Hi, I'm D. Roskelley

I have lived all over the United states, I'm a retired Father, I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Having lived all over the U.S.A., it was easy to pick a favorite spot when our family had the opportinty to retire from corporate life and find a more peacefull and gospe centered life. We decided on the mountians of Northwest Montana. Today our family enjoys a life more focused on gospel principles and less on the rat race of modern urban society. We wouldn't change a thing! We love the gospel and we love Montana.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because, during my study of religions, I took it upon myself to ask God if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and all that I had studied about it was true. It was an amazing experience to gain a personal witness of the truthfulness and the fullness of the gospel that is found only in His church. Now, many years latter I am still in awe at times of the precious and simple truths of the gospel and His plan of Happiness for us!

Personal Stories

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

The Church has a three fold mission, to Proclaim the Gospel, to Perfect the Saints, and to Redeem the Dead. Elements of the mission of the church are woven into all we do both in church attendence and in servce as we lead our lives everyday.

As we learn about the gospel and are able to integrate eternal principles into our lifes it generates excitement! To know that you are growing closer to our Heavenly Father, and feel the confirmation of His Spirit, is wonderful, naturaly you want to share that great feeling, you want others to have it too! While noe of us are perfect, myself, well I have a long way to go, but I love the knowlege and feeling of knowing that i can an am progressing toward that which my Father wants for me! Our Father in Heaven love all of us! He has shown us the way to accomplish what we are sent here to do! He gives us opportunitures and experiences that are unique to each of us and are necessary for our own growth. I love that I know that he knows me personally and that I can have a personal relationship with my Savior!

In recent years I have come to love geneology, not only because I feel more connected with my family, but I am able to assist them in ways that they can no longer help themselves. Because our Father loves all of us He has made it possible that all can fullfill the measure of thier creation. Some things have to be done while we are here on this earth. Some of my relitives never had the opportunity to be baptized or make other important covonents while they were on earth. I can, through geneology and doing service in the Temples of the Lord, do that work which must be done in the flesh that they can not do for themselves. They have their agency and can accept that work or not, but at least I can help to give them that opportunity.

I love my Heavenly Father and love that I know he has a comprehensive plan for all of us that was designed long before I ever arrived here on earth! It is wonderful to feel loved! Not only by my family here but by my Heaenly Father who has prepared the way before me!

How I live my faith

For the last several years I had served as Branch President (this is like a Pastor or Bishop) of our small congregation. While it was challeging at times, it was also one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in serving in the church. Having recently been released from this calling, I am now a Gospel Doctorine Instructor. This year we are studying the Old Testement and I love the opportiunity to interact with members of our branch family and visitors as we all continue to improve our knowledge of and our commitment to living the gospel of Jesus Christ! Outside of our Sunday meetings I still spend much of my time working with, and enjoying the company of friends neighbors and fellow saints as we try to live our lives more closely following the teachings of our Savior.

What is the priesthood?

D. Roskelley answered...

The Priesthood is the authority of God, granted to men upon the earth to act on his behalf in accordance with his will, to aid, assist, and serve his children as they progress through this life and accomplish that which our Father has for us. It is the authority that guides his church, our homes and my life.
Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Jonathan answered...

We absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believe that He was the God of the Old Testament. Under the direction of the Father, He created the earth. He spoke to the Old Testament prophets such as Noah, Abraham and Moses. He was born to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He walked among the people of Palestine, working many mighty miracles. He suffered and died for our sins. He rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to stand on the right hand of the Father. We believe that He appeared alongside the Father to the prophet Joseph Smith. Today, He is at the head of our church and leads it through the prophet and twelve apostles. He will come again to reign upon the earth with all those who have faith in Him. Through Him, and Him alone, we can be forgiven for our sins and receive eternal live in the Kingdom of God.