Hi, I'm James Bryan Catledge

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

Dad, Husband, optimist, I love to read and I see the Good in others. I play Golf too much and I enjoy talking politics and world religons. I love to teach, and attending my kids events is my favorite activity. I am passionate about most things and enjoy a good debate.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a mormon for a lot of reasons, but to speak plainly. I believe I am a better person when I live the beliefs of the mormon faith. We all experience tough times and my mormon faith gives me the perspective I need to see my way through. I am a better friend because my faith reminds me to see the good in others. I am a better dad because my faith encourages me to be more patient than I otherwise would. I am a better Husband because I know that I can be with her forever if I live my faith. I was raised by a single mother and the mormon church gave us love and compassion along with the structure my mom needed to help her raise 2 wild boys. The mormon faith is full of human beings who want to be better than our natural instincts would have us be. The support system is what we all need to remind us of our better self. Living the faith is a quest, made easier by the good people who are on the same journey. I do not appreciate "group think" religons and my mormon faith encourages everyone to find out for ourself the value of the doctorine. We each are encouraged to read and study on our own and then kneel in prayer to ask our Father in Heaven what is true. No matter how tough things get, I know i have a father heaven who loves me, I know his son has organized his church on the earth today as a support system for all of us to make our burdens lighter. I know this! These are the reasons I am proud to be........A Mormon!

How I live my faith

By trying hard to practice what I believe. My faith is very much a part of me, I am optimistic and courageous as a father because of what i know to be true about my Father in heaven and his son Jesus Christ. They love me and want me to be happy. They effect the choices I make and guide me as I make tough life choices. As a businessman and father, tough choices are not always clear. My faith gives me the reassurance that even the wrong path can be a great lesson and forgiveness is blessing afforded to me and everyone else who understands.

Why do some call Mormonism a cult?

Terry answered...

Mostly because of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge about the Church. It's easier for people to believe what they hear from other people (who heard it from someone else, who heard it from another person that read it on the Internet...) instead of making an effort to find out from the source.

In addition, there are small, secretive groups that are not part of our Church that use a modified form of the name of the Church for their own group, and have practices that are similar to our worship services and practices. These groups may be involved in illegal activities, especially polygamy, and when the media reports on them, they do not make an effort to distinguish between these groups and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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!

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Keri answered...

Mormon women are like any other good woman who is trying her best to raise a family in love and trying to leave the world a little better for future generations.

Mormons do believe in equality of men and women. We believe husband and wives are to work side by side, not one dominating over another. But equality does not mean being exactly the same. We believe that God gave men and women distinct and different roles/assignments to fulfill. Men are primarily responsible for the physical welfare of their families while women are to nurture and care for their families. Although the roles are different each one is important and critical.