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Hi I'm Jacob

I write books and drill teeth for a living. I love cheeses. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

There are so many different things that make up who I am. I'm a husband, a father, a dentist, a writer, and someone who loves to live life. All of these things make up who I am and what I live for. I never seem to have nothing to do.

Why I am a Mormon

I come from a long line of Mormons on both sides of my family. My father's family walked the plains with early church pioneers and my mother's family converted in Alabama almost a hundred years ago. I was raised in the church and felt a profound need to discover for myself if the things I had been taught were true. After serious effort in reading and studying the scriptures, I felt the influence and peace of the Holy Ghost testify to me that the things I'd been taught were true.

How I live my faith

My faith is something found in my daily choices. Each day I have to try to find balance between my work, school, family, hobbies, and friends. It's very difficult to make time for everyone around me. I find that living God's commandments helps me to see clearly what's most important, and helps me know when I'm letting important things in life slip away. During such times, I refocus myself and try to draw closer to God first, through prayer and study. In those times, I'm the most happy and life seems more fulfilling.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Jacob
I grew up in Nebraska where most of my friends were either Protestant or Catholic. It was difficult for me because many of my friends believed I wasn't a Christian and was following a dangerous religion. While Mormons do have differences in some fundamental beliefs that many Christian churches cherish, we also share many similarities. Unfortunately, some churches choose to focus on our differences instead of looking at the big picture. Mormons believe that only through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, we are saved. We believe in loving and serving our neighbors. We believe that the Bible's teachings are correct and bring us closer to God. We also look forward to the second coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Some of our differences include the use of multiple books of scripture. Rather than just using the Bible, we also use The Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus' divinity. We also believe that God continues to call prophets to speak for him today, and we follow the teachings of these modern prophets. We also recognize that God and Jesus Christ are separate individuals who are united in purpose and their love for all mankind. Show more Show less

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Jacob
When I spent two years doing missionary work in Baltimore, I was often asked if Mormons believe in grace or works. It took a long time for me to realize that the two are intimately connected. Can a person be saved without faith in Jesus Christ? No. Does a person who will not keep God's commandments have faith in Jesus Christ? No. God has asked us to keep His commandments. Some of these commandments are loving each other, being baptized, paying a tithe, and serving our fellow man. We all fall short of what God has asked us to do. We all make mistakes. Thankfully, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven. Without the grace of our Savior, none of us can return to God. But through His great sacrifice and death, we all have the chance to live with God forever. God cannot force His children to keep the commandments, but He has extended His grace to everyone so that we all can be saved. Show more Show less

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Jacob
My family is my greatest treasure. I feel like so many things are trying to tear me away from spending time with them. Work, school, social activities, games, sports, and movies are all things that compete for my time. My family is so important to me because I believe that the relationships I build with them here will continue after death. One of our unique beliefs is that family relationships are one of the few things that remain with us after we die. In fact, they endure forever. So when I remember that simple truth, things like earning more money, getting a bigger house, and buying newer electronics don't seem so important. Plus, my kids and my wife are just terrific people. Show more Show less