Hi, I'm Dirk and Marissa Black Family

We are Mormon.

About Me

We were married in 2007. We have one daughter, one son, and another little one on the way. We enjoy outdoor activities, playing games, reading, and being with family.

Why I am a Mormon

We are Mormon because we have testimonies of Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus Christ has restored his Church for us to be a part of today.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

We do family history or genealogy work to connect with our ancestors and understand more about our unique family heritage. We also do family history work so that we can help members of our family become united through temple ordinances forever.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

Holding daily family prayer, daily scripture study, and weekly family nights have helped us have greater peace and happiness in our home. We also have breakfast and dinner together every day as a family. These are times when we can visit with one another, encourage one another, and learn from one another.

How I live my faith

We know that our family will live together forever as we strive to live the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We try to follow Jesus Christ by spending time together regularly as a family, serving one another, working together, and having fun together. We also enjoy talking about our beliefs with other people.

What is a ward/stake/branch?

Dirk and Marissa Black Family answered...

A ward is a congregation of church members in a given geographic area. A stake is a group of wards. A branch is a smaller congregation of church members and is usually found in places where there are fewer church members.
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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.

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

Josh answered...

No. The church advocates principles and doctrine but does not endorse a certain political party or candidate. If you look in the United States Congress, you'll see members of the Mormon church sitting on both sides of the aisle from the current Senate Majority Leader to a 2008 presidential candidate.

However, the church is involved in the public arena when political initiatives intersect with principles of Christ's gospel. When this happens, the church will release a statement advocating certain principles and encouraging members to uphold these principles. This type of action often leads to confusion. Church support for an initiative for religious reasons should not be taken to imply support for a particular political party. These are two distinctly separate activities.