Hi, I'm Chris

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Husband of a wonderful wife.
Father of two energetic boys.
I work at the Library of Congress.
I love cycling and photography!

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because I believe the principles that are taught in the church are true and right. I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe that the Mormon Church is His Church on the Earth today.

Personal Stories

How has attending Church services helped you?

I attend church services every week. The most important service I attend is called Sacrament Meeting. This is the meeting where we partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ and we renew sacred promises we have made with God. There are also various speakers that share messages about gospel topics.

Sacrament meeting gives me the opportunity to reflect on the things that are really important to me such as my relationship with God and my role as a Father and Husband. I feel like my spiritual batteries are recharged after attending.

I often feel the Holy Spirit during Sacrament Meeting. Sometimes, while I partake of the sacrament, thoughts come to my mind that I feel are directly from God about things I should do in my life.

How I live my faith

I try to live my faith by being kind, generous, and by serving others. I try to set an example of clean living and high moral standards. Sometimes I fall short in these areas but I always keep trying.

Being a good husband and father to my wife and children is most important to me. I believe that the most important work I could ever do is within the walls of my own home. I hope I can instill the kind of character in my boys that my parents instilled in me.

My faith is the anchor to all the aspects of my life. I often wonder where my life would be if I didn't have my faith in God and his plan for us.

Why don’t Mormons drink coffee, tea, or alcohol? What is the Mormon Church’s law of health and proper diet?

Chris answered...

I believe our body is a precious gift from God. To help keep my body and mind healthy and strong, I believe that God wants me to follow a law of health. This law is known as the Word of Wisdom, and it teaches which foods and substances you should and should not use to maintain the health of your body and to keep you free from evil influences. I believe that God promises blessings of health, strength, protection against evil, and greater receptiveness to spiritual truths as we treat our bodies with respect and reverence.

In addition to emphasizing the benefits of proper eating, physical and spiritual health, I we Mormons refrain from the use of:

* Tobacco.
* Alcohol.
* Coffee and tea.
* Harmful, habit-forming drugs.

Our bodies is instrumental in bringing us both pain and great joy. A healthy lifestyle promotes a sense of well-being. Exercise, eating and sleeping properly, and a cheerful attitude all contribute to happiness. This is why I ride my bicycle almost daily and try to maintain good eating habits.

Caffeine is more "spirit of the law" Some members of the church drink coke/dew/etc.. but most active members consider caffeine to fall in the "habit forming" category. I will definitely eat a caffeine-laden GU before our race on Saturday :- But that is about it for me.
Molly answered...

God gave us the ability to choose. There are substances in coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco and other harmful drugs that limit our ability to choose. The intent of the law of health we follow is to preserve our ability to make good choices. This law of health is called the “Word of Wisdom”. It not only guides us regarding the substances to avoid, but also those to include in our diet. We are told to eat fruits and vegetables in their season, include grains, and eat meat sparingly. We are promised that if we follow these guidelines we will be healthy, able to learn and accomplish all that is required of us by our various roles in life. I am grateful for the blessings I receive from following the Word of Wisdom.

As a Dietitian I especially love this law of health because as I’ve seen the US guidelines for nutrition develop they are now aligning with what the Lord told us many years before. I believe that the guidelines set forth in our law of health are the minimum requirements for good health. It may be necessary for some people to avoid certain foods or eat a lower fat diet, or avoid caffeine entirely, but these specifics are not mentioned in the law of health and are to be determined by each individual.

Why do Mormons perform baptisms for the dead?

Stuart Clark answered...

We believe that baptism is essential for salvation. It is a covenant with God to obey his commandments. Christ taught that we all must be baptized. Some people die without being baptized or knowing about the Church of Jesus Christ. They must also have an opportunity for salvation. Those who have died are taught the gospel in the world of the spirits. But, baptism is an earthly ordinance. So we can perform that ordinance for them by being baptized for them, just as Christ died for us as a proxy for us, we can be baptized for others. This is authorized by Christ in his church to be performed in the temples. The person who died can either receive this gift or reject it. They still have their agency.