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Hi, I'm Kevin

I'm a Mormon--born and raised in the faith.

About Me

Hi. My name is Kevin. I was born and raised in the LDS faith. I am happily married and have 2 daughters ages 11 and 12. They keep me young. I used to work in the computer industry before being laid off. These days I am self-employed as a handyman. I like gardening, listening to political talk radio, and spending time with my family, and I like to spend a lot of time in just thinking and making sense out of life.

Why I am a Mormon

I have often wondered if I would be a Mormon today if I was not born in the faith and I find it difficult to imagine life without my faith. I am grateful to be where I am today because of ancestors who heard and believed, and carried that faith to their children.

From an intellectual standpoint, I find great logic, reason and sense behind what I believe. And from a spiritual standpoint, I find great joy and personal happiness in the fruit that comes from living the principles I am taught in my faith.

At my core, I believe that my identity has always existed, and that God has always known me. He has always known us all, and loved us from the beginning as our Father in heaven. For me, this knowledge forms a foundation upon which all the great and perplexing questions of life can be answered. These answers and this knowledge is most precious to me.

Personal Stories

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is the reason you have to hold on, and endure through adversity. When all hope seems to be gone, perhaps it is because one's hope was founded on a shaky foundation to begin with. Permanent hope can be restored--which cannot be taken from us--, if it is founded in Christ, who is eternal and does not change.

I have hope that trials will not last forever. I have hope for my children and their long-term happiness. I have hope for a better world to come. I have hope for humanity. And I have hope for my own eternal happiness. But all of these hopes are built upon my personal witness and knowledge that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that God loves me. Ultimately, my hope rests with God. Without this knowledge, my hope could not carry me through life.

Can you think of a specific challenge in your family that Gospel Principles helped overcome?

A year ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. It has presented many difficulties to our young family. I do not know how the Lord has done it, but he has provided. Due to earlier health challenges, I was medically uninsurable, but the Lord provided. I have been unable to work, but the Lord has provided. I have experienced sever pain and discomfort, but the Lord has provided. Interspersed with difficult days, have been times of great joy and spiritual comfort. I don't know how, but the Lord has always provided.

Through all of this, we have continued to pay our tithes and offerings on a meager income. I believe this has opened the windows of heaven for financial blessings that has allowed our family to survive this crisis.

As a family, we have doubled our efforts to build faith by studying the word of God, faithfully having family prayer morning and night, and holding regular family home evenings.

I am a witness that joy can be found in turmoil and crisis when we make an effort to seek out the Lord and his blessings. I am a witness that God loves his children. And I feel the peace and assurance that even should I die, that the Lord will continue to provide for my family. Such peace cannot be bought by any material means, and I am so grateful for the knowledge and assurances I have because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

Each member of the Church is given the opportunity to participate and serve in the Church. We call these opportunities "church callings." My current calling is "Ward Emergency Preparedness Specialist." It's a fun job, and falls right in line with my love for being a news hound so to speak.

I publish periodic newsletters for our ward members dealing with topics such as earthquakes, disruption of services, water purification, sanitation, gardening, provident living, getting out of debt, cooking without electricity, etc., etc. Past callings I have had include Young Men's instructor, Stake Clerk, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Primary Teacher, Scout Leader, and others.

I take my faith quite seriously and consider my testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be the foundation of everything else in my life.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

Kevin answered...

Tithing is seen as an opportunity for members to sacrifice 10 percent of their income to the Church for the purpose of building up the Kingdom of God. Such voluntary sacrifice makes these funds sacred and their disposition is carefully and prayerfully considered by the 1st Presidency of the Church and the 12 Apostles.
These funds are generally used to build temples, places of worship such as meeting houses, building of seminaries and institutes for the purpose of religion education, help support the missionary effort throughout the world, and print educational manuals and materials.
The Church maintains an auditing department comprised of accredited accounting professionals who are independent of all other Church departments and offices. These report regularly to the 1st Presidency of the Church regarding the collection and disposition of these funds.
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Lot answered...

The money received from members in the form of tithing goes directly to the headquarters of the church where a council decides what will be done with the money. Here are some ways in which the tithing funds are used:
1. Build, maintain, and operate temples, meetinghouses, and other buildings.
2. Provide operating funds for stakes, wards, and other units of the Church. (These units use the funds to carry out the ecclesiastical programs of the Church, which include teaching the gospel and conducting social activities.)
3. Help the missionary program.
4. Educate young people in Church schools, seminaries, and institutes.
5. Print and distribute lesson materials.
6. Help in family history and temple work.

*It is important to note that tithing funds are not used to pay leaders of the church. All leaders of the church are volunteers and receive no form of pay.

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

David H. answered...

I identify with Fyodor Dostoevsky, who once wrote: "It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt." I respect people who find it difficult or impossible to believe, because of the incongruity of so much unjustifiable hurt and pain in the world or because the affirmative evidence for God's existence does not seem compelling. But yet I believe. I believe in a God who is powerful, knowledgeable, loving and good. I see God in the heavens and earth. I see God in the principles of physics, evolution and natural selection, psychology, engineering, mathematics, the arts and the humanities, among others. I see God in the multitude of faith (or nonfaith) traditions throughout the world and among all peoples, giving meaning, purpose and direction to God's children and creations. Yes, there is much inexplicable hurt, pain and injury in the world, and yes, God's respect for our free will and freedom to believe requires that the evidence for God be noncompelling. I do not pretend to know easy answers; I look forward one day to receiving explanations or understanding of those tough questions. In the meantime, I am grateful for the whisperings from God's spirit and for occasional experiences that, to me, seem like "postcards from God", confirming to me God's love and care for me and for all creation. I have never seen God personally, but I have experienced God and I have met God's children and seen God's creations.

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