Hi, I'm Leon

I have moved to be near the areas this Church was eradicated from originally...the best area for my Mormon family & I.

About Me

I am a father of five boys. I have ended a career with the Postal Service to care for Autism at home, but am rewarded with opportunities to serve outside my home often. I love the western US where I was raised, but moved happily to the birthplace of this Church, or rather, nearby. I live for the Autumn and the consistant colors of fall in this land. I am happy to also be rewarded with many fellow members of the "Steeler Nation", as I grew up loving the football team. I was told by a great friend and confidant that I was "going home" before I moved East, and I KNOW he was correct.

Why I am a Mormon

I have had my share of living on the edge of vices. So I am very NON-judgemental. I have seen first-person what effort it takes to overcome and find happiness and freedom from the strangely realistic chains of wrong actions. I have been places and seen sights that have proven time and again that I have an Eternal Father who allows me to grow through trial and error. I also know it is a fact that He gives His Spirit the opportunities to guide us and relay important messages of His love. I remember vividly of His presense in several lonely situations, where only we could communicate. I have felt and witnessed that His Son, Jesus Christ, has taken all my wrong-doings I allow. I have felt His anguish as He loves me. I also know He would never leave us alone without a Prophet again. While wicked men sought to kill off all leaders and prophets before and probably do again, God has reclaimed this Israel and its grafted-in nations. I am happy to be part of the growth of His Kingdom, His Church.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

I am forever grateful for having been given the opportunity to BOTH live when prophets have been prepared and chosen again, and to prepare with my brothers and sisters now to receive Jesus for His next Coming. I know that the prophets and Apostles shared many verses of visions of the FALLING AWAY of the Church and the inability to find the fulness for what the people did to Christ and his original followers. I am enriched by the knowledge that God has reclaimed us by regenerating His Gospel in its fulness and His Church.

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I know not to worship any other, as God has commanded. He showed time and again to followers of Baal and sinful nations how He is God Eternal. He declared He is unchangeable. A prophet is never going to change that without exposing their nature as self-serving. A true man of God declares God's will, His love, His blessings...and never forgets to Whom he serves and is indebted to.
I know Joseph to be a prophet, declaring and demanding us to repent and serve God our Father. I know Joseph went to his grave early due to his inability to deny Whom he served and spoke for for an all-too brief time in history. I know he will forever be an integral question to a Christian. I am grateful for God's answer to my personal prayers of this question as I am always a Christian.

How I live my faith

I seek to go with the Missionaries often, as they seek to find others 'trapped' in sin. I cannot hold back the enthusiasm and love for the sharing of this Eternal Gospel. I serve in Church duties voluntarily, from helping others learn to teach the Gospel, to watching over and out for the VERY IMPORTANT youth of this age. I feel it is entirely possible these "lambs" will see the Second Coming of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. I hope to be prepared, and try to help prepare His flock.

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Leon answered...

We dress 'up' for church, as it is indeed worship. While common knowledge as to intents and former traditional meanings of holidays are passed down, we still find abilities to strengthen family bonds, neighborly assistance and good-will, and renew our dedications to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are careful how much time and effort we place on the holiday, seeking to avoid burden of financial or differing beliefs. All such customs, beliefs, and general questions are answerable through missionaries including this web-site.
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Graeme answered...

Mormon customs throughout the world do not vary widely. In fact in my travels around the world, the church is one big family which welcomes you as one of their own. Most of the major national and Christian holidays are celebrated Christmas, Easter, New Years when ever oit occurs, and nation's founding, and personal birthdays. Mormons dress up for Sunday services. When traveling, casual, modest clothing is normal. For other activities, any modest attire is acceptable. There are occasional "theme" activities with approprite dress.

Why do you have 12 Apostles? They were just meant to be around for the time of Jesus Christ, not to be replaced with new apostles.

Mark answered...

The principle of a perpetuating body of twelve special witnesses of Christ comes in ancient times from the fact that the eleven survivors of the death of the Savior chose a twelfth to replace Judas Iscariot (see Acts of the Apostles 1:15-26) Two were considered worthy to take his place, but only one was chosen. When the apostles cast their lots, the inspired choice fell upon Matthias.

In modern times, the Church's organization has been one of gradual building. As the needs of the Church have continued to grow, the prophet of the Lord has been directed to add not only the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, but other supporting quorums of the Seventy as well. The structure of the local organization of wards and stakes has been given by revelation to complete it. But as the needs of the Church continue to evolve so will the structure which supports it. Christ remains the chief cornerstone and the Apostles as the foundation with Him. (see Ephesians 2:19-20 also Ephesians 4:11-14)