Hi, I'm Jared

I'm a Mormon. I love life and I live a pretty average one as well.

About Me

I try to have fun, I like making people laugh and enjoying the little things of life. I am recently divorced and that has helped to shape me to become a better person in the long run because of my ability to learn from my mistakes. I recently completed my studies for my bachelor's degree in history and am trying to figure out my life. In all actuality I would be classified as a nerd, I know it is weird to think of, but one of my biggest hobbies is playing Magic the Gathering, it has allowed to explore different ways for me to think and to create many new friendships.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into this church but it was never pushed terribly hard, my family believed very much in teaching you the right things and letting you make the choices. Throughout most of my life I have been an active participant in church. But it was the last few years in my failed marriage that I had stopped being involved in church, I had no contact really with any religion at all, and it caused problems because I realized something was missing. And it was this church and the amazing Gospel that comes with it. As I have had to deal with a failed marriage and the other various problems someone in their late twenties deals with, I have become closer to my Heavenly Father. It is through His teachings that I have become stronger in my situation and become a better person. Going through a divorce is by no means an easy or fun experience, but it has helped me realize how important the gospel truly is and how much I need it in my life.

Personal Stories

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

Anybody has a talent that can bless another. One of the most important aspects of our religions is the doing of service for another, the question then arises of, "What is service?" Service in all reality is what you want, if you are good at making people smile, then helping to cheer someone up who is not in the greatest of moods is utilizing a talent and performing a service for someone. One teaching I like to live by is that if more people had a smile and positive attitude in this world, many problems would begin to solve themselves and those that cannot be solved by themselves can be resolved with greater ease from people working together.

How I live my faith

I live my faith as your every day average member of a church congregation. I show up and kind of do my thing at church, but it just doesn't end there. I try to be a good example for those around me. This is probably the most important part of this church, and that is the absolute willingness of the members to live their lives according to a different standard than the rest of the world and that is what I strive to do everyday.

Do Mormons regard the Bible as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

Jared answered...

Absolutely. The Bible is just as important as the Book of Mormon, we do not hold one book of scripture in any higher regard than the other. They are on equal footing and they supplement one another like peanut butter and jelly,
Jesus answered...

I personally enjoy The Bible as one of my favorite books. I know it is the word of The Lord. As I read the bible, I also tried to study where it came from. Before joining the church, I did believe that the bible was the word of God. But why? I believed in it before reading it... Well, the reason why I know, is because I ask God and He answered me. There is no other way. I wasn't there when it was translated, so how can I know? Some people just believe that it is true because everybody else says so. Heavenly Father can answer our prayers, why don't we ask Him?

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.