Hi, I'm Russ Rigby

I'm a husband, father, and patent litigator. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a husband, a father to two wonderful children, a patent litigator, and a Mormon.

Why I am a Mormon

Though there are many reasons I count myself lucky to be a Mormon, I am a Mormon for one simple reason: after reading the Book of Mormon, I followed the advice in its final chapter and asked God, with a sincere desire to know, whether it was true. He answered my prayer, and with that answer, I could not be anything else.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

I would wager many mormons work on their genealogy for the same reason that so many non-mormons do: it is interesting to them. Mormons, though, have an additional driving motivation to do this work.

Mormons believe that there are steps taken on earth that have eternal significance, and therefore must be performed for each individual who has ever lived. Baptism is a prime example of this, which Chris taught during his ministry on earth. God's law requres each of used to be baptized; Jesus Christ himself was baptized, as an example to us, and to fulfill this law.

In the history of the world there have been billions of people that have not been baptized before they died. And yet God's law requires baptism. What of a young child that dies, or one that is stillborn? Could a merciful and just God allow them to suffer for eternity for not having been baptized? Thankfully not. The Lord has given a way to fulfill His law and be both just and merciful: baptism by proxy.

It is simple, much like baptism of a living person. The only difference is that the person being baptized is baptized in the name of someone else, who has died. In order to do these baptisms, however, we must know who we are being baptized for, and this requires detailed genealogy work.

One other interesting point is how Mormons go about genealogy work. From the early days of our faith, genealogy and records have been of upmost importance. That is a great resource for those sufficiently interested in genealogy that they would go to one of the record repositories and search through ancient records. Today, in the internet age, the Church has digitized many millions of pages of these records, previously kept in microfische or other older technology. With the help of volunteer "indexers," these images of old records are turned into text-searchable records available free to all on familysearch.org.

I have been involved as an indexer for some time. I'd recomment it to anyone with even the slightest interest in history or genealogy.

How I live my faith

I currently teach Sunday School classes to the 12-13 year old young men and am also involved in our Scout troop. I also occasionally go out with full-time missionaries to share the gospel with those they are teaching.

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Russ Rigby answered...

This more fundamental question is how can we know anything concerning the nature of God, and his plan for us. The answer to this question is a simple one and is not unique to Mormons.

The most fundamental answer was given by Jesus Christ in the sermon on the mount: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

Those that ask shall be given their answer; those that sincerely look, shall find. This is a promise Christ gave unto all.

In the Book of Mormon, we learn of an ancient prophet named Moroni. Moroni was entrusted with the record of his people. Before sealing those records, he included a message for those that would one day find them:

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

(Moroni 10:3-5)

Ultimately, the answer to how anyone can know Mormonism, or anything requiring faith, is true is the same: that knowledge can only come from God himself, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

If anyone reading this is currently seeking to know the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I and many others would gladly bear witness of it to you. While that may be helpful, you should find it insufficient, for you need your own answer, not the one given to me or anyone else. Christ himself told us the way to this answer; Moroni reiterated it.

I bear witness that the promises found in these passages are real. If you ask the Lord with sincere desire to know, exercising faith in Him, you will find the answer for yourself.
Sean answered...

Before I was baptized, a missionary told me that I could read the Book of Mormon and find out for myself if it was true. I liked that idea. I've always been a person who wanted to know the truth for myself. After the missionary had suggested I read it, I decided to try. It was a big step of faith to pick up a book and read it without knowing for sure. Over time, I developed a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.

The same goes for knowing if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of Christ once again established on this earth. A simple prayer to your Heavenly Father can open so many doors of truth.

The real way that I know it is true is how it has helped my life. Without the Church, I'd be lost. I am grateful for it, and for the knowledge I have that it is true.

What do Mormons believe about the Bible? Do they regard it as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

Richard Gaffney answered...

As a convert I was concerned that the bible was replaced by the Book of Mormon. How far from the truth that concern was, as the Bible is the LDS primary teaching tool and the Book of Mormon is simply another testament of Jesus Christ and serves to verify the truths found in the Bible. Cerrtainly the Bible is Holy Scripture and the Word of God, as is the Book of Mormon. I have come to love the Book of Mormon and cross-reference the Bible and Book of Mormon finding the same truths in both volumes of scripture.