Hi, I'm Bryan

I'm an educator. I'm a bachelor. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I've lived a blessed life--not a lot of death, or pain, or sorrow to speak of (so far). I was raised in a home where love and obedience were honored. As a young adult, I had the opportunity and means to pursue whatever interested me. This included athletics, video games and scouting. I served a mission for my church, finished grad school and have recently landed a stable job and I live in a young, LDS community.

Despite the loving "support" I feel from my family, friends, and church leaders--all advocating marriage--I am still a bachelor. Until recently, I had been too scared to pursue a serious relationship. However, I know as I open my heart to the Lord that He will calm my fears and help me overcome the obstacles that have prevented me from receiving this great covenant and blessing up to this point in my life.

Why I am a Mormon

I suppose most of you reading this haven't had a singular experience that has served as a the foundation for your spiritual beliefs--but I have. I didn't have a near-death experience or witness a great miracle, other than the miracle of being able to feel and recognize the witness of the Holy Ghost at a young age. Here's my story...

I was eight-years-old when I decided to become a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, I sat in on a lesson my father was teaching, in our home, to three, 18-year-old "men" who were preparing to serve full-time missions for the Church. As my father depicted God's Plan of Happiness on our chalkboard easel, I felt pure knowledge pouring directing into my head. I somehow KNEW the things my father was explaining were true. I still remember feeling comforting sensations of peaceful exhilaration. It was as if I had been taught these things before, but I couldn't recall them until my father and the Holy Spirit confirmed them to me in that room.

Since that experience, I have continue to ask questions, search the words of the prophets, and have relied heavily on the Gift of the Holy Ghost in order to fill in the gaps in my understanding regarding the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Through this iterative process, I have come to accept the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the only true and living church on earth. I know God called a modern-day prophet, Joseph Smith, and continues to call prophets to direct His work today. My testimony of this gospel is augmented and multiplied each time I exercise faith and choose to follow the living prophet--the outcome is always positive.

The decision to truly BE a Mormon has taught me one great truth--those who follow Christ, through his modern-day prophets, are happy, while those who choose to take their own paths live much more difficult lives.

Personal Stories

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

I grew up in a home with two parents and three sisters. My kind sisters would occasionally hide notes for me to find expressing gratitude for something I said or did, or just letting me know they loved me. My sisters melt my heart. It was always fun and easy to reciprocate their gestures of love. That note-writing tradition continues today. Even now that we have all left our childhood home we still send each other private facebook messages or emails or make phone calls nurturing the love we share.

Having a tradition of passing "love notes" sure did help to balance out the moments of contention in the home and lessen the time for a feeling of harmony to return.

How I live my faith

I confess.

Sometimes I skip days [read: weeks] of scripture study. My prayers could often be more heart felt. I could definitely be less selfish. But despite my many shortcomings, I am improving my character over time. My love and understanding of God are increasing. And I am really trying to overcome my selfish nature. Although I may fail at times, I can feel that Heavenly Father is pleased with my progression. I am becoming who He wants me to ultimately be.

Whether I am cooking, running, playing volleyball, surfing online, at a book club, shopping, watching a movie with friends, or attending church meetings, my daily prayer is to be able to recognize moments when and how I might serve another.

I know that I am not perfect. I don't claim to have all the answers or be able to understand others' problems. But the Savior, Jesus Christ does. And I do my best to be a window to His love.

How can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ?

Bryan answered...

Physical things are seen with one's physical eyes, but spiritual things must be seen with spiritual eyes. --unknown

If I'm really burning to know if something is true, I trust in the Savior's promise to "manifest the truth of it unto me, by the power of the Holy Ghost," if I will but study it out and sincerely ask God if my conclusions are correct. It is by this same divine power that all of God's children can know the truth of all things. To me, asking God with a "sincere heart" means being willing to believe and experiment upon His word.

The Bible clearly states how to increase faith in Christ "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." John 7 17
Brian answered...

Faith in Jesus Christ doesn't just happen. You have to work for it. I discovered my faith increasing when I decided to study the scriptures for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. Doing so has allowed me to understand the doctrines of the gospel on a deeper level. Scripture study coupled with daily personal prayer where I really try to converse with my Father in heaven, and seek to know His will concerning me, rather than give him a list of my wants and needs and ask him to grant them as if he was my personal butler. The best way I have found is to seek to do as Jesus did. Be friendly with everyone I meet. Go the extra mile and help people beyond what is expected. Avoid judging people and try to find the good in people, rather than dwell on their weaknesses. I've found that seeking to do God's will and striving to live like Jesus Christ taught us to live, has not deprived me of anything, rather by doing things Heavenly Father's way has freed me and brought me more happiness than trying to do it my own way.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Ben answered...

Because family is so important to God. Why do you think God intoduces Christ as His "only begotten SON in whom I am well pleased" and not something more formal like my servant, the Christ? Why in the scriptures is God referred to as "The Father" more than any other title? why is it that naturally we come into this life into a family, whether functional or not? Families are ordained of God. Agency and human nature is what may cause us to believe other wise.
Family ought to be our foundation of education in this life. I've moved around a lot. I've attended many different schools and one thing I've learned is that it is hard to focus on my goals if I don't have a social network providing acceptance and unity. A support group I can lean on and be there to be leaned on at school. It's a miracle that God has provided that support group for the important lessons in life.
If our families aren't what they could be, we can choose individually to be an example and a friend to them as far as possible. practice the principles of repentence and forgiveness. Understanding that our families are meant to be eternal helps us to not allow the small things to obstruct our relationships.