Hi, I'm Mark

I'm from Idaho and I am a returned-missionary from Chile. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I believe in living life to the fullest and taking advantage of the opportunities that daily life presents me. Some of my hobbies are weight-lifting, running, playing the violin, fishing, hiking, writing, music, eating good food and spending time with family and friends. I am most interested in helping others in their lives in whatever way i possibly can. There is something that changes in a person as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because the plan that God has for life becomes clear and I think that is enough to have the desires to help others come to the savior Jesus Christ and be happy. I also am interested in learning languages, meeting new people, and doing anything to step out of the norm. In the future i hope to study in the medical field to help children.

Why I am a Mormon

My whole life i have been a member of the Church. Growing up i recognized that my parents taught me how to follow Christ and live a good life, but as time passed and I went into my teenage years i found out that I really did not have my own personal witness or testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Now believe me when i say this but the answer to the many prayers i offered up to find the truth about this religion did not come immediately. I expected, like the great miracles in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, to see an angel or something heavenly like that. Rather, with the passage of time I saw the effects of my choices as i strived to gain a testimony and keep my standards as a member in an ever-changing world. The result of all of the good choices I made has helped me to come to a realization that the Book of Mormon is true. I served an LDS-mission to Chile from 2009-2011 and I strengthened the testimony and personal witness that i had found before i went to share this good news with others. The gospel is clear and beautiful. I believe that no mattter what the circumstances each person has who is looking for the truth he or she will end their search for God and the truth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

When you have heard the story of Joseph Smith it can be grounds for a question battle. Was it true? Did it really happen? These among others are some of the most common questions that run through people's minds. I know this because it ran through my mind too. Speaking from personal experience, careful study, and the desire to know the truth, I can say that the marvelous vision of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ that Joseph Smith told is as real as there is a God. To believe is not to have simply a perfect knowledge of what you want to know. It is knowing that even though you don't know everything you have felt it in your soul that it is just right. I hope that anyone who reads this can make an honest effort to know if Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God. When i talk about the prophet Joseph Smith I know it is not a lie, not a hoax, and surely not a trick. I feel like telling the whole world about what i can feel and understand! God speaks to us through His prophets and the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. Life just makes sense now. I promise to anyone who reads the Book of Mormon that as you prayerfully read and study it that the truth will be made manifest to you and your question to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet will be answered with sweet assurance and peace of mind.

How has attending Church services helped you?

Getting out of bed early in the morning on Sunday may be hard even grueling at times, but the reason for combing your bed-head to go Church may have greater effects than you can imagine! I too went to Church as a youngster just because my parents told me and I was living in their house. With the passage of time into my teen years I realized just how great it was to come to Church each Sunday. When you play a sport you need lots of water to give it your all so i relate this to coming to Church because at the end of each week your water bottle empties and to really fill it completely you gotta come to Church! Coming to Church has helped me to see that no matter what I feel, think, do or whatever may be happening to me I know that I can come for a few hours each Sunday to worship God, remember Jesus Christ as i partake of the sacrament, and have my spirits renewed for the next week. Make Church attendance a priority and Heavenly Father will make it possible, no matter what, so that you can come and see this Church. Sunday is coming fast so make plans now to attend Church with us!

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

Worthy young men and women take between two years or eighteen months of their lives and they dedicate themselves to teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and to helping others come to Christ. The missionaries aren't paid for anything and they provide for everything with their own money, but the rewards of serving are out of this world! As i served in Chile I felt a greater love for Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the word of God as i talked and taught tons of people. Maybe you have seen these two black figures dressed up with ties and white shirts walking endlessly in the streets where you live. They are giving two years to God to help others feel the joy and happiness of coming to a knowledge of the greatest truth in the whole world. They are not out there just to solicit or to sell something. The missionaries just want you to know something that could change your life for the better! I loved serving God in those two years and i know that I in turn have had a greater change of heart towards life and my fellow man. So the next time you see them on the street or when they come to your door give them just a few minutes of your time to hear what they have got to say! I promise you that it will be worth it.

How I live my faith

For me I live my faith by striving to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.Think of what it means to be a disciple of Christ for you! I really learned how to do this when i served a mission to Chile. This comes by reading the scriptures daily, attending Church on a regular basis, fasting, praying individually and as a family, and actively searching for opportunities to serve someone else in whatever way i can. I don't have an official calling or assignment in the Church just yet, but whatever opportunity to do little things like cleaning up around the church or just saying hi to an unfamiliar face in my ward is a calling for me. In the community i always look for cool service projects or opportunities to help out.

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Mark answered...

The answer to this question is simple: NO. Due to misunderstanding, lack of knowledge and other various internet users seeking to destroy the Church, I know it can be difficult to find out the facts about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the commonly called "Mormon Church", but if you want to know the real and true information about the Church it is best to ask a member.
We worship God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We recognize and acknowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who played a big role in restoring gospel truths. God has called prophets, just as he did in Biblical times, and continues to do just the same even today.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Jerad answered...

No. We worship only God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God chosen to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness back on the Earth. We deeply respect the man and all that he did for man kind as through him the Church of Jesus Christ and the authority which is called the Priesthood was restored to the Earth. The anciant people of Israel deeply revered and respected Moses and all that he did for them, but did not worship him. Joseph was a true Prophet of God and we see him as such, and we only worship the Father and the Son. Joseph was a servant of God and taught about how we should only worship God and Jesus Christ. The purpose of a Prophet is to point us to Christ and help us to know his will, and in these times as terrible as they are, we need the guidance of Prophets to help keep us on the path that God has put before us.

Do you really believe there is a prophet like Moses alive today?

Tom answered...

I do believe that there is a prophet alive today. This was a concept that I struggled with when I was investigating the Church because I was skeptical of ancient prophets, much less a living prophet. As I worked with the Bishop and Stake President (local Church leaders), I began to see that they could receive revelations for my benefit as well as other Church members for whom they have responsibility. Seeing God's power through these good men that I came to know personally helped me realize that our Heavenly Father directs his Church through modern day prophets.