Hi, I'm Tim

I love the Lord. I'm a Christian. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My mother recorded that when I was an infant my favorite place to be was anywhere that I could be around trees. That hasn't changed. I love the feeling of majesty that comes being in a forest or towering trees or standing in a meadow of blossoming flowers.

I honestly believe that one of the most cheerful things is a ripe apple and that our Father in Heaven has the perfect sense of humor.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restored Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. I became truly converted when I began to actually live the principles that I had been taught. While reading, "The Great Divorce", by C.S. Lewis I was struck by an comment that was made regarding our entrance into the kingdom of Heaven. Quote: "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." That statement struck a chord with me that resonated throughout the fiber of my being and started me on a journey to discover the will of God. After many personal trials, much struggling both in body and in Spirit, and much prayer and searching, I recieved an answer to my prayers that the fullness of the Gospel was upon the Earth and it could be found in the teachings of the L.D.S. Church.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

Each member has a personal reason for serving a mission to teach the Gospel. Often these reasons center upon Jesus Christ and His infinite love for each of us. The call to serve a mission has been extended to every worthy and able individual but has been primarily focused upon those young men who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of holding the Priesthood, or the authority to act in the name of Christ. The choice to serve a mission is deeply personal and often involves much prayer and personal study. While some individuals feel as if there is a social stigma attached to declining the invitation to serve, reality dictates that the Lord loves all of His children and is eager for each one of them to magnify the talents and abilities with which He has blessed them.

Missionary service begins with an understanding of the Savior and all that He has done for each of us. As a testimony of that divine truth is gained, the desire to share that knowledge increases until it cannot be contained anymore and becomes manifested in a desire to travel to places unknown to share the Gospel of everlasting salvation.

For me, the desicion to serve a mission began as I came to an understanding of the love and mercy that was being extended to me and the opportunity that I would have after this mortal existance to meet my Redeemer and thank Him for all that I was given because of His life of service. When that thought occured to me I pondered what He would have to say to me in return and realized that I had not shared His wonderful gift to others. If I found it so wonderful, why could I not take the time to teach others?

How I live my faith

I live my faith by constantly striving to do what the Lord would ask of me. At times that has led to many personally awkward but ultimately satisfying experiences. It has taken me from the Atlantic to the Pacific and soon back again as I share the message of the Restoration. I live my faith in everything that I do, allowing my testimony of my Savior and Redeemer to be what sets me apart or makes of me a "peculiar person".

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Tim answered...

We believe that we are saved from physical death through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this in First Corinthians when he teaches that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". He speaks here of a salvation from the chains of physical death brought into the word through the actions of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Christ has given us grace that we may all be resurrected and live again. This is a gift which is given to us through no merit or actions of our own; everyone will be made alive again because of Jesus Christ.

We believe also that there are conditions upon which we are permitted to return into the presence of God once more. Salvation by grace guarantees an immortal resurrected body for each of the Children of God. It does not promise entrance into the Kingdom of God. As the Lord Himself teaches in the Gospel of John, "Verily verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God... Except a man ne born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." We see here a condition. Unless something happens on our part, something else cannot happen. The Lord gave us commandments, rules and regulations so that we might do the things which we have seen Him do. We have instructions that we might follow in His footsteps and allow Him to lead us lovingly back to Joy.
Tan. answered...

We believe 100% that we are saved by grace. Absolutely. Period. No person can be saved by his or her works, no matter how great he or she is, and how many good things he or she did. In order to qualify for Christ's grace, however, we must live righteously, repent, and humble ourselves before the Lord.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Lynn answered...

Some call Mormonism a cult because it is not a "traditional" Christian church. The primary complaint of the "traditionalists" (generally Protestant Churches) is that we do not believe in the doctrine of the trinity as it relates to the nature of the Godhead. The doctrine of the trinity was codified in the Nicene Creed in 325 AD, many years after the death of Christ and the Apostles. It basically says that the Godhead, The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are one being in "substance." Since Mormonism does not accept this doctrine, they say we believe in a different Christ than they do and therefore are a cult. It is curious that this "trinitarian" doctrine is not taught anywhere in the Bible.

Mormons believe the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible (and the early church established by Jesus and His Apostles) teaches that the Godhead indeed consists of The Father, Son and Holy Ghost. But, it teaches that they are: 1) three distinct individuals as expressed in Acts 7:54-60 where Stephen is being stoned. "He being filled with the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God." And it teaches 2) they are one in purpose, not in substance (John 17 where Jesus offers his intercessory prayer, particularly verses 20-23.) This is what Mormons believe.

It is noteworthy that the early Christians were called the "sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5) and were considered a cult by the Sadducees and Pharisees, the predominant religions of the day.