Hi, I'm Greg

I'm a husband, father, grandfather, writer, musician, computer geek, and judo student--and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I have been a member of the Church since 1978. I was the first member in my family. My wife and I have been married since 1983. We have five wonderful children and a rapidly-growing number of grandchildren. I work in the Information Technology field, teach guitar, study judo, and I'm the author of several LDS-oriented books. I also write for the Examiner. I'm grateful to be a member of the Church and to have the restored gospel in my life.

Why I am a Mormon

I joined the Church after spending time investigating the beliefs of other Christian denominations as well as Eastern religions. During that period of seeking, I briefly declared myself to be an atheist because of my frustration at being unable to find the truth. The thing that proved most important to me was the Book of Mormon's promise that a person can know the truth for himself, by the Holy Ghost.

In the summer of 1978, a co-worker gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon and told me it was true. I tried to maintain a healthy skepticism at first, but I was amazed at the clarity and the power of the book. I read the testimony of the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses and I was impressed by their earnestness. I found Joseph Smith's testimony of his First Vision and the subsequent visits by heavenly messengers to be startling and inspiring. The sincerity of his testimony was extraordinarily moving.

As I read the Book of Mormon, the words of Joseph Smith rang true to my ears. There was no way I was going to know the truth by applying man's wisdom alone. I realized I had to ask of God and trust in him alone for my answers. I prayed about the Book of Mormon and received a clear, unmistakable answer that it is of God.

This caused a wave of realizations as the Holy Ghost linked related truths. I understood that, because the Book of Mormon was true, that there truly was a God. I knew that Jesus Christ was his Son. I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that his testimony was true. Thus I knew that he had seen and conversed with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus. I knew angels had come and spoken to Joseph Smith. I knew I had to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and that I must follow him. It seemed that, in a matter of seconds, the whole world transformed amazingly from darkness of not knowing to the light of noon-day and certainty borne of the Spirit of God.

Since that time, wonderful blessings have come into my life. I have had many amazing experiences as a result of the personal witness I received that day over thirty years ago.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I joined the Church in 1978, at the age of 19. Almost immediately, members began asking me if I was going to serve a mission for the Church. I admired the missionaries greatly, but as a new convert and the only member in my family, I didn't think I could afford to go. Missionaries are supported by themselves and their families. I hadn't had the years to learn the gospel and to prepare myself financially for such a commitment.

A few months later, while sitting in a sacrament meeting they had them Sunday evenings back then I recall hearing a talk by a recently returned missionary. He spoke of the great spiritual experiences he had and the lives he had touched. I longed for those kinds of experiences and I decided that I would go and serve. It would be difficult. It would involve great sacrifice, but I decided to go on a mission.

I worked hard and saved almost every penny for over a year. I sold some expensive musical instruments I had collected. I drove a car I bought for only $300 that filled up with water if you drove through a puddle. To turn off the windshield wipers, you had to open the glove compartment door and slam it shut! The day eventually came when I met with my bishop and told him I had the money saved up and that I was ready to go.

A few months later, when I had been a member of the Church for just 20 months, I entered the mission field. I was called to serve in France.

During that time, I had many wonderful spiritual experiences. I grew spiritually and came to know the Lord much more. My knowledge and understanding of the gospel flourished.

Being a missionary isn't just about converting people. You find yourself frequently in a position to comfort, encourage, and to help other people who are struggling with life's challenges. You visit and bless the sick. You find lots of lonely people who think God has forgotten them. Even if they don't join the Church, you can help restore faith in God.

There are some people you will encounter who embrace the gospel and you'll know that you were specifically sent to find and teach those individuals. You'll see how the Lord answers the prayers of other people through you--all because you have made yourself available to God's service.

One of the greatest blessings came from the association with my mission president and his wife. I was not raised in an LDS home. Although I came from a loving family, I had the opportunity to see how an LDS couple treated one another and how they resolved differences with mutual respect. It taught me how I wanted to live my life when I would get married someday.

Through my mission, I gained a strong testimony that the Lord loves us and that he is mindful of us as individuals. In some measure, a mission is a microcosm of life itself. We have a "pre-mission" life that is like our pre-mortal existence. We don't know exactly how our lives will turn out when we come down to earth. Likewise, it's always a surprise where you are called to serve a mission and the experiences that come help you grow, mature, and they test your faith. You learn to be obedient and that blessings come. You learn to love the Lord and to walk by faith.

At the end, you return back to the family who has missed you and whom you have missed. It is a joyful reunion with loved ones after a time apart. You return back to your life with greater knowledge, experience, and understanding that you would not have received if you hadn't gone to begin with.

I am happy that I served a mission. It has brought many blessings into my life.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

I don't think we realize how much we do depends of faith. Joseph Smith taught that faith is the "moving cause" in all action or effort. In the Book of Mormon, Alma describes faith as a hope for things "which are not seen, which are true." Alma 32:21

When you set your clock at night before going to bed, you have faith that it will awaken you the following morning. If you didn't believe that was so, you wouldn't take the action to set it. When you go to work, you start your car by turning a key. You have faith that the car will start--turning the key is the evidence of that faith.

When you enroll in a university, you act on faith, hoping for the attainment of a diploma or degree at the end of your actions. Your faith in the viability of the end result motivates you to study, to write papers, attend classes, etc. You can't see or touch the the anticipated result you can just envision it in your mind's eye. It's hard sometimes. You might face discouragement. Nevertheless, because you have faith, you press forward, trusting that your efforts will pay off.

Faith is demonstrated when it produces an action. Planting a garden shows faith. The moment you take an action: break the soil, put the seed in the ground, or water it, you're exercising faith in a result you cannot yet see. If you decide to lose ten pounds, you show faith the minute you push away that first cupcake.

We may not think about these things as acts of faith, because we tend to associate faith with religion or religious things. When we realize that we exercise faith dozens of times a day--for example, every time you turn on a light switch--it becomes easier to exercise faith in God.

When we have faith in God, we use our mind's eye to envision him. We can imagine his goodness, kindness, mercifulness, and desire to bless us. We can read the scriptures and learn how he has dealt with others in the past. We learn to trust him from reading about the experiences of witnesses in former times. We begin to exercise faith when we allow these things to influence our actions.

When we turn away from worldly things and turn towards spiritual things, we are demonstrating faith. When we go to church meetings, pray, observe the sabbath, pay tithing, refrain from profanity, and avoid entertainment that is degrading or immoral, we show faith in God. We trust in his promises. When we do, he strengthens us by sending blessings to us. When we see and connect the blessings to specific acts of obedience, we learn that we can be successful in keeping God's commandments. He pours out his Spirit upon us and confirms the path before us, giving us confidence and assurance.

Sometimes we have to walk in the darkness for a short time to test our faith, but if we persist, the light always returns to guide us and show us the next steps to take. It can be challenging, but it is also a very simple thing. Even a child can exercise strong faith in God. Each of us is a child of God and we have the power to exercise faith and grow spiritually.

Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?

Famed motivational speaker W. Clement Stone once said, "If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share." As a latter-day saint, I am thankful for the gospel and the impact it has on my life. As a result, it's natural to want to share something good with others.

How do I share the gospel? The best way is to simply live the gospel. As a result, people ask questions, opening the door to opportunities to tell them what I believe. I'm always amazed at how the principles we believe in can touch the lives of others.

For example, I once told a lady where I worked many years ago about our belief that we lived with God before we were born. She was fascinated by this. Her church didn't teach this doctrine, but she said she had always instinctively believed this. It felt good to confirm to her the truths that the Spirit had whispered to her personally.

Another friend was fascinated to learn of our belief that God gives us all a talent that we can use in his service. She wanted to know how she could learn what her talents were. Over several days, this led to discussions of prayer, personal revelation, and patriarchal blessings. She ended up joining the Church several weeks later.

A friend of mine in the service came into our home and saw the harmony that comes of having an eternal family. He came to desire the same thing for himself and he also eventually joined the Church.

Over the years, I have had several friends join the Church because of this approach. It's a natural thing: live your faith and be ready to answer the questions that will naturally occur.

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

The Plan of Happiness is a great blessing to know and understand. It provides meaning and purpose for life in general and gives strength in specific circumstances.

When I think that each of us lived with God before we were born, it gives me hope that we can act according to our better natures. It makes me realize that the guy who just cut me off in traffic is also one of Heavenly Father's children. It makes me feel more kindly towards others. It makes me consider that my children and my wife were probably close friends before we came to earth and that we wanted to be together as a family.

Knowing that life is a period of testing, it makes me more conscious of the importance of making good choices. It influences me to take an eternal perspective. Knowing that my actions here determine the outcome of my mortal life helps me keep things in balance. Trials that come such as illnesses, financial problems, etc. are a part of the testing. When my son was in the hospital last year, our family drew together in faith to pray for him. We trusted in the Lord for his recovery. We felt a comforting, sustaining presence during that time.

Similarly, knowing that life does not end at death is a blessing. We know that the Lord's plan is merciful and just. We know that family ties last beyond the grave. When my father passed away ten years ago, I felt grief at his passing, but that grief was tempered by the faith that we will not be separated forever. We know that the resurrection is real. The resurrection is very real to us because the Prophet Joseph Smith saw the Resurrected Lord and received the ministering of resurrected beings.

The knowledge of the Lord's Plan of Happiness is a blessing to me every day. It helps to know the "big picture" and how we fit into it.

Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?

About eighteen months ago, our youngest son became seriously ill. His doctor had diagnosed him as having a "stomach bug" at first. When his condition continued to worsen, we took him to the emergency room. The doctors there sent him in an ambulance to a children's hospital more than an hour's drive away. In a matter of hours, we went from a "stomach bug" to a potentially life-threatening situation. It took our breath away when the surgeon explained to us that our son might not survive.

I had given my son a priesthood blessing. These blessings are described in James 5:14-15 in the New Testament. I had faith that the Lord would help my son endure the surgery and get well. We contacted family and friends and asked them to pray for our son. Over the Internet, our friends asked their friends to pray. Members in many of our temples also prayed for him.

A surgery that was to last less than an hour turned into three long hours. Even in the scary moments, when we considered the possibility of losing our son, I was comforted by the knowledge of the Plan of Happiness. I knew that because of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, I would see my son again even if he died. I was at peace with God in those moments.

Miraculously, the surgeon was able to find all the problems and correct them in a single operation instead of several of them as he had anticipated. Our son recovered quickly and all the doctors and nurses were amazed. Today, he is completely well.

I am thankful for the priesthood that allowed me to give my son a blessing. I am thankful for family and friends who prayed and asked others to pray. I am so grateful for the many prayers of those who cared. Most especially, I'm thankful for a knowledge of the Plan of Happiness that tells us that life is eternal, that it has purpose, and that we can be with our loved ones forever. I'm thankful to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real, that they love us, and are concerned for our happiness.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

My wife and I are both converts to the Church. We decided early in our marriage that living the gospel would be the focus of our lives. This commitment changed the way we resolve disagreements. Because our relationship to God is central to our relationship to each other, we are more concerned with "what is right?" rather than "who is right?"

This teaches our children that doing the right thing is more important that getting his or her own way. We have sometimes had situations that required personal inconveniences or sacrifice. Because we're working together for a greater good, we tend to pull together in a crisis.instead of pulling apart. The children grew up knowing that we weren't arbitrarily making up rules, but that we expected them to follow standards to which my wife and I were already devoted. They each have carried that attitude into their own marriages.

The temple plays an important role in this. Knowing that our family members are an eternal unit gives us strength. Knowing that we will be together in heaven fosters unity and cooperation. Knowing that we were all brothers and sisters before this life helps us remember to treat each other with respect.

Mormon pioneers who pulled their handcarts across the Plains left us an inspiring example. If everyone pushes together, we'll get to our destination together and the journey will be easier for everyone.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

In the months before I first encountered the Church in 1978, I went through a difficult year. I spent a lot of time seeking for answers in the Bible. Much like Joseph Smith, I discovered that the teachers of religions of various Christian denominations disagreed on the meaning of many important Bible passages. It was frustrating and confusing.

As I read the Book of Acts in the New Testament, I found myself feeling somewhat envious of the members of the ancient Christian Church. Here was a people who had living prophets and apostles among them. There were revelations, visions, angelic ministrations. The Church was "connected to the home office" as I describe it now. I couldn't accept that it should be so divided and confused in our time.

My mother reminded me about a year ago that I sat in her kitchen one day after reading in the Bible and lamented, "Wouldn't it be something if there were still prophets and apostles like there was in the Bible?"

When I first read the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision, I was amazed. I could truly relate to his feelings. I understood the frustration of going from one denomination to another only to find out that each one interpreted the Bible so differently. I understood the desire to know the truth and the frustration of having man's teachings get in the way.

I gained a testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet when I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true. Since that time, I have studied everything I can find on the life of the man. I know as surely as I know anything, I know that he was called of God. The fruits of the Spirit of God permeate his teachings and his works. I know that he was an honest, godly man. He was kind. He followed the Lord Jesus and healed people in Jesus' name. He was faithful in persecution and had charity for those who persecuted him. He laid down his own life as a testimony that what he said was true.

The Book of Mormon is how you can know for yourself that Joseph was a prophet. The Holy Spirit will testify to your heart that it is true. When you feel that still, small voice in your heart, you'll know. You'll also know that the book came to us through the hands of a true prophet. Living its teachings brings peace and happiness, and you'll know that it is of God. The blessings that come from living the restored gospel is the best "proof" of all.

I was so grateful to discover that there are living apostles and prophets in our day. I am especially grateful to have a testimony that Joseph Smith was the prophet called to restore the gospel in the latter-days.

How I live my faith

I love my Heavenly Father. I do my best to follow the Savior Jesus Christ and to live his teachings. I pray daily and I love to study the holy scriptures. The Book of Mormon has great meaning for me, because that is how I came to gain a testimony of Christ.

I live my faith by striving to keep God's commandments and teaching my family. My wife and I teach our children gospel principles in weekly family nights. We teach them to read and understand the scriptures. We follow the counsel in Deuteronomy 6:7 to "...teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Casual moments together often become the best times to answer questions and teach the gospel. We also show them the importance of serving others by including them when we help or serve others.

When I was a new convert, I was single. The Young Single Adult activities strengthened me and prepared me to serve a mission. I served a mission in France and it was a great blessing to me. Later, after I was married, my wife and I continued to serve in the Church and to teach our children the gospel. There is great joy to be had in building an eternal family. What peace it gives us to know that the family is eternal!

Today, I serve as the branch president on Virginia's Eastern Shore. I enjoy counseling with the members, participating in service projects, and in helping others.

What is a ward/stake/branch?

Greg answered...

A stake is an ecclesiastical unit of the Church similar to a diocese. Stakes have specific geographical boundaries. The term "stake" comes from Isaiah chapter 54:2 where the Lord told Israel to "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes...." The visual image of the tabernacle, a large tent, was used to portray the growth of the Lord's kingdom. As the stakes provide strength and stability to a tent, so the stakes of Zion in the Church strengthen the members and spread the Church far and wide.

A stake is administered by a stake president, two counselors, and a high council consisting of twelve high priests. Each stake is organized into several wards, which the equivalent of a parish. Each ward is organized into geographical districts. A bishop and two counselors preside over a ward which consists of several hundred members.

In remote areas or in areas where the Church is new, branches are often formed. These smaller congregations are presided over by branch presidents and may fall under the administration of a stake or a mission.

One unusual thing about the Church is that, when a ward grows to a certain size, it will split. The geographical boundaries will be divided in two and they may share a building, holding their meetings at different times. The same thing when a stake becomes so large that administration by lay members and volunteers becomes difficult, the stake will split and become two stakes. New buildings may be constructed in the process.

The result is that the ecclesiastical leaders and other volunteers can visit the members and care for their spiritual needs more effectively. The organizations maintain a family-like feeling where every one knows each other and everyone has the opportunity to contribute their time and talents to help the Church accomplish its mission.
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Adam answered...

There is a lot of vocabulary that is unique to Mormonism, including the terms we use for our congregations.

A ward is a local congregation, usually made up of between 200-600 members. Wards have specific geographic boundaries, so which ward you attend would depend on where you live. A ward is presided over by a lay priesthood holder called a bishop.

A branch is similar to a ward, except it is smaller. They range in size from a single family to the size of a small ward. Generally, branches are in areas without a significant Mormon population, specific to a language, or for individuals who are single. Branches do not have bishops, but are presided over by a branch president.

A stake is a larger organization in the church. Several wards and branches, frequently around 12, will comprise a stake. The stake is able to support the wards and branches through additional resources and leadership. Stakes are presided over by stake presidents.

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Adam answered...

There are many different things that happen inside a Mormon Temple. It's a place where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) make sacred two way promises with God called Covenants. These covenants aren't secret, they're sacred, and so we don't talk about them outside of the temple out of respect for them. Members also go to the temple to be married for time and all eternity. Not just "until death do you part" but even after death. We also perform ordinances such as baptism for people who have died without receiving the opportunity to be baptized. A worthy member is baptized in the place of the deceased.
The temple is a sacred place where the spirit of the Lord is and so one must be worthy to enter. So even members of the church must have a special recommend in order to enter.