth, we should learn and live more like our Heavenly Father. This is our spiritual quest which is accomplished through our choices. We marry and build our own family, and by following the Scriptures and living accordingly, we receive access to the Temples where eternal ordinances are performed individually and together as a family.

We can be with our family forever, after death, joined together in Heaven, with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. We have greater peace in this life and eternal joy in the life to come. This is the purpose of our life here.

Before I understood this and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my life was reasonably happy but devoid of purpose. Something was missing. I felt incomplete.

Now, I have peace. My soul is soothed.