Hi, I'm Jason

I enjoy cross country running. I'm serving a mission in Paraguay. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am one of the middle children in my family. Movies that make you think are my favorite. I love pizza and spaghetti with meat balls. In Jr. High and High School I enjoyed participating in musicals and cross country running. Driving my car with one of my favorite songs on the radio, having the windows rolled down is a top ten for me. I recently graduated from High School and am excited for my future. Right now I'm serving my mission to Paraguay Asuncion, after which I will attend college to become an Engineer.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born to LDS parents, one with Mormon pioneer heritage and another who is a first generation convert. I was raised in the church, and from a young age have been encouraged to seek a testimony for myself of the truthfulness of the church. I have sought and gained my own testimony of it and today hold to the beliefs of my parents because I feel God's confirmation they are true. I'm a Mormon because I love my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. They provide the way, through Christ, to the greatest happiness in this life and in the life to come. I want to follow Christ. I know being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is how he wants me to follow him.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

God is my Father in Heaven. He is yours too! I pray to Father in the name of Jesus Christ because I am reminded by scriptures and living prophets to do so, but much, much more impotantly, because I love Him. I trust God with all my heart.

Through prayer I can talk to Him whenever. If I need help or strength, I pray. If I or my family, friends, or anyone I know of needs blessings, I speak to my Father and ask. I give grattitude to Him in prayer for blessings He gives me everyday. I talk to Him, as I talk to my earthly parents, seeking counsel and sharing what I feel I should do in my life. Afterward, I listen earnestly in my heart and mind. by living worthy of the Holy Ghost and asking, God will answer my prayers. He answers me through scriptures, others, and by witnessing of truth.

I love my Father in Heaven. He loves me too. I can talk to him about everything. He will give me answers if I but listen.

How does making right choices help us make more right choices?

When we are faced with a decision we usually will act in the way that we have acted before, simply because despite everything we take into account about a circumstance it's easy to say, "Well, I've already done it before, I might as well do it again." This is why breaking a commandment even once is too much; it opens the door to rationalization. On the other hand though, when we make a correct choice, the next time we are faced with that decision, if we have no other strength or testimony to make it, we can say, "well, I might as well chose the right again; I already did once." This can continue to build and eventually, form into a habit, then a standard that others will notice and respect.

What's more, we don't have to make decisions alone. Whenever we are faced with a decision and we need strength, we can pray to our Heavenly Father for help and he will answer. He will make a way for you to choose the right (1Nephi 3:7; The Book of Mormon). As we make correct decisions, we receive strength from our Father in Heaven and build our faith so that we can lean on it later, if needed, to continue to choose the right.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

I can't speak for every Latter-day Saint, but I can tell you why I chose to go on a mission. It centers on the fact and my testimony that God is, and He is our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is His begotten son of the flesh. Christ established His church, lived a perfect life, suffered the atonement (paid for our sins and died for us on the cross), and was ressurected so that He could save those who come unto Him, bringing them home to the Father after this life to be blessed with Him forever.

This is why I chose to serve. I know this is true. I follow the gospel of Christ today. I am a member of His church restored on the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I love God, and He loves me. He also loves all of His children individually on Earth and wants those who know the truth to spread it. This is the central reason why I chose to serve a mission.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by attending my Sunday meetings. Sundays are sacred to me, so I do only things that remind me of Jesus Christ on them. The meetings I attend on Sunday provide me opportunities to worship him and our Father in Heaven and to learn truths I need to know and follow in order to be blessed. I maintain standards given to me by living prophets on how to keep my life clean, how God wants it. I do not see movies that conflict my standards, especially about chastity and vulgarity. The biggest way I live my faith now is by serving the Lord on a two year mission to Paraguay. I have chosen to go so I can share with others the good news of Christ's divinity and of the church he has established here on earth that is the true way to follow him back to our Heavenly Father. How do I live my faith, by sharing the joy it gives me with others :-)

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Jason answered...

We believe we all should be missionaries, rather, we believe we all should share our beliefs with others so more people can know the happiness our faith provides us. Faithful young men in the Church (19-21generally) are called to serve full-time missions as part of covenants they make with God to act in his name. Young Women (21-23 generally) and retired seniors, men, women, and married couples may also serve full-time missions if they feel so inspired. Missions are voluntary, missionaries serve wherever the Church calls them, and are not paid for their service. Full-time missionaries are official representatives of the Church.
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Austin. answered...

No. Every worthy young man is expected to serve a mission, though there is no punishment for not doing so. Also, not every young man is physically or mentally capable, so there are circumstances where a young man may be excused from service. Young women may also serve missions, but are not expected to do so.

Serving a mission means a full-time commitment, leaving family and friends to preach the gospel in a place assigned by the Church.

I served my mission in Los Angeles, California.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Suzanne answered...

I don't know. Quite honestly when labels are used I think this comes from someone's desire to quickly explain away something that they don't understand. If they really took a hard look at the church it would be easy to tell that Mormons do not blindly follow any human being. I think maybe someone who might use that label could look at the level of commitment and obedience found among the members of this church and casually explain this away as blind obedience. They certainly do not see the personal struggles and the effort that maintaining a personal relationship with God requires. Like most Mormons I think, I do what I do out of devotion and love. It may start out as duty and habit, but as I have come to know God and His mercy and love (the big picture) I can't help but want to keep the commandments. I don't follow a person, I follow God and His Son and they help me every step of the way.