Hi, I'm Payton

I'm a collegiate athlete. I'm a soon to be successful businessman, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am the oldest of six children. I played college football. I absolutely love the outdoors. This can include, but is not limited to fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and sports. I have attended a business school for one year, but am on a short break while serving a two year mission. Some call me a family man. That I do not deny. For now, I have my parents and siblings to love, but I look forward to the day I will have my own family. I am a lover of almost all music, and I love to watch movies. How's that? Now you almost know me.

Why I am a Mormon

It is true that I was raised as a Mormon, however, I continue to be a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for reasons that extend far beyond that fact.
I am a Mormon because being so brings me great joy. I love the standards that are taught in the Church. I love the peace, comfort, and strength that I find in my faith. I am filled with hope. I cannot express all of the many incredible experiences I have had in my short life. I know I could not find this anywhere else.
My life has been eternally altered by the absolute truths that I have found in my search for lasting peace and happiness. I have searched the scriptures, pondered their teachings, and prayed to know whether those principles I learned were eternal truths or not. Quite simply, God answered those prayers and I have learned for myself that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.
Being a Mormon means being happy. It means knowing answers to life's great questions, and it means finding divine guidance in this ever turbulent world.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

I can't say enough about prayer. It is such an integral part of my personal growth and relationship with Heavenly Father. Without prayer I don't believe I would be enjoying the many blessings that I do. I firmly believe that God knows what I need before I even ask, but often times He needs me to humble myself and show my readiness to receive blessings by kneeling down in prayer and asking Him.
Prayer has led me to find answers to questions. Prayer has led me to greater insight into things both temporal and spiritual. Prayer has saved the lives of me and my family members. Prayer has brought me comfort, peace, and joy in times of exquisite pain and sorrow. Prayer has strengthened my faith in God and Jesus Christ. As is hopefully apparent, prayer plays a major role in my life.

How I live my faith

This is a rather hard statement to explain because it involves everything I do. First and foremost, as stated above, I am dedicating two years of my life to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This missionary service includes teaching others how to find lasting happiness and success in this life, and in the world to come. I also look for opportunities everyday to serve those in my community in whatever way possible. Lately, it has been gardening.
Everyday I live what I believe. I strive to deepen my knowledge of all things spiritual and temporal. I treat others how I would like to be treated. I follow God's commands as best as I know how.

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

Payton answered...

The Book of Mormon is different from the Bible in 2 main ways 1. The compilation and 2. The people.
1. The Bible, as we know, is a compilation of many written records, many of which were translated into English. The Bible has gone through a lot of hands and people in its process of becoming the Bible as we know it. In this simple fact we find a difference between the compilations of the two books of scripture. The Book of Mormon was, like the Bible, written by prophets of old however, it did not go through the hands of kings and scholars. It went through the hands of a prophet of God. The translation, from the Egyptian language it was written, into English went directly through a prophet who was given the power of God to translate this record. Thus we see that the fulness of the original version was saved through an inspired translation process.
2. The people recorded in each are completely seperate nations. The Bible is a record of the people living in the Middle-East, or Jerusalem area. This record begins with the beginning of the world and ends around 100 A.D. The Book of Mormon, on the other hand, is a record of the people that God led to the Americas. This record takes place from 600 B.C. - 430 A.D. Two completely different places in the world, yet God is teaching them the same truths.
Joseph Smith received these plates with the help of the Book of Mormon's last writer, Moroni. Through a heavenly vision, Moroni appeared to Joseph and told him where to find the record.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.