Hi, I'm Jeff

I'm grateful to be a Mormon.

About Me

I guess you would say I am a tech guy. I work with folks and teach them how to use computers. I also love to create websites, dutch oven cook, and will even occasionally venture into woodworking. Although originally from Las Vegas yup, there's lots for Mormons there, I lived in North Carolina for about 7 years and now live in Texas.

I am also most certainly a family man with a wonderful and amazing wife, and four sweet children.

Why I am a Mormon

For me the most powerful thing about the church, and the Gospel as a whole, is what I like to call the "Gospel Plan for Families." This is everything that the Lord gives us in our lives that helps us return to him. I am a Mormon because I see the power of daily personal and family scripture study. I see the value of a night each week spent as a family. I see the value of attending church as a family. I see the value of teaching my children about Christlike service. The church teaches all of this to me, and reminds me on a regular basis that the most important thing on this earth is my relationship with the Savior and my family. I'm a Mormon today because I saw the difference living that life played in the lives of those around me, and in my life, and I want the same for my children.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

I can remember several times in my life when I really felt that I needed the guidance of the Lord to help me make a very important decision. My father taught me early on that when you had a problem you should first think it through in your mind. Go through all the options, and make a decision on what you thought was best. Then, kneel down and ask the Lord if your decision was right. If it was right, you would feel peace, and sometimes even have thoughts about how it was all going to work together. If it was not right, you would feel confusion and unsure about the decision.

I first followed this wise counsel from my father when trying to decide where to go to college. Then when I was trying to decide if I should marry my wonderful wife. Every time we decided to have kids. Moves, and professional changes. There were times when the decision I had made was the wrong one. I felt terrible and knew that I needed to go back to the drawing board. There were other's when I knew that that was what the Lord wanted for me. In every case that I have followed those prompting I have felt on my knees the Lord has blessed me immeasurable.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Even though it has probably been close to 20 years, I can still remember that wonderful day when I first felt that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I had been reading a book about Joseph and his life, and was reading an account of how he got the Gold Plates that he would later translate, and would become the Book of Mormon. As I was reading I remember the most wonderful feeling coming over me. Looking back, I know it was the Holy Ghost testifying to me of the calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I knew in my heart that he was a prophet. As I continued to read about his life and all the trials he went through to bring forth the Book of Mormon and restore the church, it was confirmed in my mind as well.

How I live my faith

I have had a variety of service opportunities in the church, but my favorites have always involved teaching. For a couple of years I was able to teach high school kids about the Gospel every morning at 6am before they went to school. It was a tremendous opportunity to strengthen my testimony of the Savior, as well as learn from the amazing kids.

I also love to go and give service in what ever way I can. Whether that be helping a family move, cutting down a tree for a widow, or just visiting someone, I'll pack up my kids and we'll go and serve in what ever way we can. It is a great opportunity to teach my kids about the power of service in their lives, and serve my fellow man as Christ would, for I know that as we serve others we feel joy and peace.

What do Mormons believe about family?

Jeff answered...

We believe that families can be together forever.... not just till death do us part, but forever. Think about that for second? I get to be with my family in the next life. I get to continue to learn from my wonderful kids. I get to enjoy long conversations with my sweet wife. What a wonderful blessing, and one that just makes sense.

Families are an essential part of our Heavenly Father's plan for us here on the earth as well. They help us to learn about eternal principles like the power of the Savior in our lives, or the importance of Christlike service.

We also believe that we are all brothers and sisters here on the earth, and one great eternal family. That really changes our perspective. Although I can teach my son about the Lord, he can just as easily teach me about many other principles. And my neighbor really is my brother whom I should love and care for.
Bradley. answered...

The family is a key component to support us in God's plan for gaining immortality and eternal life. All of God's children (all the inhabitants that lived, are living, and will live on Earth) are inseperably connected to each other, both (physically) by our Earthly families and (spiritually) by our Heavenly Father.

Families help us to understand our divine heritage. In this, life takes on purpose and meaning. Our immortal spirits were created by our Heavenly Father before Earthly existance, and we are directly connected to Him in this way. As a spiritual family, our collective purpose on Earth is to follow the commandments of God that lead us to live in heaven with Him again.

Our spirits need to progress, learn, and grow. In order to achieve that, Earthly existance was created as our test. Our Heavenly Father knew that being exposed to opposing forces on Earth was the only way for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.

However, we will not always choose righteousness, and so our Savior, Jesus Christ, is that great mediator to pay the debt of our mistakes. He is the only way by which we can be saved from our sins and transgressions. He is the ultimate example by which direction we need to live our lives. With the support of our earthly kin, we can learn from each other, serve each other, and strengthen our mortal weaknesses by being disciples of Christ. Our families are a gift from God, and we can be together forever.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?

John Odell answered...

Of course the Church does not endorse political parties. Political parties do not represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But all the members of the Church are encouraged to participate in the political system and many have and do. We will be held responsible for our actions in the political arena just as we are in every other activity of our lives. I feel strongly that we have an obligation to support the Constitution of this land and that the Lord had a lot to do in its founding and in the freedoms that we receive from adhering to its principles. The Founding Fathers were inspired by God and we should be inspired by them. There are many criteria that we can use to choose political candidates but none are of more value than that recommended by modern scripture, namely, to search after honest and good men. I love our American Republic and our Constitution and try to support men or women who support the ideas and principles found in that document. According to the Declaration of Independence we receive our rights from our creator and must be ever aware that we do not turn our rights to the whims of men, however well meaning they may be. I am not a fan of political parties and consider myself a Constitutional conservative and very independent.