Hi, I'm Charles

I''m a Husband, I'm a Father, I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a married father of 3 wonderful children. I love to be outdoors. I love to hike, camp, fish, bike and run; nature is a big part of my life. I graduated with a PhD in teaching and love being able to be involved with all facets of education. I am the youngest in my family and I joined the church when I was 13 years old.

Why I am a Mormon

When I was a young man I desired to know more about the LDS church. I remember for a birthday asking my parents for a set of LDS scriptures so that I might read what so many of my friends had already read. Well, I read the Book of Mormon and knelt in prayer and received an answer to my prayer that this is the true Church.
I love being a member of this church. The knowledge that I have gained from this church have allowed me to be happy in my life in a way that I never would have imagined. Life is good as a Mormon.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. When my youngest son was diagnosed with Epilepsy and learning disabilities I felt as though my perfect little boy was now somehow broken and imperfect. Through prayer and the comfort I have felt from the Holy Ghost I have come to know that we are all broken in some way. Some of us in more obvious ways than others. I know that my little boy is perfect in more ways than I could even hope to be, and I love him, no matter what his struggles.

How I live my faith

I love serving in this church. I have held many different positions and always learn so much from them. I appreciate so much the opportunity that these different responsibilities give me to serve others. I find great joy and satisfaction in being able to serve others.

What are some things that tell you there is a God?

Mark answered...

Everything around us testifies of a God who created all things. The complexity of life points toward an Intelligent Being who designed it, organized it and brought it to existence. The probability that everything around us may have arisen by mere chance is infinitely small, and the idea of a Supreme Creator is the only one that can make sense of all the beauty and complexity of nature including ourselves. And yet, these still do not prove the existence of God in the same sense that scientific concepts are proven. It is really impossible to prove the existence of God in the same, logical way used in science (the scientific method). That is why we say that we believe that there is a God, even if we have not seen him - this is called faith. I have not personally seen God, but my inner self tells me that he exists. Ultimately, it comes down to individual choice. We decide based on what we see and feel, on what the surroundings tell us, whether God exists or not. I choose to believe that there is a God, and this choice is one of my most important freedoms.
Scott answered...

Everything in nature tells me that there is a God. The universe is so ordered, so perfectly in harmony. If you really study our wonderful little planet, you'll learn that it is so amazingly unique to be able to sustain life, that there is just no way the earth and its inhabitants were merely created by chance.
The most important reason I know there is a God, though, is because I have felt his presence in my life. Through prayer, I have built a relationship with him, and as such, I love him and know that he loves me.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Braden Scothern answered...

At many times in the Bible prophets were commanded to practice polygamy. Some of these prophets were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon.

We know that plural marriage is a sin unless God commands us to practice it. In the Book of Mormon the prophet Jacob tells the Lords will on the subject, “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” (Jacob 2:27-30).

So only as the Lord commands His people is it acceptable. While they early saints accepted this it was not an easy commandment to keep. They had many struggles with it and only under the direction of the Lord was it carried out. The Church leaders closely supervised the practice and only those who had been authorized by the Lord were to practice. In addition to that all of the marriages had to be performed by the sealing power of the priesthood which had been restored. It was not a temporary thing when it was practiced.

In 1890, President Woodruff received revelation that plural marriage was no longer acceptable to the Lord. So the practice was stopped instantly. Anyone who practices polygamy now is NOT a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.