I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. I've been a member of it all my life, with my parents raising all us kids in it. My mom's family has actually been members for generations, dating back to when the pioneers were crossing the country, but my dad was the first member of his family to be baptized and become LDS. He went on a mission to France shortly after he was baptized, and when he got home he decided to attend Brigham Young University (an LDS school) instead of Vanderbilt, and subsequently ended up meeting my mom there. I served a mission in southern Brazil, preaching and teaching others about my faith, and I'm immensely glad that I did, because I saw how much good it did in the lives of others. And now I'm at BYU as well, and I'm incredibly grateful for the clean, high-standard environment that it maintains. I've been to other university campuses (including a few in Illinois, one close to Provo, the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and over the summer I went to one in Kentucky for a week of work) and by far this is one of the nicest I've ever been to. I feel that a lot of it, if not almost all of it, is because of the standards implemented by the Church.
Because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, I have a solid foundation of what to believe in. I can make choices that I know will make me happy in life. That happiness is brought about because I'm keeping God's commandments, and from reading the scriptures written by various prophets throughout the ages, we know that that happiness truly is one of the blessings that God gives to us. It's a tried-and-true method that I guarantee works, because I've experienced it for myself: living the Gospel and striving to keep the standards and commandments brings long-term happiness.
Does it seem weird at times, what we do? Does it seem restrictive? Church for three hours every week (longer for some, with meetings before or after the standard block of hours every Sunday). No drinking alcohol, coffee, or tea. No smoking or other drugs. No sex before marriage. No, no, no, no, no. Seems almost weird compared to the standards of the world today. But here's the thing: I don't even want to do most of the stuff we're "told" not to do. Again, we have standards in place not to restrict us but rather to remind us what things will keep us safe from harm, out of trouble, and in good spirits.
Do we believe some crazy things sometimes? Like the fact that our spirits existed before we were born on Earth, and that one day we'll all be resurrected? And that based on our actions in this life we have a chance to live with our Heavenly Father? And that we have living prophets who help us know exactly what it is we need to do in order to get there? That might seem crazy to some, but to me it makes a lot more sense than a God who just decides if people go to heaven or hell, that's it, no questions asked. Or believing in reincarnation, where after I die in this life I'll come back to life as some other animal somewhere in the world. And it makes a lot more sense, and is more comforting to me, than not believing in anything at all.
Seriously, there are times when I just look at the sunset and pay attention to all the vibrant colors, or the sun peeking out through the clouds on a rainy day. And I look up, and just think that there is no way that it was all just random happenstance. Someone had to have made all this. Someone organized it all, created it all perfectly. And whoever did... well, I'd like to live with him. Learn from him. Be like him, and be able to make some of the same things. Now doesn't that sound awesome?
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