Hi, I'm Charles

I'm Canadian, a university graduate and ex-army. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a dad and a granddad, a private pilot and a dressage rider. I love reading, photography, puzzles and genealogy.

Why I am a Mormon

As a child and young adult, I found religion unsatisfying and contradictory, but as I continued searching for meaning in life, I encountered Latter Day Saints who explained the Gospel to me in a way that was complete, uncontradictory and meaningful. I now understand how and why Jesus Christ is my saviour and redeemer, and delight in learning to be closer to Him.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

The Book of Mormon, translated directly from its original form into English and now some 100 other languages with divine assistance, contains the plainest, clearest explanations of the complete Gospel. "Gospel" means "good news", and the good news is that this life is only a small part of our eternal life, a part intended to increase our willingness to have faith and to prepare for the good things we can do as we continue to serve as part of the host fulfilling our Heavenly Father's plan.

We knew the Father before we came here, we agreed to the conditions of being here without those memories, and to learning by experience about the value of choosing right over evil and of understanding difficulty by experiencing it.

How I live my faith

I serve in my congregation, I try to be a good husband and father, and reach out to those in need in any way I can help. As a "Home Teacher", I do yard work and home maintenance for older single sisters that they cannot do for themselves and cannot afford to pay to have done.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Charles answered...

If I, as a private citizen, took you through the oath of office as President of the United States, would you be entitled to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Somehow I think various government officials might object if you tried that.

Similarly, our Father does not have to recognize a baptism, which is the outward sign of a covenant a two-way contract between God and the person being baptized, unless the person administering the baptism has authority to do so - and that authority can only be received from someone who already has it. Every priesthood holder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can trace his priesthood authority back to Jesus Christ.
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Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Jeff answered...

I think some call Mormonism a cult mainly because they don't understand what it's about. Before I was a Mormon, I used to believe that Mormons did not believe in the Bible, in Jesus Christ and a good deal of other things. I didn't realize how incorrect I was. There have been some pretty amazing things that have happened in conjunction with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and if you don't get the whole picture, then some of the stuff can sound pretty odd, and I think that's where I was before.
An example I sometimes use is: if someone told you that he had cut a man with a knife, from that limited piece of information, you'd probably report him for stabbing someone. But if you found out that this someone was a Doctor, and that he was preforming a surgery to save a man's life, having the full story completely changes your perspective on the situation.
In regards to the church I belong to, once I did have the whole story, I could see that Mormons were not cultish, but that they really are in fact Christians. I've even found that I have a stronger love of the the core things I believed before I was a Mormon, like the Bible and Jesus Christ.