Hi, I'm Justin

I'm a father, husband and teacher. I grew up in town, but now I've adopted a country life. And I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I live in the country outside a large city on 10 acres with my wife and 4 beautiful children. I've been a member of the Mormon church all of my life, something for which I'm grateful. I teach Spanish at a local high school, I love to do farm work with my tractor, and I enjoy improving my property. We have a cow, a goat, horses, chickens, cats and a great dog. I'm in my mid-30s and I am married to the love of my life.

Why I am a Mormon

I was brought up in a Mormon family. As a teenager I was grateful for the guidance that the church's teachings brought to my life. I know that Jesus Christ is the head of my church, and I love following the words of our modern-day prophet, Thomas Monson. Nothing in life, aside from my family, has brought me as much joy and peace as the teachings of Christ's church. Being a Mormon means that I have been able to receive ordinances that will allow my family to be together, forever.

How I live my faith

I attend church with my family every Sunday, and look forward to partaking of the Sacrament and renewing my baptismal covenants. Doing so helps me to have the Spirit of God with me at all times to aid me in my path back to my Heavenly Father. I have been assigned to work with the local Spanish-speaking congregation. I often translate church meetings for the Spanish-speakers that attend. In the past I served as a missionary at the age of 19, a teacher of children, youth, and adults. I try to be an example of Christ's love towards others.

Who is the Mormon prophet today?

Justin answered...

Thomas S. Monson is the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is God's living prophet on the earth. I know he holds the Priesthood power to direct God's church and to give us inspired counsel for the times in which we live.
Jordan Judkins answered...

Thomas S. Monson.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

James Bowen answered...

At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1). At other times the Lord has given other instructions. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” (Jacob 2:27-30).

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage (Official Declaration 1).

The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise to help establish the House of Israel (see Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 3, pp. 1091-1095).