Hi, I'm Ian Harvey

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am an ex Marine, an Olympian, and am happily married with two kids.

Why I am a Mormon

I believe in the tenants of my religion.

The evidence that I have seen supporting this belief vastly outweighs the evidence otherwise.

I am grateful for the realization that we can read the scriptures, pray, and gain experiences for ourselves that we can use in forming our beliefs.

Personal Stories

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

I believe in what Easter stands for. In other words, I believe that Jesus Christ died and then three days later walked the earth again as a resurrected being. I believe that He suffered and bled for my sins and made it possible for me to repent (to try my best to correct my mistakes). If I do this, and through His grace, I can have the chance for eternal life not only as an individual, but also as a family. I also know that I and my loved ones are in His hands. That he loves me and even if something happens that is not what I would have wanted, it is OK. Everything will work out eventually through the grace of God so long as I have faith and try my best. For this reason, Easter is my favorite day of the year. This knowledge makes me deeply happy even in circumstances that might not be what I had hoped for.

How I live my faith

I look for and act on opportunities to help others. I try to see things from other peoples' perspective. I try to recognize and be grateful for the good things in my life. I am thankful to have great friends from other faiths.

What are some things that tell to you there is a God?

Ian Harvey answered...

We are surrounded by evidence. Perhaps the most obvious is our normal cycle of life here on earth and what we gain from it. We are born, progress as kids and teenagers and eventually get to the point where we start a career. Then we marry and have kids. The stages of working hard to provide and be self reliant, unifying with another in marriage, and parenting provide limitless opportunities for us to learn and become wiser. The latter stages of life where we become old, suffer afflictions including the death of many loved ones, and eventually die also give perspective that yields wisdom and compassion. It is my belief that these experiences and this growth is not for nothing. I believe that it is part of our purpose here on earth. I believe that there is a sort of life after death and that our experiences here on earth will better prepare us for it.
Danny answered...

For me, nature is one of the strongest evidences that there is a God. It is hard for me to believe that the mountains, oceans, forests, flowers, animals, and skies were randomly formed. It is hard to deny the beauty and the peace one can feel while sitting in silence and looking into the night sky.

Beyond that, answered prayers tell me there is a God. I have prayed too many times and seen answers too many times for me to think that it has all been coincidence. These were prayers that expressed my concerns of which no one knew, yet were accompanied by answers that were so specific and detailed. God loves us to a degree we cannot comprehend, and as we look we will feel His love in very powerful and comforting ways.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Leo Ebbert answered...

The short answer is that, for a time, God commanded it. It was a challenge for those families commanded to practice it, but they accepted the challenge with faith.

There have been many times throughout history that God has asked His people to do difficult things or things that go against the norms of society. For example, God has commanded plural marriage in the Bible. He commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, stopping it at the last minute. He commanded the ancient Israelites to destroy all inhabitants of many of the settlements in the land of Canaan when they returned to the promised land.

The knowledge of these things challenges our faith but we must recognize that God's ways are not our ways and He controls all life.

If plural marriage is something that keeps you from the church or keeps you from investigating further, I invite you to consider this: it really comes down to one thing. Was Joseph Smith a true prophet or not? If he was, then the commandment came from God and He restored His church through Joseph. Answer that question and the rest falls into place. I am happy that I did.