So I figured that for my first post, I would give some background, talk about the scripture that is in the blog description, and then go from there. :)
Background: I grew up in "mormonville" Utah and to be honest I really did absolutely love it. I wouldn't change the way I grew up for the all the episodes of Psych in the world. I have truly been blessed with a great family, good mentors, and the most fantastic friends a guy could hope for, even if I didn't always show them how important they are to me... However due to the unique culture of my home town, I also grew up on the "priesthood conveyor-belt" (aka: baptized-deacon-teacher-priest-missionary-marriage! Yay!!) And for the majority of my childhood and adolescence I was quite content with going with the flow. Moving in the direction that everyone around me seemed to expect.
It was my junior year of high school when that began to change. Not to say that I jumped of the assembly line and abandoned the things I had been and was being taught, but I suddenly became aware of myself and my actions. I actually invested a little in seminary and "church stuff" and a large factor in that were the wonderful seminary teachers I was given as I took early morning seminary. (which for those of you who live outside the world of released time, that is a rare and daring, even crazy thing for a teenager to do...)
Towards the middle of my senior year I fell into a bout of depression, and while I was not aware of it at the time, Satan gained a very strong and suppressing hold over my mind and feelings. I sincerely felt like there was not a soul on the earth who truly loved me, and that those who professed to, did so due to a social obligation. (It is funny how as soon as Satan begins messing with our heads, one of the first things he attacks, is our ability to think strait and see situations for what they really are...) Luckily, my Father in Heaven didn't leave me to fend for myself against an adversary I had no Idea was even attacking. Shortly before my mental state was the worst it had ever been, the Lord gave me a very close friend whom I now cherish. This friend came into my life, I'm certain at the Lord's command, and saved my life, and for that I owe him, and my Savior, more than any favor or gesture of love and thanks will ever measure up to.
As I had said, I did not at this time jump off the conveyor-belt, but became aware of what was happening in my life on a spiritual level and decided that I wanted to be proactive in making it towards the next step. I began to search out and gain my own testimony of my Savior. So then, again through my best friend, I found out about performing, but not just performing like I had been doing throughout much of high school, but performing for the Lord. The summer after I graduated I went to an efy like camp at BYU Called YASE. Young Ambassador Singing Entertainer (Workshop). the workshop part isn't included in the acronym because it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well... but any who... I spent a week with nothing but music and the spirit, and it was wonderful!! my testimony grew so much in those six days I can barely describe.
Background: I grew up in "mormonville" Utah and to be honest I really did absolutely love it. I wouldn't change the way I grew up for the all the episodes of Psych in the world. I have truly been blessed with a great family, good mentors, and the most fantastic friends a guy could hope for, even if I didn't always show them how important they are to me... However due to the unique culture of my home town, I also grew up on the "priesthood conveyor-belt" (aka: baptized-deacon-teacher-priest-missionary-marriage! Yay!!) And for the majority of my childhood and adolescence I was quite content with going with the flow. Moving in the direction that everyone around me seemed to expect.
It was my junior year of high school when that began to change. Not to say that I jumped of the assembly line and abandoned the things I had been and was being taught, but I suddenly became aware of myself and my actions. I actually invested a little in seminary and "church stuff" and a large factor in that were the wonderful seminary teachers I was given as I took early morning seminary. (which for those of you who live outside the world of released time, that is a rare and daring, even crazy thing for a teenager to do...)
Towards the middle of my senior year I fell into a bout of depression, and while I was not aware of it at the time, Satan gained a very strong and suppressing hold over my mind and feelings. I sincerely felt like there was not a soul on the earth who truly loved me, and that those who professed to, did so due to a social obligation. (It is funny how as soon as Satan begins messing with our heads, one of the first things he attacks, is our ability to think strait and see situations for what they really are...) Luckily, my Father in Heaven didn't leave me to fend for myself against an adversary I had no Idea was even attacking. Shortly before my mental state was the worst it had ever been, the Lord gave me a very close friend whom I now cherish. This friend came into my life, I'm certain at the Lord's command, and saved my life, and for that I owe him, and my Savior, more than any favor or gesture of love and thanks will ever measure up to.
As I had said, I did not at this time jump off the conveyor-belt, but became aware of what was happening in my life on a spiritual level and decided that I wanted to be proactive in making it towards the next step. I began to search out and gain my own testimony of my Savior. So then, again through my best friend, I found out about performing, but not just performing like I had been doing throughout much of high school, but performing for the Lord. The summer after I graduated I went to an efy like camp at BYU Called YASE. Young Ambassador Singing Entertainer (Workshop). the workshop part isn't included in the acronym because it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well... but any who... I spent a week with nothing but music and the spirit, and it was wonderful!! my testimony grew so much in those six days I can barely describe.
And with that, I was hooked! As soon as I got home I was dying to find the next church related performance I could get involved in, and the first thing to cross my radar was a beautiful little show called Savior of The World: His birth and resurrection. That show is truly commissioned by God! That is where I gained a testimony of Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. He is every one's Savior. He was born for me. His lived for me. He Bled and Died for me. Despite what people may say about the Mormons and myself, it was the fall and Christmas of 2010, being involved with one of the most beautiful productions to grace a stage, that I became a Christian.
He is my Savior
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