Hi, I'm Stuart

I'm a Mormon Clinical Child Psychologist.

About Me

I am a husband, father, scoutmaster, and bilingual clinical child psychologist. My wife and I have 5 wonderful children (1 girl and 4 boys) that continue to bless our lives through the good times and the challenges of raising a family. I enjoy most, if not all, outdoor activities including hiking, camping, bike riding, surfing, swimming, volleyball, and any games my children want to play! Recently, we went camping as a family in the mountains of Southern California. We loved hiking the trails and climbing the rocks around beautiful waterfalls and enjoying the warmth of a spring day. My wife and I loved watching them play in the water and made it an opportunity to take pictures that we will cherish as they grow up. We made a "remember when" memory and hope to make many more in the years to come.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because I have had many experiences that have taught me and continue to teach me that God is our Heavenly Father, that Jesus is His son, our Savior, and that the Holy Ghost can help us understand all things we should do. But wait, some may say, how does that relate to being a Mormon? It is through the Holy Ghost that I receive answers to my prayers; like when I asked Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ if the Book of Mormon is truly His word, I felt a calm and warm feeling come over me that answered "yes" for me. I had similar feelings and experiences when I asked about the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Church, and even if I should marry my wife! I know Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. This means a lot to me as a husband and father making tough decisions for me and my family. It also helps me feel close to my Savior and my Father in Heaven which helps me feel of worth and know that I am His child. In short, I am a Mormon because it is the best way for me to build a relationship with my Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and my family!

How I live my faith

I live my faith everyday by remembering that every day counts. I try my best to live up to my covenants, repent of my mistakes, and help my fellow men. A few months ago I was presented with an opportunity to put my beliefs into action. As I arrived at work one morning and got off the elevator, I nearly walked on top of a homeless man sleeping in the 3rd floor outdoor cooridor to avoid the rain. As I stepped quietly past him, he peeked his sleepy head out of his sleeping bag and looked up at me. To my surprise, he was a young man no more than about 17 or 18 years old. I immediatley thought of the young men of my Scout troop and the words of the Savior came into my head reminding me that "inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Feeling the love of the Savior for this young man, I invited him into my office to use our restroom before he headed on his way. As he washed up in the bathroom, I looked up a local homeless youth shelter, printed the information, and looked into public transit to the facility. When he came out I gave him the information while my assistant gave him a gift card to a local food establishment with money left on it sufficient for breakfast. As he left I shook his hand and told him I knew God loved him. He smiled, thanked me for my kindness, and walked away. I haven't seen him since, but I know that my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel of Love motivated me to reach out to a young soul in need.

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Stuart answered...

No, we worship God, the Eternal Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We honor Joseph Smith as a Prophet of God, but in the end, he was just a man like the rest of us.
Christopher answered...

No. We admire Joseph Smith and consider him a prophet of God and follow his teachings as we do with Moses and other prophets of old. The thing that makes Joseph Smith unique amongst prophets is that he helped to bring the Church of Jesus Christ back to the earth after a period of darkness which is known as the Great Apostacy.

Why do Mormons baptize their new members?

Gary T. answered...

We follow the example of Jesus Christ, who was baptized by immersion by John the Baptist. Being baptized is a symbol of faith, as it represents the burying of old sins, old ways and old habits, and taking on the name of Jesus Christ. We are "buried" in the water, which represents the environment of the past, and therefore we must be lifted up in order to survive. That lifting up represents our being lifted up by Christ, out of the past, and into the great promises and blessings of being one with Christ. When we come out of the water, we are symbolically a new person in Christ.