Hi, I'm Justin

I love art, cooking, and havin' adventures! I love to be outside and i love life and all that it offers!

About Me

I was born and raised in Arizona and come from a wonderful and loving family. My family is one that has seen its share of trial and testing, through divorces and hardship, and that has made us who we are today, and is continually shaping me into what i need to be for the future. I grew up loving art of every kind, and love to express my thoughts and feelings through media such as, charcoal, pen and ink, and paint. The pieces that mean the most to me are the ones that i bore my testimony through. And i would have a hard time being me without paper to put it down on!

Why I am a Mormon

I have been a member all my life and that has helped me to recognize my self-worth and importance. Life can sometimes make you think you are . . nothing. But the light of the Gospel helps me to know who i am, I know why I am here, and I know I am loved by a Heavenly Father. And in a world where the adversary is continually bombarding us with seeds of self-loathing, and disrespect, God knows each of us by name, we were created in His image, and we hold the same Divine potential.
Being born into a family that later suffered divorces and trials, I have really needed to rely on my faith in Jesus Christ that the family can be together forever. So with that knowledge, I know that even when tribulation arises, it can be overcome and made light again. I am thankful for the experiences that myself and my family have gone through, because without them, i would not possess the love that I have for them now, nor I feel, the appreciation I have for the Plan of Salvation. Families are eternal, and Heavenly Father loves all of us and wants us to return to Him again some day. And THAT is why I am what I am, that is why I do what I do, and that is why I love to share the gospel with others. So that we may all possess that same Eternal knowledge!

How I live my faith

I am currently a Full-Time Missionary and am serving in Northern California. I spend my days on a trusty bike riding around trying to find those who desire to hear the Gospel plan! It is not an easy task, but with Jesus Christ, everything is possible.
The Lord has taken myself, an imperfect, goofy, and loving "kid", and is daily shaping me into what He needs and wants me to become. I have been able to meet hundreds of amazing people whom I love and respect greatly. I have been able to enjoy the blessings of being guided by the companionship of the Holy Spirit! And I know that while I try to do what I can to love and help others, that they will see the happiness that I have because of the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and desire that for themselves!
I attend church every Sunday and renew my promises to God that I made when I was Baptized in 1998. I have been able to study the scriptures more fully these two years and have been forever changed because of the truths I have learned from them. And I KNOW with all of my heart that God hears and answers our prayers of faith and longing!

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Justin answered...

For me, the Word of Wisdom is an opportunity to more abundantly be blessed by the companionship of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Book of Mormon, we read the phrase; There are things to act, and things to be acted upon. This means that God has given each of us the ability to make right and correct choices that will bring us back to him. Or, we can allow the decisions and actions of others negatively affect us. But our Heavenly Father would rather us be the individuals to ACT!
How does this tie into the Lords law of health? When we partake in these substances; coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco, etc. we subject ourselves to their addictive properties thus allow ourselves to become literally enslaved in the desire to continue using them. We therefore forfeit our ability to justly decide to NOT use them because of our addiction. And are caught in the cunning trap of the adversary.
This is not what Heavenly Father designed in us. We should NEVER allow ourselves to become dependent on a worldly substance and give up our ability to choose. Choice is an Eternal Principle.
Aside from those reasons, it would just make sense to take care of our bodies by putting in good things, and leave out the poor and damaging. But use wisdom in all things, and the Lord will richly bless us.
Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Sterling answered...

Today, Mormons are commonly associated with polygamy, even though the practice was discontinued in the Mormon Church in 1890 - over 120 years ago!
Today there are still some who claim to be Mormon and who practice polygamy, but it should be recognized that they are not part of our Church - anyone belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints today who practices polygamy is excommunicated and their names are removed from our rosters.
In modern revelation, we learn that we are never supposed to practice this unless specifically told to by the Lord (through the prophet) as was the case with Solomon and David in the Old Testament.

Know that we do not want to practice polygamy. I don't know any Mormons who do. We know that if we were asked to, the Lord would help us to understand why, as He will with any commandment. However, until that day (which we do not expect to ever come), we will neither practice it nor look forward to doing so.