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Hi I'm Les

About Me

I am a pipe fitter. I install automatic fire sprinkler systems. I'm a grandpa and in my spare time I love to take my grandkids on long rides on my Harley.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a convert to the church. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when I was 39 yrs. old. My family was fortunate to house sister missionaries in our mom/pop motel. One of many adventures in my life. I had seen a picture on their motel/kitchenette wall of Jesus Christ that had a saying on it which read. I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it. At that point I became very interested in what they knew. I already knew it wasn't easy, so I wanted to know why it would be worth it. They answered my questions and gave me a Book of Mormon. I tried to buy it off of them but they insisted on giving it to me. I couldn't deny what was written in it. The Holy Spirit made it clear to me that it was true. So after several months of talking to them I chose to be baptized.

How I live my faith

I have held various callings in our church and I have put my heart into them. My family and I attend church regularly and read our scriptures daily. We have been very blessed because of the gospel.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Braden Scothern answered...

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Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?
Braden Scothern answered...

At many times in the Bible prophets were commanded to practice polygamy. Some of these prophets were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon. We know that plural marriage is a sin unless God commands us to practice it. In the Book of Mormon the prophet Jacob tells the Lords will on the subject, “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). So only as the Lord commands His people is it acceptable. While they early saints accepted this it was not an easy commandment to keep. They had many struggles with it and only under the direction of the Lord was it carried out. The Church leaders closely supervised the practice and only those who had been authorized by the Lord were to practice. In addition to that all of the marriages had to be performed by the sealing power of the priesthood which had been restored. It was not a temporary thing when it was practiced. In 1890, President Woodruff received revelation that plural marriage was no longer acceptable to the Lord. So the practice was stopped instantly. Anyone who practices polygamy now is NOT a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Show more Show less
Leo Ebbert answered...

The short answer is that, for a time, God commanded it. It was a challenge for those families commanded to practice it, but they accepted the challenge with faith. There have been many times throughout history that God has asked His people to do difficult things or things that go against the norms of society. For example, God has commanded plural marriage in the Bible. He commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, stopping it at the last minute. He commanded the ancient Israelites to destroy all inhabitants of many of the settlements in the land of Canaan when they returned to the promised land. The knowledge of these things challenges our faith but we must recognize that God's ways are not our ways and He controls all life. If plural marriage is something that keeps you from the church or keeps you from investigating further, I invite you to consider this: it really comes down to one thing. Was Joseph Smith a true prophet or not? If he was, then the commandment came from God and He restored His church through Joseph. Answer that question and the rest falls into place. I am happy that I did. Show more Show less

Do Mormons only help Mormons?
Sam answered...

Absolutely not. I personally have been a part of countless efforts to serve those not of our faith. We don't just serve others because we want them to join our Church. We serve because it's the right thing to do. Because it's what the Savior taught and exemplified. I think God often places people in our path when we are in a position to help. Sometimes, this can be a litmus test for how committed we are to living a Christlike life, especially if this "opportunity" comes at a very inconvenient time. Perhaps we sometimes overlook opportunities to help because we are too focused on the problems staring us right in the face. I do know, however, that the Church makes a very concerted investment of time, talent, and resources in humanitarian aid throughout the world. We are often some of the first to arrive and the last to leave in cases like Hurricane Katrina, Haiti, and areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004. We often coordinate our efforts with other organizations like the Red Cross or the Catholic Church. Show more Show less

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