Hi, I’m M Jenkins PhD
M Jenkins PhD is a handle I use for gaming. It started as an Xbox Live handle in or around 2007. If I remember correctly, it coincided with the release of Halo 3.
My real name is Scott. I studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at BYU–Idaho and the University of Utah. I’ve worked for the US Air Force, Northrop Grumman, and Boom Supersonic. I enjoy video games, particularly first person shooters. I grew up playing the Halo series on Xbox. I also enjoy anything space themed. I’ve spent many hours playing Kerbal Space Program, one of my favorite space sandbox simulators. I am also one of the original backers of Star Citizen. I pledged some money to Star Citizen in 2013. I am citizen #147691. As of today (December 23, 2024) there are 5,477,909 citizens, making me in the top 0.027% of players (yes, I am a nerd). If you’re interested in space sims, and you haven’t already purchased Star Citizen, consider using my referral code.
I’ve decided to start this website because (in my opinion) much of what I read on the internet about technology seems to be superficial and lack critical analysis. Much of what I see is click-bait. There are also rumor mills, slander pieces, fear mongering, and substance-less reviews. What’s more, I often find language within the articles I read that is deterministic or authoritative. Often, these authors present views that are blatantly incorrect or lack context. I can’t fix all that myself, but I can do a little in my corner of the internet. I hope you will find what you read here helpful.
More important than any of that is my belief in Jesus Christ. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of the Eternal God, the Father of our immortal souls. I believe He created the earth and everything on it. I do not claim to know how or on what timeline. I do not subscribe to a particular theory of creation and I aim to avoid putting God in a box.
I know that I have experienced divine and uplifting things that cannot be by science. I know that experiences similar to my own are found in the writings of God’s prophets. I know that when I study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and His prophets and follow them, I am happier. The King James Version of the New Testament records Jesus as saying the following in the seventh chapter of the Gospel according to St. John:
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Having studied and sought to do that which Jesus and His prophets teach, I have come to know that it is a gospel of peace, love, and joy. I invite any who read this to search for themselves and experiment by living the teachings of Christ. Try His teachings and see what fruit is borne in your life by living them.
A teaching from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ expounds on the idea of experimenting on the word or teachings of Christ:
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
I love technology, but in my mind there is nothing more important than the doctrine of Christ, especially the understanding that He loves all of us. He wants us to love each other as He has loved us. He wants us to become like Him–full of love. If you are searching for love and light in your life, invite the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to visit you. They represent Him.
Welcome. I hope you enjoy your time reading what I share on this site.
M Jenkins PhD (Scott)