Hi, I'm Richard Ingalls

I grew up in Oregon and became an accountant. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a father of five children. Two of them have graduated from high school, and they are currently serving full-time missions for the Church, like I did when I was their age. I graduated in Accounting with a Masters' Degree and have worked in public accounting and industry since then. I love to work on family history and to sit around and visit with family. Sunday dinner together is always a special time for us. I like cars and spending time out of doors--my kids and I like to ride four-wheelers on trails and go out with family on boats to wakeboard or tube.

Why I am a Mormon

I can distinctly remember talking at night to God when I was seven or eight years old--I did not know how to pray, but I did know how to talk, and I felt that He loved me.

Missionaries came to our home when I was nine and I felt very comfortable with their message. My father and I had previously decided to find a church after he and my mom were divorced, and after going to a few that felt strange, this one felt right and I instantly felt at home there, because the answers to our questions were simple and right, and I could feel inside that Heavenly Father had restored truth to the earth.

Personal Stories

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

I am of the firm belief that talking regularly to our children, doing things with them, and spending quality time with them are key elements. The prophets of the latter days have taught us that if we pray with our children, read scriptures with our children, and spend a family night with them each week, where we do not let the cares of the world interrupt us, we will be blessed to have strength in our families.

Will those things make all bad things in families disappear? No, but they build a foundation upon which we can build a fortress of strength that can help us work through trials and challenges in such a way that we can call upon help and strength from Heavenly Father to address problems and issues that come up.

How I live my faith

It is not hard to be Mormon. The commandments in the Bible are the same for everyone. The only difference I see is that in the restored Church of Jesus Christ, there are living prophets who communicate with Heavenly Father in a special way reserved for prophets and apostles so that they can act as His mouthpiece to us. That continuing revelation helps us to know His will for us with clarity and simplicity. I read the Book of Mormon and I have a testimony that I know it is a true work reserved for our day and time. It was prepared over the course of a thousand years and hidden away for even longer, until it was brought to light by a prophet of God. I have worked with the youth over the course of many years, and I teach early morning Seminary, which is a course of study that young high-school-aged Latter-day Saint youth participate in either before school or during school, beginning this year. We study the scriptures and work to enhance our faith and understanding of the Gospel. I have served in a Bishopric, which is the leadership of a local congregation, for six years, and also recently have served on a council of my stake, or a group of local congregations, for the past year and a half. I love to serve the Lord in whatever capacity I am called to serve by local priesthood leadership.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Richard Ingalls answered...

We believe that God is literally the father of our spirits, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our elder brother. He has taught us that the family unit is not meant for this life alone, but is meant for eternity. That being said, it is important to us that we live our lives in such a way that we can be worthy to have our family be with us for all eternity. How can we treat those we love with anything less than what the Savior has taught, which is to love one another and be one in purpose and in duty?

The restored Gospel teaches that the Priesthood has been restored to the earth, which is the authority to act in the name of God, and that Priesthood has been given to men to organize and continue the mission of the Church. One of the beautiful teachings of the Gospel is that the Priesthood has the authority to marry or seal a man and woman together in a marriage that will be recognized by God throughout eternity, along with the children that have been given to us.

What a wonderful blessing that is, and it is only possible through proper Priesthood authority.
Greg answered...

After I joined the Mormon Church I learned about the importance of families. Not long after that I realized that if I was going to follow this teaching I needed to tell my father that I loved him. That was very difficult for me since my dad and I argued so much. I spent the better part of 2 weeks trying to determine how I could do this. When the time came I found that the words came more easily than I had thought. From that point to the time he died, about 22 years later, he and I had an entirely different relationship. We were now friends. And I found how much I regretted all our arguments while growing up. And now I find that I miss him and more fully understand how important our families are.

What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?

April answered...

Tithing is paid in faith. I know these funds will not be misused. I pay tithing because it is a commandment, and because I love God and want to give Him back a small porion of what He has given me, to futher build up His church. These funds go to build and maintain church buildings and temples and other like expenses. Our clergy is not paid. There is no collection plate. We simply pay our tithing, our fast offerings, we share what we have gladly. This is God's way. For this is God's church.