Hi, I'm Nathan

I'm a video game programmer, a video game journalist, sci-fi & fantasy writer, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a senior in high school, and finishing that up I will be attending a 4 year college to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Game Programming. I love programming, and I love making video games. I spend my time writing fantasy or sci-fi short stories - or I work on my fantasy book. I have been writing for an online video game "blog" since May 2010, and since then have been to 3 major game conventions working as Media, made contacts with several executives from large game companies, and have gained many job experiences.

I earned my Eagle Scout rank a week before my 18th birthday, and have learned many skills from that achievement. Also through the Scout program I learned that I had a knack and love for a new hobby: SCUBA diving, which I became certified during the summer of 2011.

I love playing Dungeons and Dragons, RTS / RPG / Action/Adventure video games, and hanging out with friends. My favorite movies are Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and TV shows of all time: NCIS(:LA), and Star Trek.

Currently, I'm learning C/++ and video game design, and planning on starting my own game studio and publishing a console based game that I have been working on as a side project.

Overall, I'm a simple techno-geek, and a self-taught scholar on topics related to my interests.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born in the Church. I struggled to find my own testimony and belief in the gospel, just as I know many others who grew up in the Church have had. I was weak; I wasn't able to stay up on my own, because I never gained the roots of the gospel in my life to hold me up.

Around the age of 13, I started getting into some serious things revolving around chastity. I lost the Spirit, and fell away from the Church, and for all intents and purpose until the summer before my 17th birthday, I was Atheist. I would fight and argue where I could against my parents of my disbelief, I mocked others who had any religion, and I was very rude, angry, and cynical. I still went to Church, and Mutual, but that was at the forcing of my parents.

That all changed when I was forced to go to one last youth conference during the summer of 2010. At the end testimony meeting the night before we left to go home, something hit me - something I couldn't deny, send away, or get out of me. Someone bore their testimony, and something they said had struck right home into my heart. Tears had poured out from my eyes; something that hadn't happened since my older brother left home early at age 17, from strife in my family.

Up to that point, I had felt seriously alone, lost, and uncertain of any future. Again, I was cynical, and simple existing. I was angry at everyone around me, and I pushed everyone who cared about me, or I cared about, violently away.

That night, I felt the Spirit. I knew I felt it, because it was something that I had not felt in years, but the minute I did, I remembered exactly when the last time I felt it was, and how it felt then. I heard a voice speak to me and say "I'm here for you. I always have been." It integrated into my conscious then, that I wasn't alone. I remembered everything that I was taught in my childhood in Church - and I knew for myself that it was all true.

Since then, I have turned my life around swiftly, and never been happier.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Simply speaking - it humbles me. It has me down on my knees in respect asking someone else who I cannot see for forgiveness, help, and protection. It has me opening myself up to requiring more than what I as a mortal man cannot posses, or do, on my own.

It allows me to organize events, or experiences, in my mind for the coming day, past day, or days to come, and reminds me that I'm not the only one going through them when I report back every night to my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

It ties with my passion for programming video games - I like bringing entertainment and joy into people's lives.

My writing, my career, and myself is all about serving others in the simple way of making their life fun. If I can make someone smile, or laugh, I have succeeded.

I also share all that I can, only asking for people to ask.

How I live my faith

I live my faith the best way I can, and normally it is second nature. As a child, and adolescent, I learned the value of having people simply being present in my life, and I always try to reciprocate that to others around me. My friends have always known me as someone they could count on to listen, and give advice, and simply be there if they need me.

I do the simple things, such as opening doors for others, helping people pick up things they dropped, running errands for fun, and trying to make anyone's life easier.

I live my faith how my friends call "secretly". Everyone that meets me knows I'm different, but I don't come out forcing the gospel into people's lives - I invite them to see it. I've lived my faith by acting as a generous, courteous, and gentlemanly way around my fiance. When we were still friends, she saw a light in my life that she had wanted all of hers. She asked me about my faith, and I opened the doors for her.

Her, and along with many others in my life, have asked questions, and I have responded with kindness, understanding of both sides of the conversation, and invited them to the truth that I know of Christ's gospel and Church.

Is it true that Jesus appeared in North America after his crucifixion and resurrection according to the Book of Mormon?

Nathan answered...

Nothing could be more true than that Christ visited the now known Native Americans during ancient times.

My proof is in history:
When the Spanish started sailing and arrived in the Americas, the Native Americans welcomed the conquistadors into their nations because of their lighter skin and shining armor. Their legends had spoke of a bearded white man who came down from the heavens to help them, and left, promising to return again. They called him "Quetzalcoatl" which means "Feathered Serpent" (which Christ is referred to sometimes as). They believed the Spanish to be their Quetzalcoatl. The earliest origins of "Quetzalcoatl" was around 500 A.D. The Book of Mormon's last chapter is dated about 421 A.D.

This piece of history alone to me, is a feeling of truth of Christ visiting the Americas after his resurrection.
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Are Mormons Christians?

JD answered...

We declare with all that we have that Jesus is the Christ, the Holy one of Israel, the Prince of Peace, even the Son of God. If your definition of Christian is one who believes in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and follows his gospel, then yes we are as Christian as they come.