Hi, I'm Jake

I was a state champion wrestler in high school and am currently in college training to become a Dietitian. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a married college student studying Nutrition. I started in this area because I love the idea of trying to prevent disease through healthy eating. My dream is to eventually work in sport's nutrition. Currently I am working in a long-term care facility in the dietary department to help pay for college. My hobbies include juggling, unicycling, and hiking.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents are Mormon, so I grew up learning the principles of the Gospel. I was baptized when I was 8 years old, but started having doubts about the existence of God when I was about 15. However, I knew that if God did exist, then He would want me to live a good life as the Mormons did. I feel as though I had been prompted to believe by God many times, but I also fought these feelings many times. When I was almost 18, I decided that I wanted to repent of all of my sins, so I went to get help from the bishop. The bishop helped in the repentance process, and I was able to feel the cleansing power of Christ. It is because of Christ, that I was able to be forgiven. This is when my life turned around. It was such a powerful feeling of being free from sin, that I could not deny the existence of God.

Since that time, I have read the Book of Mormon many times, and the spirit has told me many times that it is a book of God. In these cases, I have not heard voices or had angels visit me. Rather, the spirit gives me a feeling of peace and love. It is through all of these experiences that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of God. This is why I am a Mormon.

How I live my faith

My wife and I make it a goal to read scriptures and pray together every day. We do our best to find those that may need help and serve them in any way we can. Our main way of living our faith is through our commitment to live clean and pure lives. If we mess up, then we Know that we can go to God for forgiveness.

How is the Book of Mormon different from the Bible? How did Joseph Smith obtain the “golden plates” or Book of Mormon?

Jake answered...

The Book of Mormon is different from the Bible by the fact that it was written by ancient prophets on the American continent. It is the same as the Bible in that it was written under the inspiration of God, and the spirit of God can be felt by reading it. The Book of Mormon and the Bible go hand in hand to teach the doctrines of God. Christ said, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold, and one shepard." St John 1016. The people of the Book of Mormon are some of the other sheep talked about in the Bible.

The last prophet who wrote on the gold plates was instructed to bury them. Many years later, Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates through revelation. He was led to them by an angel of God and translated them through the power of God. Anyone can find out that this is true by asking God through prayer.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Aaron answered...

This issue is one that is rife with misunderstanding to outsiders. First, let me say here that we love and accept all of God's children, regardless of beliefs. That being said, we affirm that the central purpose of life is to make and keep covenants in a family relationship. By extension that means bringing children into the world, born in loving families with both a father and a mother.

We believe that our genders are an essential aspect of our eternal identities, that we were male and female even before we came to this earth. Neither sex is more important than the other; both serve the purpose of God to save His children. Both priesthood and motherhood are essential in the rearing of children.

I myself am unspeakably grateful for the blessing of having both a loving father and mother. They each supported me in different ways, unique to their identity as a man and a woman.