Hi, I'm Mike

I'm from Cincinnati, I have the greatest family in the world, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from high school there a few years back. I attended college for one year in Hawaii, then left for my mission in sunny Anaheim California! I love to watch movies, go running, write, and challenge myself. I love all kinds of music but classical is my favorite, and I play the piano a bit, too. Beethoven is my favorite musician of all time, Russel Banks my favorite author, Clint Eastwood my favorite director, and Dali my favorite painter. I love animals for the most part and I have a tarantula named Clint. I am third in a family of six kids, and I love my siblings and parents more than anything.

Why I am a Mormon

My parents have been in the church since even they were born, so I was raised going to church and hearing about the gospel. When it finally came to whether or not I was going to go on a mission, I really needed an answer about the church for myself. I prayed and studied hard, and it took longer than I hoped - but the answer did come. It was an answer I can't and will never deny. I became so grateful that what I had been taught all my life turned out to be the truth!

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Many people question the validity of silently speaking with an unseen being. Most people admit to the possibility of God, or gods, or a supreme creator, yet balk at the idea that any of these things could be understood by humans. What seems like pride - the belief that we are important enough to receive answers concerning eternal matters - is actually humility. We open ourselves to the possibility, test the theory, and trust the results. What might seem like humility - accepting the fact that we as humans can't learn anything of eternity and therefore consider such endeavors as wasted - is pride in a dangerous form. It is intellectual laziness disguised as high-level thinking. I won't deny that at one point I was actually victim to that very mindset, and it was not until I sufficiently humbled myself and was willing to seek and receive an answer that God testified to me the truth of his existence and what I was expected to do now that I had gained this knowledge. Even now I find myself "seeking" answers and becoming frustrated when I don't get them, but patience is one of the greatest virtues of humanity - why would God exempt me from practicing it?

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

The Savior teaches us to withhold judgement. Almost all of his acts of service during his mortal life were to the derelict and undesirable members of society. Growing up, it was hard to be nonjudgmental when someone annoyed me, or didn't conform to what I thought was stylish, entertaining, or important. One of the ironic results of this mindset is that we lose self-respect quickly, become embarrassed often, and find ourselves without true friends. The best relationships are those that we have to work for. Both parties see the other as the reward of an effort of compromise, love, and patience. Everyone is a child of God, and it is up to us to search, discern, and magnify the divinity in each member of our amazing and diverse family.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

The biggest way that my prayers have been answered is that I have received a testimony - that is to say, knowledge from God - concerning some of lifes most troubling doubts. Where do we go after this life? When our family members die, are they still members of our family? What am I supposed to do to make the world a better place? What is my purpose and how do I fulfill it? The restored gospel, which I am so grateful exists on the earth today as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, answers all these questions. All I needed was an answer about the Book of Mormon. The answer was a yes.

How I live my faith

Right now, I am serving as a missionary in Southern California. I love it here - the people are definitely the best part. I love when I realize that I've made the right decision, and coming on a mission was without a doubt the best decision for me. I try to study and understand the words of the prophets, ancient and modern. The most important thing I do to live my faith is to base my decisions off of Christ and his teachings. I figure, either I can make my own decision and do what seems fun and exciting and easy, or I can do what Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, has taught brings the most happiness. How grateful I am that we have commandments - I don't need to rely just on my 20 years of experience to get me through in this difficult world!

As a missionary, I teach the gospel of Christ and invite others to take steps closer to him. My most important role as a teacher is to encourage people and show them the blessings that are promised - a knowledge of the afterlife, security and morals in an ever-changing world, and the rewards for standing strong against a current of confusion, lawlessness, and makeshift life philosophies and platitudes. Of course, I don't give these blessings myself - God gives them to those who desire. The best part about this Church, in my opinion, is it's promotion of the idea that every person on this Earth has the right to receive a personal witness of Christ and the truth of the Book of Mormon. No one is ever forced or e

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Mike answered...

In the temples of the LDS church, we as children of God makes serious covenants promises to follow a lifestyle of Christlike living. A person who does not completely understand the full gospel of Christ in its restored form would not know the implications of such covenants. Everyone is invited to go into the temple! But it's like going into grad school - there are other things we must accomplish and learn first.
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Don answered...

Recently I taught a Sunday School lesson about the Apostle Paul who was cast into jail because of being falsely accused of taking non-jews into the holy parts of the ancient temple. The penalty for doing so was death. It caused me to think of the sacredness of the temple, and that people throughout history have gone through a preparation process in order to approach God through temple worship.

In our time, both members of the church and non-members who have not prepared are turned away from the sacred parts of the temple not because of secrets, but rather due to the sacred nature of the temple and the preparation required to go there. Anyone can go to the temple, given they prepare themselves and demonstrate that preparation in a visit with those responsible for qualifying persons for entrance to the temple.

I love the peace that comes from being in the temple, having prepared myself to approach the Lord in His house. I feel His Spirit there. I am grateful that others who are there have prepared themselves in the same way.

Anyone who wants to know more about the nature of the temples can ask any missionary what it takes to qualify to go there. My personal experience and witness is that it is worth qualifying oneself and experiencing the beauty and peace that is constantly there.

What is being a Mormon like?

Brad Hill answered...

One word: "Awesome".

Another word "Happy".

Although we face trials we are able to be happy and know that things will be alright. As a Mormon, day to day life is how I live and I try my hardest to do my best. It's difficult sometimes, but after the hard work comes the great blessings and the ability to rest from our cares and sorrows.

Nothing is easy about being a disciple of Christ, but we have all the help and resources we need from God to do what we are called to do... be ourselves, be a brother or sister, father or mother, friend, servant, leader, and many many other things! Yes there is opposition in life, but that is how we can learn.

As you come to understand what being a Mormon is all about you will then begin to understand God's infinite love for you and can see the blessings and miracles in your life!