Hi, I'm Chuck...

I'm a carpenter, I'm a singer...I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a father of 1 beautiful daughter, and 5 strapping young boys! My daily employ is that of a carpenter/cabinet maker. I enjoy working with my hands and creating things from raw materials. In college, I studied music education and theatre: two hobies I still cherish to this day. I sing in a community choir, of which I am also the assistant director. Other hobbies include archery, camping and reading spy novels and thrillers.

Why I am a Mormon

I truly believe this church to be Christ's church here on earth. It answers the 3 biggest questions a person could have..."where did we come from, where are we going, and why am I here"? I grew up in the church, but fell away in my mid teens. It wasn't until my daughter was born that I knew my life had a greater purpose than my own selfish desires. I was in my mid 20's when, after reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover for the first time, I KNEW it to be true and completely accepted the gospel. You could say I am a lifetime member of the church, but a recent convert.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

I have become closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon and witnessing the small miracle He helped me overcome. Growing up, I had a hard time reading anything. I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 12 years old. I had a hard time comprehending things that I was reading, and as a result, by the time I had reached my mid 20's, I had only read 2 books. I remember setting a goal to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and sincerely asked God to help me comprehend the things I was reading so I could better understand the words that were on the page. I read every day for a month and by the time I finished, I was able to read pages and pages without the dis-jointed words while fully comprehending the meaning of the words as well. It made me aware that no matter how small and insignificant I might feel, my Father in Heaven does care for me, and will bless me.

How I live my faith

One of the best ways I get to live my faith is by working closely with the Young Men of my congregation. I get to socialize with them several times a week through Boy Scouts and other activities we take part of. Having gone through the teenage years myself and making several BAD choices I cherish the opportunity to get to know "my boys" and serve as a positive role model for them...something I desperatly lacked when I was their age.

What is a “testimony” that Mormons speak of?

Chuck... answered...

A testimony is the witness given to each individual through the Holy Ghost about his/her most sincere convictions...that God is our Father in Heaven, that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and Redeemer, and that His gospel is once again here on the earth.
Megan! answered...

A testimony is the knowledge that a certain principle is true, right, or good. For example, I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He did truly atone for our sins. In order to gain that knowledge, I have studied, reflected on what I learned in my study, and prayed to have that knowledge confirmed in my heart. As an answer to those prayers, (for there were many--building a testimony is an ongoing process) I have felt the truth in my heart.
We can gain testimonies of many principles. Another way is to put that principle into action, as sort of a test. In order to gain a testimony of prayer, we might try praying. To gain a testimony of the principle of tithing, we might try paying a full tithe. (10% of our income.) As we strive to live these principles, the Holy Ghost will confirm the truthfulness of them to our hearts. We will know that they are right; we will have a testimony of them.

Mormons also talk about "bearing testimony." This simply means to share the testimony we have gained with other people, either in a formal setting (like in church) or in a more informal setting (like in a conversation with a friend.)

Can husband and wife be together forever? Do you believe that families will live together in heaven?

Matt answered...

The Lord would not command us to love each other so much during our lives only to tear us apart in the next life. We are one flesh just as the Lord is one with his church. The scriptures say that we are not to be put asunder.
Christ gave his apostles special revelations on this subject:
Matthew, Chapter 16:
Jesus said to his apostles:
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What else would his apostles bind, and what else could the Savior mean, if not marriages? Christ put no limit on their binding power to bind relationships and covenants. Their power extends into heaven.
And he continued by saying:
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
– because some things are kept sacred until later times when the world is ready to receive them.
Temple sealing and eternal marriage are primarily the subject of modern revelation through prophets in our time.

In the latter days, according to prophecy, Elijah has returned to join families together. Malachi 4:5-6. We believe that prophets in each age bring new revelation from God. Amos 3:7.
This latter day revelation has finally made clear how families are kept together in heaven—something people have wondered about throughout the ages. (Ephesians 5:32, wherein it says that the subject of marriage in Biblical times was “a great mystery”). In our time, the purpose of marriage and family is clear: ordinances are being performed to unite the whole human family throughout all dispensations of time. It is a unique work for the latter days. These modern revelations free human kind from the depressing, and divorce-promoting idea that the family becomes meaningless in the life hereafter. The Lord would not put us in a world so alien to our heavenly home. In heaven, families are the eternal organizational unit in his kingdom.