Hi, I'm James

I'm a Mormon. I live in Utah. I have lived in California and Ontario, Canada.

About Me

I was born on Christmas Eve 1949. I am Married to JoAnn . She and I have 12 children, 25 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I work in sales and she works as a secretary. I like to play golf and bowl. My wife is very involved in geneology and loves to garden. She used to live in Nebraska, Wyoming, California, and Nevada. She cooked for cowboys on a ranch before. We believe in being prepared for any emergency and have our 2 year food storage.

Why I am a Mormon

I was baptized a member of the church when I was 8 years old by my brother. When I was 19 years old I did a lot of soul searching and study. I followed the council found in the Book of Mormon that says when I shall receive these things I would exort you to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if these things are not true and He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. An by the power of the Holy Ghost I may know the truth of all things. I studied and prayed. I felt a calm feeling come over me that filled my whole being. My knowledge continued to increase. I had dreams and impressions that confirmed to me that the gospel is true and that Joseph Smith is the Lords prophet who ushered in the restoration of the gospel as taught by Jesus Christ. Following the principles of the gospel as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has truly blessed my life. My family enjoys loving relationships and have been promised an eternal relationship by my wife and I being married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple for Time and all Eternity.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph and spoke unto him from Heaven. He was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in restoring all principles, ordinances, and priesthood power essential for our exaltation and eternal life. Joseph Smith lived like a prophet. He spoke like a prophet. And he died like a prophet, sealing his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ with his blood.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

I pray with my family morning, noon, and night. We study the scriptures together daily, and we participate in communitiy activities and acts of service. We hold family home evening once night per week, usually on Monday, to spend time together in fun activities centered around a gospel theme.

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

The 3 missions of the church is to proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints, and to redeem the dead. As a ward mission leader, I am constantly trying to find both members and non-members of the church and help them to gain a better understanding of the gospel and to streanghten themselves both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I also teach a temple preparation class and help people prepare for marriage in the temple and receive their own temple blessings. I teach the gospel essential class in church and help everyone understand how they can be of greater service to their families and the community.

Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?

The first thing I do when I get out of bed is to drop to my knees and thank Heavenly Father for a new day and for my restful nights sleep. I ask Him to guide me thoughout the day and lead me to the honest in heart who could use my help. I am always mindful of people around me and try to listen to ways that I can be of service. I always have a smile on my face and alway say thank you to people for nothing more than being someone to talk to. I take walks in the morning and evening and enjoy all of God's creations around me. All things testify that there is a God. I study the scriptures everyday and have a gospel discussion with my wife and family. I always tell my wife and children everyday how much I love them. I always have companion prayer with my wife.

How has attending Church services helped you?

I receive a lot of streangth from associating with people at church who have the same love of the gospel and desire to please Heavenly Father. I learn from my church services how to better apply the principles of the gospel in my and my families life. We study the gospel toghether in class settings and learn from each other. My knowledge is improved and I resolve each week to do better the following week.

What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?

I gather my family around me and study the scriptures and other good books together. We work, play, and pray together. We have pictures of Christ and the Temple on the walls of our home. We encourage open communication. We live the gospel of Christ.

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

The Holy Ghost whispers peace to my mind. The Holy Ghost is a revelator and reveals all thing that are pertanent to my salvation. He brings all things to my remembrance that I need to know to fulfill my mission here during this life.

What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?

Forgiveness of my sins and transgressions and a knowledge that the Lord loves me and is always with me guiding me in all that I do. My associations with people is better because of my understanding of the worth of a soul. I am more successful in life and provide for my family more easily because I am more honest in my business dealings.

How has The Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?

The Book of Mormon explains the Atonement of Jesus Christ in great detail. I learn more about the need for oposition in all things and how to overcome temptation by feasting upon the words of Christ. The prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon explains in detail how to develop faith in Christ and how to change that faith into a perfect knowledge. I learn where we came from, why we are here and where we are going after this life. The study of the Book of Mormon gives me hope of exaltation and Eternal life, which is the greatest gift of God.

Could you talk about your baptism?

My brother baptized me when I was 8 years old at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I was baptized by imersion. I remember when I came up out of the water, feeling vary clean and was certain that Heavenly Father was pleased with me for following the example of my savior Jesus Christ. The next day was Sunday and at Church, my bishop laid his hands upon my head and confirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gave me the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was one of the happiest days of my life.

Why do Mormons go on missions?

When I received a strong testimony that the gospel is true, that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, my life was changed so much for the better that I wanted to share the joy that I was feeling with everyone that I met. I wanted to shout from the house tops the love I was feeling from the Lord and the faith I had in His atonement, which makes it possible for me to be forgivien of all my sins and transgressions.

How can your talents and gifts bless others?

I have been blessed with faith to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and the ability to teach those priciple to the honest in heart. I have been blessed with the gift of disernment and can understand how to help others. The Lord who knows me thouroughly and my desire to be of service to others, continues to enlarge my responsibilities and put me in situations where I can be of greater service to His children.

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

Understanding where I came from, Why I am here, and where I am going after I leave this world gives me great peace of mind. We all have been given time to enjoy life and agency to deside what to do with that time. You can spend your time seeking for thrills or base desires. I have chosen to use my time to serve others and to use my time to develope an eternal relationship with my family and my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, my elder brother.

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

I agree with what the prophet Joseph Smith said in that a man may get closer to God by abiding its precepts than by studing any other book. The Book of Mormon is a second witness that Jesus is the Christ manifesting himself to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people. The Book of Mormon gives great detail on the Atonement of Christ and the gifts of the spirit.

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

We develope greater harmony in the home by taking time to listen to each other and by showing appreciation for all that each person of the family contributes to the family. Put an arm around each other and show that you care for them. Avoid attacking someone when they do not agree with you. We are each individuals with God given blessings and divine potential. Work together as a team. Remember that there is no Me in team.

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

Heavenly Father loves all of His children and wants everyone to return to His presence. Many people have died without hearing the gospel or participating in the saving ordinances which include baptism and being able to be sealed together as eternal familes which are both earthly ordinances. Temples have been built so that the work for the dead can be performed there. The prophet Elijah said that the hearts of the fathers must be turned to the children and the hearts of the children must be turned to the fathers or the earth would be cursed. The prophet Elijah visited the prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and gave him the sealing power so that families can be toghether forever. We love all of our ancestors and want us to all be together forever.

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

When I have had questions or needed to understand my standing before the Lord, I have prayed for guidance and I would feel promptings to search out various scriptures or to seek help from people who the Lord would lead to me. The Lord answers my prayers through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Many times I receive impressions that come when I am least expecting them. When I listen to the promptings and follow impressions I feel a calm come over me that whispers peace to my soul.

What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

Prayer and gospel study has helped develop greater harmony in our home. We try to live the gospel and show love to one another. We show respect to each other and always try to uplift each other.

How I live my faith

I am the Ward Mission Leader in our Ward. I visit all the homes in the community and become better acquainted with the people. I offer help in any way they can use my services. I give priesthood blessings and attend to the needs of the sick and the needy. I give people rides to church.

What are some of the ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helps those around the world?

James answered...

We believe that we are all brothers and sisters, spirit children of Heavenly Father. We therefore have a desire to show compassionate service to all people. We pay tithes and offerings to the church which goes toward helping people around the world. We fulfill humanitarian needs to countries around the world and are usually the first people to respond in the event of an emergency.
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Collette answered...

Check out ldsphilanthropies.org for some of the official ways that Mormons help. Our help is directed to anyone in need, regardless of religious affiliation.

We believe in being 'anxiously engaged' in a good cause. I have enjoyed serving the people of Guatamala and Peru on serveral occasions, to help train dentists, provide dental work to people who have no access to it, and to deliver much needed humanitarian supplies to orphanages and churches. I have felt joy in serving my brothers and sisters in other lands. I hope to get a better handle on the Spanish language, and return again soon to Central or South America.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Elizabeth answered...

It's funny, I used to call the Mormon Church a cult too. I just didn't understand it.

Mormonism isn't weird or strange. Its members don't perform satanic rituals or brainwash teenage boys into walking around from door to door in suits and name tags (nor is anyone forced to -- everyone who chooses to serve a mission does so out of their own free will and choice).
I used to call Mormonism a cult because it seemed foreign and unfamiliar, which I deemed scary. The same thing happened to Jesus' first followers as well: they were accused of cult worship too! Others who understood little of what Mormons truly believe told me lies about so-called "practices" in the church which, in reality, were just made-up stories and falsehoods intended to give the church a bad name.
When it comes down to it, a lot of people just don't understand this church, and lies about it spread like wildfire. Mormons believe that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world, plain and simple.
Is that so weird or cultish?
Today, there are close to fourteen million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide, and more live outside of the United States than inside. That doesn't seem very cult-like to me!