Hi, I'm Dennis

I'm a child of God (as are you), a husband, a father, and a Mormon.

About Me

I was born in 1981 in Germany and, with five siblings, lived most of my life in San Diego, California. I married a wonderful woman from Peru in the San Diego Temple in 2004, but lost her to cancer in 2005. I remarried in 2006 to another wonderful woman from Washington in the Seattle Temple. We have three children who we love and care for each day. I received my BA in History at UCSD, an MA in History from SDSU, and am currently in a PhD History program at American University. While my wife is finishing her doctoral dissertation in Political Science, she also works for the US Federal Government while I stay at home with the kids. I enjoy reading (cried at the end of A Tale of Two Cities), watching movies (favorite movie of all-time is Amadeus), swimming, and playing soccer and tennis. I love the Lord, my family, my country, and the many friends and acquaintances I've met throughout the world.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born a member of this church, though I stopped going when I was a teenager. By the time I turned 18, though, my life had hit rock bottom and I started to turn back to God. I came back to church, primarily because I remember having had an experience when I was about 12 while reading the Doctrine and Covenants (the scriptures written by Joseph Smith). I started to read the first chapter, and when I came to the verse that said this was "the only true and living church," I wondered about that. I stopped reading, knelt down, and prayed. I asked God if this church is true, and immediately I felt a strong comforting feeling come over me. It was as though I knew (without any doubt), that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church. Through the years, I've had a number of spiritual experiences reaffirming that knowledge. My wife passed away at a very young age (24) on the day of the 200th anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith's birth (Dec. 23, 2005). It was difficult to lose her (and it was quite unexpected), but I felt the spirit stronger on that day than I think I ever have in my entire life. I knew at that moment that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God sent to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood enabling my wife and I to be married and sealed to each other not only for this life (or till death do we part) but for eternity.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I can only imagine how difficult it was for Joseph Smith to share with others a vision that he had that so many accused him was a lie. He saw God our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. They told him not to join any of the churches of the day, because none had the authority of God. The full truth had been lost because of the wickedness of people generations earlier. I'm sure it was difficult for people to hear that their church was not God's, but Joseph Smith did not waiver from what he knew was right. I've prayed about Joseph Smith and know that he was a prophet of God and that he did see Jesus Christ. I don't know this because I read something about it. I prayed about it, and as I prayed, I could feel the warmth and comfort of the spirit touch my heart and soul. The soul isn't something we can define. It's something deeply spiritual within us. My soul was filled with the spirit and knew then, as I know now, that Joseph Smith was an inspired prophet who reorganized the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth under the direction of the Savior, Jesus Christ, himself.

How I live my faith

My first desire in life is to be obedient to my Father in Heaven. I live my faith by keeping subsequent desires consistent with God's commandments, by reading the scriptures, and communicating with my Father through prayer. I attend church each week, and try to remember that my religious convictions are not limited to Sunday worship but are a part of every aspect of my life. In my academic studies, I try to remember that no matter what human-induced catastrophes have plagued our society and history, God has often played a role in trying to inspire improvement. I study American history, and believe wholeheartedly that God inspired the Constitution and Bill of Rights. America's Founding Fathers were imperfect, but I am appreciative of how open they were to God's inspiration. I try to remain open to that inspiration in my own life, and to show those with whom I interact that my beliefs and actions are guided by my desire to be obedient to my Father in Heaven.

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

Dennis answered...

I grew up in California and was in the middle of the same-sex marriage debate. The Church believes that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that children have the right to be brought into the world with a mother and father who love and honor each other and their marital vows. I agree with this doctrine, so I, along with others of my faith, supported Prop. 8 in 2009. Any time I spoke with someone, I explained that we all, regardless of our side on this issue, are motivated by love. Love of mankind, of God, of society, etc. So much of the debate turned to hatred, but it's important to remember that love is always our initial motivation. I know people, good friends, who live a homosexual lifestyle. They've shown love to me, and I love them, but I believe their lifestyles are contrary to the will of God. That doesn't mean that I can prevent them from doing what I think is wrong, but their liberty does not translate into license. Liberty in America has never been about license to do whatever we choose. When we, as a people, believe something is wrong, it is our democratic right to enact laws against such things. Likewise, if we believe something is divinely inspired, like the institution of marriage between a man and a woman, it is not only our right but our duty to stand up for it. If we don't, I'm afraid that America will lose the protective hand of God that has embraced us for so many years.
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.

What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?

Bryant answered...

Grace is the enable power of Christ to be cleansed of our sins. When I think of grace I like to think of a dam. Now the purpose of a dam is to create energy for a city, but how does it do that? The dam holds back the water and creates a huge amount of pressure. A portion of that pressure is released into a very large duct that flows down and spins large turbines. The spinning of these turbines is what creates the energy that we all use every day. Now without that water, could we spin these turbines by ourselves? No, manpower alone is not nearly enough to create the energy needed. There is just no possible way that a human being by themselves could turn those massive turbines. In this analogy Christ is the strong current created by the water from the dam. Without him we would be unable to turn the turbine to cleanse our lives, only he can do it! None the less we do have control of one part of this process, we can interfere. Sometimes in our lives we sin to a point that we have created so much filth to clog up the duct and not allow Christ's flow into our lives. We must be continually watching to make sure that we do not inhibit this process. Thus, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." see James 15 Turbines without the pressure from the water is completely useless. Our lives without Christ? "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." see Romans 623