Hi, I'm J. Quinn, "Joe"

I'm a Latter-Day Saint and a Priest of the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ from the lineage of Abraham!

About Me

I'm a convert of one year now. However, I've spent more time than many members in the study of my church in all aspects. I am involved to an extent with FAIR, an apologetics group dedicated to clearing confusion about misunderstood aspects of the church. I live in the Portland area. I was formerly borderline anti-mormon or at least skeptical due to my upbringing in the American South and the promulgation of myths, fears,and some outright lies that were spread about based on fear, I believe, of taking a true look at one's own faith or of finding the spirit of truth in another's faith. In MY case, I met a friend (whom later became my wife) who was a member and I realized I actually had little facts regarding the faith so I went home and did some research....that night I felt the spirit light up the room from inside me as I was reading. I knew I was doing something that must be big! As I read and read all night I drove over and met her at 6 o'clock in the morning with a load of questions and began the process of conversion. I still consider that night the most important experience I've had in my mortal life.

Why I am a Mormon

As I mentioned, I had almost an instant conversion...yet as I went further and further into the church, receiving the priesthood, doing temple work, and other aspects of the faith were opened to me my faith has been "galvanized", I now wear the armor of Christ at all time and I know this church is true like I know the sky is blue. If anyone gives the spirit of truth a chance to whisper I guarantee it will confirm this to anyone with an open heart and mind.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I believe in the vision of Joseph Smith. As I recall my thoughts before conversion I remember a dichotomy formed. There are only two possibilities, that he did or did not have the vision that he staked his soul, the souls of his family and friends and millions (eventually) of others on. I came to believe that he had to have been speaking the truth, I believe this in my heart, nevertheless I always subject my beliefs to scrutiny. So now, I think back to the process I went thru and I recall scripture with regard to the church...as the Pharisees spoke about Steven & the chuch, "if it be not of God, it will perish , yet if it be OF God then to fight against it would be to fight against God Himself!" & "you will know the true church by its fruits" (paraphrased). 10 Million Members can't be wrong! ;)

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost is thru and around me and all things. It connects me to all of the smallest and largest assemblies of the firmament. It is indescribable really. It provides our muddied perspective the closest glimpse of the omniscience we will have in our glorified forms. Maybe this is too deep a question to field for the intent of this profile...yet it is a great gift to have the Comforter with you at all times. Imagine your computer and what you can do when connected to the internet, now pull the plug on your modem. That's the difference between having the Holy Ghost with you and not maintaining a clean enough place for Him to inhabit.

Could you talk about your baptism?

Of course! I had many non-members and friends attend. Baptism is a powerful experience and made even more so when performed by the authority of the True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Even if one has been baptized in another faith, as I previously was, it didn't have any more effect than taking a shower, less really as I was "sprinkled". I spent the rest of my life thinking,"why did MY church think they had a better idea of how to perform baptism than Jesus Christ Himself?". Jesus had baptism by immersion preformed to receive the Holy Ghost. Yet, some sects believe it's not necessary! Amazing to me...this is only one of a list of doubts I had about all Christianity that led my to Jewish Mysticism / Kabbala for some time, I KNEW before I knew the term an apostasy had occurred. Yet, even in the faith our master and teacher Jesus had been born in, I knew the truth of His divine mission...I was stuck. Yet, when I was baptism by water, and then by fire in His True Church, it was a marvelous experience! Everything in my spiritual world clicked and I KNEW like I know the sky is blue, that I was finally on the path I was meant to be!

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I have a beautiful wife that I am committed to for eternity that feels the same. Divorce was an issue for me as a child and I don't believe in it, no matter how hard things get, it's just not an option. We share this together and having a companion in love that feels as I do and thinks on an eternal perspective has been in my prayers for some time. Now, we both have this. She knows that I will never break my covenants to her, I will always break my back, if necessary lay down my life to protect and keep my eternal companion. This is a gift few are privy to, yet by a miracle I have found the most beautiful woman I've ever known that wants the security and love I have always longed to give and the absolute dedication in the face of any adversity to her and our common goal. It's more than I deserve, yet this is the miracle of forgiveness and the atonement. This is what the church can do for you too if you can soften your hearts and apply the true compassion, selflessness, and compassion of the saviors true teachings to your own life. Remove anger, vice, contempt, derision, make not judgements that you wouldn't want to be brought to the judgement bar for, and say not "Raca" to your enemies but allow them the other cheek if they smite the one! This training and the teachings of the church is what has made my marriage the beautiful thing it is meant to be!

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

Elder Talmage's book, Jesus The Christ, is my greatest influence in the church thus-far. It gave me a much clearer context for the Masters' teachings. I understand thru true dangers of anger. To practice not making judgements or saying Raca (a term of contempt or derision) to a brother or sister. The true heart of his teachings are the hardest to change, but if one can effect this change of heart then the gates become larger and the path wider to salvation. But, if the change of heart doesn't occur, then all the knowledge of doctrine turns to vapor and the Son of Man during final judgement will say,"you worshiped long and hard with your body and mind, but your heart I never knew!". But, this change of heart can unlock the fullness of the mysteries and the gospel and path to exaltation can be within reach thru our church!

How I live my faith

I consider myself in a constant "missionary mode", as I am ready to discuss or even debate theology at any time in any setting. I have a very deep understanding of the philosophy, rich history, and how the church came to be and how that affects Christendom as a whole. I have a indepth knowledge of almost every faith and love to discuss the merits of each and compare to my own in an objective manner, yet knowing with perfect faith that my doctrine is perfect and unassailable by any whom wish to do so. I love my church with all my heart.

What is a ward/stake/branch?

J. Quinn, "Joe" answered...

A Stake, is a term we use to describe an area where the church has a presence. It comes from the description of Zion as having not only the limits of the city, but that "like a tent" the stakes hold the canopy of zion over the world. Wards are groups that arranged within stakes. Branches are more rare, they are very small congregations that aren't large enough to make up the organization necessary for a ward.
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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 is family so important to Mormons?

Kevin answered...

We believe that our families are the basic unit of any society, and that failure in the home means that we've failed as a nation and a people. We've heard that it takes a village to raise a child, and that's true enough. But our leaders have told us that the most important work we can do in life, even more than any professional pursuits, is to raise our children in righteousness.

Think about it. If each father and mother were just a little more engaged in their family's lives i'm not talking about controlling their family, helping their sons and daughters with the challenges they constantly face, the crises we find ourselves in as a nation would become much less. We'd more good in the world as a result. You may think that naive or unrealistic, but I know how much good one family can cause, and how much pain another can cause. We want to change the world, and to do that we need to change ourselves and help our families become better too.