Hi, I'm Garrett

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Idaho. I've lived and worked on a farm my whole life. I have graduated from high school. I played both basketball and football, and love them both. I attended Brigham Young University-Idaho for one year, and then decided to serve a mission in San Diego, California. I enjoy being outside, listening to music, and hanging out with friends.

Why I am a Mormon

I know that this is the Lord's church restored to the earth today through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have studied and prayed to know for myself. I love attending church each week where I am able to learn more about my Savior, feel the Spirit, and strengthen my own testimony.

How I live my faith

I enjoy serving others. I try to look for opportunities to help someone out. I enjoy being able to talk to others about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and why I belong to it.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

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.
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.

How can I know Mormonism is true?

J. Sean answered...

Here is a simple step by step instruction on how to know Mormonism is true.

1. Meet with missionaries.
2. Pray to Heavenly Father with real intent and ask something like this, " I want to know if this is Your church, so is this Your church?".
3. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON! Ask God if it is true.
4. Look for an anwser from God. He speaks with us through our thoughts and feelings by the Holy Ghost. Ask the missionaries for more details.
5. Come to church to see for yourself.
6. Keep the commandments that the missionaries teach you.
7. Repeat until answer is received.