Hi, I'm Kord

I play the saxophone. I play with swords. I play video games, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but in about 2 months, I will go back home to study music education, with an emphasis on band. I plan on teaching at a university level, so at least a Master's degree and hopefully a Doctorate's will be awaiting me in the future. I am an eagle scout, and have a variety of interests, such as reading, writing, playing music, and gaming. I play the saxophone and the piano, and I love to teach.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I know the church to be true, though it wasn't something that really came easily to me. I grew up in the church, but I didn't really do anything in it because I truly believed rather, I did it because I knew that I was expected to. I believed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be true mainly because it made sense to me. This is also why I decided to serve a two-year mission for the church, leaving all personal affairs behind and solely dedicating two years to unpaid work for the church. As I began, I felt extremely inadequate, and didn't really feel that I wanted to continue. It brought me to my knees, and after about a week of consistent prayer and humbling of myself, our Heavenly Father answered me by touching my soul with His Spirit. It is difficult to describe, but pure joy flooded throughout every fiber of my being. I knew without a doubt that it was from God, and that this was His true church. I had experienced similar experiences previous in my life, but I never really recognized them. I know that my answer was from God.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

I think one of the greatest blessings that has come through my faith in Jesus Christ is that I know that I have someone that I can always turn to for help, and it doesn't matter where or when, either. I have a larger perspective on life, and that all comes through my faith in Christ. If I didn't have a faith in Him, I wouldn't be looking forward to eternity. In fact, I'd probably think that I would die and that would be the end of everything. The end of all suffering, pain, and misery. The end of a corrupt world. And I wouldn't have to deal with anything anymore. But, having faith in Jesus Christ has helped me to see the beauty of the world, the happiness that exists within it, the great myriad of talents that people possess, and the complex and transcendent beauty of a human soul. While terrible things do happen, and will continue to happen in the world, because of my faith I am able to look past that and see all the many wonderful blessings that our Savior Jesus Christ truly has given to us. I can see the sudden surge of information and technology flooding our society. I can see families striving to do their best with the life that they have. I can see how people instinctively seem to reach out for some grander purpose of life. I can see how to serve others, and how others serve people as well. Basically, because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I can see.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

One thing I am remarkably blessed with is the ability to learn. I tend to pick up on things quickly. Because I am able to learn so well, it means that I am also able to teach well. Few things bring me greater happiness than watching the lightbulb go off in people's heads. When a concept which previously proved difficult to understand becomes clear, then I feel very grateful to be able to bless the lives of others by helping them to understand.
Music is another talent that I am greatly blessed with. This one should be simple to see how it can bless others. If you were to watch a movie without the music, would it be as touching? Scary? Romantic? Exciting? When you hear a sweeping chorus of music, do you not feel yourself lifted to a higher plane of thought and happiness? Music is able to evoke a great flood of emotions in people, and I love being able to share what I believe through such music.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

The very first time I ever remember a prayer being answered was when I was probably about 9 or 10. I was playing "The Legend of Zelda The Ocarina of Time" and was stuck on one spot in the fire temple. There was a switch which opened the door on the other side of the room, but if you weren't standing on the switch, the door would not open. I tried everything I could think of to get that switch to stay down. I tried jumping from the switch through the door. I tried running from the switch to the door. I even tried smashing the switch into the floor with the megaton hammer. Nothing worked. As soon as I left that switch, the door would close. I was so frustrated, and so I decided to ask God that night to let me know how to get through the door. There was a box in the room that I always broke open, because it would give me health. But, that night, I had a dream of me pushing the box onto the switch, therefore keeping the switch down and letting me go through the door. I tried it the next day, and it worked! I knew then that if our Heavenly Father was going to answer a prayer about something as unimportant as a video game, He would answer prayers on pretty much anything else.

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

I'm not going to lie. I look forward to being married. And, the Plan of Happiness involves that aspect of life. It means that I am going to spend eternity with my wife. And, because of that, it means that I am going to be extremely happy forever. Knowing the Plan of Happiness has really brought about a number of changes in me, all of which help me to really try to be the best person I can be, because when I am doing my best, then I am truly happy. And, I know that doing my best will help me be happy forever, no matter what.

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

One teaching that has particular meaning to me is that of the Savior's injunction at the end of the Book of Matthew, to go and teach all the world. I love teaching, and I teach as a missionary. I teach as a music education major. I teach as a swim instructor/coach. Watching someone learn something new is a great experience for me, and I absolutely love it. When I get to watch someone have a light-bulb moment as the light of understanding floods their eyes, then I am overcome with great joy. Most teaching occurs in our own individual homes as well, and teachers are rarely recognized for the profound impact that they play on society. Above all else, the Savior was a teacher. And, I strive to be as well.

How I live my faith

Currently, I am finishing a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have spent 22 months teaching people from all over the world about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, how families can be together forever, and how to overcome various addictions plaguing their lives. As I watch the gospel change individual people, I notice that it changes me as well. I teach people about God and Jesus Christ, but at the same time I am also taught about them, which leads me to consistently strive to serve my fellowmen. I believe strongly in the phrase "Love your neighbor as yourself" and though I am not perfect, I attempt to do all that I can to help anyone in anyway I can. I believe that there is no better way to live the gospel of Jesus Christ than having charity for all around you. Serving as a missionary has helped me to accomplish that.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Kord answered...

We believe that the family is "the most important social unit in time and in eternity". That means the most important, period. End of story. We are all a part of our Heavenly Father's family, and we are all part of a family as well. No one is exempt, either on earth or in heaven. Life's greatest joys and life's deepest sorrows are all experienced in the family. Family life is the center for all teaching and training of children. It is our duty to consistently build stronger family relationships by spending time with each other, by caring for one another, and by just being there for one another. Perhaps the greatest blessing of the family is the opportunity to be with your family forever. It is for this reason that Mormons don't just focus on our immediate family, but also our extended family, as far in any direction as possible. The blessing of being together is for all. Not just a select few. Our Heavenly Father wishes all of His children to be with Him forever. That includes all of us.
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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.

Do you really believe there is a prophet like Moses alive today?

Rhodes answered...

I don't know of anyone that compares to Moses in individual character, but I have heard of many men with faith just as Moses's. Take a look at the words of the Prophets that have previously been chief-apostle of this church, their wonderful biographies and their 'good fruits.' These are men with such faith in God that they are willing to fully devote all their time and effort to proclaim His gospel, and to labor as his servants in this work.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God loved his children enough in the past to give them a prophet to guide them throughout their journey's. Would God love us less in these days when the journey's are so much more difficult? My answer I really Do believe that God loves us the same today, that there really is a prophet today who receives revelation from God to guide us throughout our struggles. And what a blessing this is!