Hi, I'm Kevin

I'm a husband, father, grandfather, and CEO. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I live in Southern California with my wife and youngest daughter and we have been members of the Church all of our lives. We have 6 children and 4 grandchildren. I like to ski, run marathons and be with my family. In fact family is the most important thing in my life.

Why I am a Mormon

The simplest answer is because I believe this religion to be true. In my heart of hearts, I believe that Jesus Christ stands at the head of this Church and directs it today. I believe that God has always spoken to his children through a chosen prophet, as in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and I believe that he speaks to his children today in the same way - through a modern-day prophet.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

The Book of Mormon has changed my life. I actually read it for the first time as a teenager and it impressed me deeply. My understanding of Jesus Christ and his role as my savior and redeemer comes primarily through my reading and studying of the Book of Mormon. I try to read in the Book of Mormon every day and I freely admit that I am still learning things as I read, study and pray.

How I live my faith

We attend a congregation in our community with really great people. Sunday is our day of worship. We attend our Church worship meetings, spend time with the family, and try to be of service to others. In our family we try to make our home a safe place where we can have fun, talk to each other, and pray together. We try our best to follow Jesus Christ.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Kevin answered...

I suppose that new and different things have always been a challenge for some. It seems possible that the New Testament Christians might also have been called a cult: they were few in number, taught new, or at least different, doctrines and were lead by strong, charismatic leaders (a study of the early apostles like Peter or Paul bears this out).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the Mormon church) follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We do not worship our founding prophet (Joseph Smith) or our current prophet (Thomas S. Monson). We teach that men are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrice on the cross and that as we strive to follow Him and keep His commandments, that redemption becomes personal.

If others persist in defining the Church as a cult, in spite of our rather obvious Christian beliefs and doctrines, then we will simply have to agree to disagree.
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Garth answered...

I just saw news footage where a minister called the Mormon Church a ‘cult’ and the news commentator turned around and said it wasn’t. The news commentator was right. One definition listed for ‘cult’ in Webster’s Dictionary is “a religion regarded as unorthodox.” ‘Unorthodox’ according to whom? Catholicism and over 2000 churches who broke off of the Catholic Church or the original teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ? We believe some of the original doctrines contained in the original Church of Jesus Christ fell into apostasy and were changed by men. One example is the definition of the Godhead as laid out in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds that are widely accepted by most Catholic and Protestant churches today. We believe the Godhead is made up of three separate and distinct individuals that are one in purpose not in body. When I read about the atonement in Matthew 26:39 (KJV), “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” I believe God the Father, Jesus Christ, Peter and the other Apostles would find the teaching that ‘Jesus Christ was praying to himself’ as quite ‘unorthodox’. I choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the teachings of men…regardless of the names they choose to call us.

What is a ward/stake/branch?

Siegfried answered...

To make the administration of this world-wide church possible, the church is organized into geographical regions and sub-regions. The most basic administrative unit is called the "ward". The wards in the church vary in size but are comprised of a geographical area with anywhere from 300 to 700 members. The ward is presided by a bishop. A group of five to twelve wards are combined to form a "stake". A stake is presided by a stake president.
In regions of the world where there is a lesser concentration of members, "branches" are formed. These branches are equivalent to wards but usually have less members. A branch is presided by a branch president.
This organization makes it possible for 14 million members to each have local leaders that can provide guidance, teaching, and administering of the sacred ordinances of the gospel