Hi, I'm Scott

I'm an attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm married and have four children. I was raised in Walla Walla, Washington and graduated high school there. After attending Brigham Young University for 3 semesters, I served a full-time Church mission to South Korea for two years. After returning home from my mission, I again attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1985 with a degree in Political Science. I entered law school later that year, at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School. Upon graduating in 1988, I moved with my wife and two children (at the time) to Arizona. I clerked for a judge on the Arizona Supreme Court for a year before joining the law firm where I now am a partner.

I enjoy participating in all sports, watching movies, and playing board games.

Why I am a Mormon

My mom was a Mormon and, although my dad was not a Mormon, my mom raised me and my siblings in the Mormon faith. As I was growing up, the teachings of the Mormon Church both felt right and made sense. As I got older, the teachings continued to feel right and also continued to make sense intellectually. More important to me, though, is that I've felt the Spirit confirm on numerous occasions that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son and is our Savior, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is found in its fulness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That knowledge has blessed my life in numerous ways.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

Young men are expected to serve missions when they turn 19 years old. We believe that it is part of the duty imposed on us as members to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although it is expected, nearly all young men who serve missions go not just out of a sense of duty, but because of a strong desire to serve the Lord.

How I live my faith

I serve as a counselor to the bishop, who is the leader of our ward our local church unit. One of my responsibilities is to work with the youth in the ward, aged 12-18. Generally, this means meeting with them once a week on a Wednesday night to participate in various activities, as well as participating in classes with them on Sundays. The young men are involved in Scouting activities, and so that means a lot of camping and other outdoor activities. We spent a week in June at a high adventure base camp in Utah, where we rode horses, rappelled down a cliff, went rock climbing, and traveled on a 250-foot zip line.

What will the Mormon missionaries talk about when they visit my home?

Scott answered...

They will answer any questions that you may have about the Church or its teachings and will teach you about our basic beliefs.
Max answered...

We will talk about gods love for all of us down here on earth.
we will talk about how you can be with your family and loved ones forever.
we will talk about how the gospel of jesus christ has been restored to the earth and the evidence of this restoration which is found in the book of mormon.
we will talk about how god continues to talk to his children like he did in biblicial times!
we will talk about the steps that you need to take to insure eternal happines!
we will talk about any other questions you may have about god, Jesus Christ, and about this church.
we have the truth to share. why dont you just talk to one of us?

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Jacob answered...

We all have the freedom to pursue happiness in their own way, and I would even be willing to allow that some desires may be genetically given. This does not make our desires right. In the scriptures we read " For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord." (Mosiah 3:19) We all have "natural desires" that place us in opposition with God's purpose and desires for us and we must each seek to correct them if we wish true happiness.

I sympathize with those whose desires are powerful and poignant; you face a sore trial indeed. The scriptures give us hope though; "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) God is merciful and Christ is compassionate, while there may be yet an effectual struggle to be had perhaps for many years or the rest of our lives full repentance and change is possible.

If a homosexual individual desires to continue as such and marry only by the laws and rites of the state, then I have no qualms, I will do my utmost to be a friend to such an individual. I only ask that my rights, beliefs, and Church are respected.