Hi, I'm James

I'm a father to four sons and husband to a beautiful wife. I'm a real estate attorney who loves history. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a real estate transactional attorney practicing in Newport Beach, California. I have 4 sons, including twin 1-year olds, who make me want to stay young forever. I'm married to my best friend who, because she loves me, makes me want to be a better man today than I was yesterday. I'm a real estate attorney with a focus on real estate transactions involving healthcare related properties. I love watching English Premiere League soccer, reading a good book, british humor, and seeing historical sites.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a Mormon because through the priesthood authority existing in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I can receive the necessary ordinances to allow me, based on my faithfulness, to return (together with my family) to live with my Father in Heaven.
I was raised a Mormon. In my youth, I primarily relied on the marvelous faith of my parents to define my beliefs. Though maybe not spectacular by worldly standards, over the years I have been blessed with a slow yet consistent stream of faith-increasing experiences which have allowed me to develop a faith separate and independent from that of my parents. Through these experiences, I have developed a testimony that through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ has restored His church and the fullness of His gospel to the earth. This restoration includes the restoration of priesthood authority, the same priesthood bestowed by the Savior upon Peter, James and John. It is through that authority, which is directed and administered on the earth today by living prophets and apostles, that I and my family can enjoy the saving ordinances of the Gospel.

Personal Stories

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you?

So many of the Savior's teachings have had an important and influential impact on my life. During my missionary service in the Dominican Republic, I made a goal of becoming more educated than I then was about the Savior's teachings and his life. As I read of his life and studied his ministry in the New Testament I found great comfort in his words from eleventh chapter of Matthew "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I began to understand that through the Savior's Atonement, if I would but come unto Him and serve Him, I could feel great peace and joy in this life.
Shortly after I returned from my missionary service, my only sister passed away from cancer at the age of 30. I was heartbroken. Nothing felt easy or light. I remembered the Savior's promise that He could give me rest. I remembered the words of Alma in the Book of Mormon: "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with
mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:12). I exercised faith on these teachings and petitioned my Father in Heaven to comfort me through the Savior's perfect empathy and power to heal. My sadness was not eliminated, but through the simple and sublime influence of the Holy Ghost He unmistakably comforted me. I have a testimony of His Atonement and His ability to provide us with peace and comfort in a world often full of sadness and discouragement. How grateful I am to Him for the peace He offers, which peace comes through the power of His atoning sacrifice and the love He has demonstrated for each of us.

How I live my faith

I principally try to live my faith by serving those around me and trying to make a difference in their lives. The Mormon Church provides me with wonderful opportunities to serve those in the community as I try to better realize the Savior's promise that I will find myself by losing myself in the service of others. I have tremendous belief in young people and feel myself richly blessed that I have the opportunity to serve the Mormon youth in the area in which I live. I feel a true brightness of hope when I interact with young men and women who are trying to follow the Savior's teachings. I love every moment I spend with the young people of the Mormon Church whether it be teaching them in early morning scripture study classes, chaperoning church dances, or talking with them at social activities. In serving the youth of the church I find myself constantly amazed at their goodness and their commitment to gospel principles. My greatest service, however, is in my role as father and husband as I try to successfully battle against selfishness and provide my children with the same legacy of selfless service left to me by my parents.

What is the First Vision?

James answered...

To Mormons, the phrase "the First Vision" refers to a vision that the Prophet Joseph Smith experienced in 1820 as a 14-year old boy living in upstate New York. Joseph was raised in a region that was undergoing a period of great religious excitement as he entered his teenage years. People in the region were joining themselves to one sect or another. As Joseph visited the different sects and listened to their teachings, he came to the conclusion that as uneducated as he was, and as young as he was, it was going to be impossible for him to determine which of all these sects was correct. After being inspired by the invitation contained in James 1:5 in the New Testament, Joseph decided to ask God which of all these religious sects he should join. He retired to a grove of trees near his house and knelt down to pray. He then recorded: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other, This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith History 1: 17-18). On this glorious occasion, Joseph in reality saw both the Father and the Son and in answer to his prayer, Joseph was told that he was to join none of the existing religious sects. Through Joseph, the Savior restored the fulness of his Gospel to the earth. This process of restoration, in large part, commenced with Joseph's vision in that grove of trees. I know that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph on that beautiful morning in answer to his prayer.

Are Mormons Christians?

Chad answered...

In the truest sense of the word, most certainly yes!
The main belief of the mormon church is that of Christ and His Atonement for mankind. We believe that anybody who wants to can be saved through Christ's Sacrifice for us.
Without Christ, our church would be meaningless, void, and pointless. He is the core of this church. In fact, He is the leader and head of this church.
Some people say we don't believe in Christ, but I wholeheartedly disagree; Christ is everything to us - He rescues us from sin and fear, He is the reason for our being.
We celebrate and rejoice in His life and works and know that He lives today! Christ is risen and is ready to help us in our lives.