Hi, I'm Kelly

I'm a Designer, Artist, Speaker and Internet Marketer. I love to Hike and go to Ghost Towns with my Family. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a 4th generation Nevadan and descended from Mormon Pioneers, on my mothers side, who came across the plains. My fathers ancestors came from Finland in the early 1900's. I have a Masters Degree in Internet Marketing from Full Sail University and a Bachelor's in Graphic Design from BYU. I have a wonderful wife of 24 years named Betsy and we have 5 great children. My oldest son just returned from a successful mission in Kennewick WA which was part of my mission in Spokane WA over 30 years ago!

Why I am a Mormon

Besides my family, there is nothing I love more than my testimony of the Gospel and what it has done for me. The covenants I have made with God and the knowledge I have of the Gospel mean more than anything. It gives me an eternal perspective to all that I go through and provides meaning for it all. I have no idea how people who don't have the Gospel survive this world! I just want to share my testimony with all that I meet. Sadly, I can't say that I have been very successful at that goal, but that won't stop me because the world needs what I have and know to be true. I love my Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ and His incomprehensible atonement made in my behalf. I am so grateful for a Prophet on the earth today and for the restoration of the Priesthood to perform eternal ordinances like Baptism and Eternal Marriage. Even though I have not been spared the trials of life, I have been blessed with His Spirit to be able to endure them. I am so happy with the knowledge I have that it will all have eternal value to me.

How I live my faith

I love to serve in this church where there is no paid ministry. I love my calling as a Home Teacher, which is where we visit each member each month and be able to serve them in some small way. I have loved serving in every calling I have had. I am currently serving in the Bishopric and previously was over the youth in several callings such as Young Men's President and Scoutmaster where I have helped over 20 young men get their Eagle Scout award. This last calling continues to bless me as I see them go on missions and get married in the Temple. I also taught the adult Sunday School lessons for several years which was lots of fun and a great way to learn the doctrines of church. One of the central points about the church is that because everyone serves in the church and no one is paid, we all grow together. If a program succeeds it is because someone put the effort into making it work. We also grow closer to God by developing our talents and are not dependent upon somebody to build our spirituality. Serving in the Church is a great opportunity to grow and help other people.

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

Kelly answered...

Do Mormons only help other Mormons? The answer is unequivocally, “No.” Whenever there is a disaster around the world you can be sure that one of the first organizations to send aid of any kind is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. People in other countries have been astonished at the speed at which that help has arrived from the church. The yellow “helping hands” t-shirts have become a well-recognized symbol of that service.

We don’t just help people in other countries; we are commanded to help people in our own communities. For example, in our area there is a Nazarene church right across the street from a new LDS chapel and it was discovered that they were spending hundreds of dollars per month to acquire and deliver food to needy families in the area. Our local church leaders contacted the Pastor and pledged help in supporting his efforts and now they receive hundreds of dollars per month to help the poor.

The reward we get from that service is a wonderful spirit of peace and appreciation from the Holy Ghost that can come in no other way. Jesus said, “thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:4). Those participating in such activities love to feel that spirit and it is one of the reasons the youth program is so strong in the Church. We may not be able to compete with the world in terms of exciting and expensive activities, but we do offer the spirit that comes from helping others and that keeps them coming back.
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Sam answered...

Absolutely not. I personally have been a part of countless efforts to serve those not of our faith. We don't just serve others because we want them to join our Church. We serve because it's the right thing to do. Because it's what the Savior taught and exemplified. I think God often places people in our path when we are in a position to help. Sometimes, this can be a litmus test for how committed we are to living a Christlike life, especially if this "opportunity" comes at a very inconvenient time.

Perhaps we sometimes overlook opportunities to help because we are too focused on the problems staring us right in the face. I do know, however, that the Church makes a very concerted investment of time, talent, and resources in humanitarian aid throughout the world. We are often some of the first to arrive and the last to leave in cases like Hurricane Katrina, Haiti, and areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004. We often coordinate our efforts with other organizations like the Red Cross or the Catholic Church.

Do you really believe there is a prophet like Moses alive today?

Ryan X Allred answered...

Absolutely. If God loved his children in ancient times enough to send them, does He love us any less?

Prophets serve at least 2 purposes.

In the past, Christ Jesus personally called prophets, apostles, evangelists, teachers, deacons, etc, according to the Apostle Paul. He uses such leaders to help move His great work forward, because it is through selfless service that we develop Christ-like qualities and allow us to be one with Him so that we may be One with the Father. Having a living prophet allows the Father to teach hitherto new principles or doctrine to all His children. We can always interpret scripture to meet our intimate needs through personal revelation via prayer and communion with the Holy Ghost. But the greatest acts of service are always done through the synergistic power of communities, whether they are a family or a nation. Our Father in Heaven understands this and he communes with his living prophet, Thomas S Monson, in order to bless the lives of all His children regardless of their circumstances or creeds.