Hi, I'm Richard

I'm a son, brother, love life, think that anybody can go 'all the way', and I'm a Mormon

About Me

First things first, I have a very dry sense of humor. I feel kind of bad sometimes because I start laughing at a joke that I make or see, and nobody else does... Kind of awkward at times, but who cares what other people think.
I'm the third of six kids, two older sisters and then sister, brother, sister after me. It was kind of hard growing up with 3 momswell one mom, but the two older sisters thought that being older made them mom, but I love them all.
I was named after my dad, who has been a huge help to me little more about that further down
I like to read, play sports, use computers, lounge around the house, hang out with friends, and just do normal stuff.
I hope to go into the Computer Science field at some point because I find computers fascinating, and way too much fun to be able to pass up the chance to be able to get paid to make games.

Why I am a Mormon

Let’s see, why be a Mormon...
Well, I was born into the church, was taken to church every week by my parents to learn about Jesus Christ and other good stuff, and it seemed while I was young to be the right place to be. As I grew older, I started to have questions, as everybody does, about whether God is there, about whether the church is what it claims to be, about whether or not the Book of Mormon is true.
There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon where a missionary is teaching somebody who has no previous experience with god. The missionary invites the man to pray and to ask god if he is there. The man accepts his invitation and prays. He receives his answer in a very powerful way. I knew at that point that if I were to find out if this faith were true I would need to pray and ask myself. So I did. The experience that the man had wasn't re-enacted with me, but I did receive an answer from God that the Book of Mormon was his word and that He was there and really did care for ME. Not just my mom or dad, but for me personally, because he addressed me in a very personal way. In the introduction to the Book of Mormon, it reads that as we come to know that the Book is true, we can come to know by that same power that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, that Joseph Smith is his prophet in these last days and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lords kingdom once again established on the earth preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah. I don't know about you but I want to be on the Lords side when he comes again so that I can live with my family forever. So that I can progress forever, so that I can be with God, my Eternal Heavenly Father, for all of time.
That’s why I’m a Mormon

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons go on missions?

#1, it's a commandment from God. I know enough about God to know that we have a great need to follow every commandment that he gives us.
#2, we want to. Living the commandments of God gives Him a reason to bless us. It’s what He wants to do to us. I don’t know about other people out there, but I sure love it when I have the chance to be the recipient of God’s blessings, I’m kind of selfish that way, but I don’t mind it when other people get his blessings too. God has more than enough to be able to go around.
#3, to learn. Missionaries from the church have the wonderful chance to be able to study from the Scriptures for at least 2 hours everyday. Most people that I know can barely read any book for more than 20 mins. The scriptures are God’s word, and we can grow closer to him by learning and applying his word than by any other way. Missions provide a huge chance to be able to learn how to study effectively, plan out their days and how to set goals and achieve them.
And the reason that I went on a mission is to be able to bring all the blessings that have so abundantly been in my life and helped me through trial and heartache to others. The world is in such a depressing state of mind right now, and the thing that can help it the most is not money or stuff but rather the Word of God and then the people following what it tells them to do.
Those are just some of the reasons that we Mormons go on missions

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

There is a verse in the Book of Mormon that says 'we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.' (2 Nephi 25:26)

Later there is another verse that reads
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." Alma 7:11-13

At one point I went though the Book of Mormon and found every refference to the Godhead (God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) and marked it in blue. I found that in some chapters there are over 100 refferences to God! As we learn of God, as we study his teachings, and as we apply his teachings then we become more God-like, which of course brings us closer to God. But you have to look and then do the things that he talks about.

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

So I have heard it said that there is a three-fold mission of the church.

1. Proclaim the Gospel
This is done thru missionary effforts (all those weird guys dress in suits with name badges or girls in dress/skirts with name badges as well). There is also a effort on the part of every member to share the gospel with their friends and family that don't yet have it. For the next little bit I have the chance to be part of the mass of guys in suits.

2. Perfect the Saints
And people wonder why Mormons go to church for 3 hours. In the New Testiment (Ephesians 4) it talks about how one of the purposes of the Apostles and Prophets it to help the Saints become perfect. And we are not there yet. So we go to church to be instructed and uplifted and to learn the ways of Christ. I have had the chance to teach at times, and if I'm not teaching, I try to be as actively participating as possilbe.

3. Redeem the Dead
So this is were temples come into play. Just as Jesus Christ preformed a 'proxy' work for us by suffering for our sins so that we don't have to (if we repent), so as in the temple we are able to preform saving ordanices for those who no long have bodies to do so. And so I try to go to the temple as often as I can to help out those who can't help themselfs. Also, to be able to go to the temple, which is the house of the Lord, you have to be living a high standerd of worthiness. So by doing Part 2, I can qualifiy for Part 3.

um... yeah

How I live my faith

Well, right now I am serving the Lord in Portland Oregon as a missionary. Before my mission, I tried to live my faith by finding the attributes of Jesus Christ, and then applying them into my own life. Thru scripture study and personal prayer, I have been able to change several things in my life so that I live more in harmony with God's will.

I seek to follow the commandments as taught by the prophets and by Christ himself.

I repent of my sins daily, always using the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to cleanse me from the mistakes that I have made.

I guess the most important thing that I do is try and follow the promptings that the Holy Spirit gives me day by day, because that is how I am going to be able to do the most good to those around me.

Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

Richard answered...

This is a question that I get a lot from people around me, and since I like to use analogies to answer questions, here's another analogy

Imagine you're going to a event, like a basket-ball game. You can't just walk on in, you have to have a ticket. And it can't be a ticket for a base-ball game, or a movie, or just a random piece of paper that you found on the ground. It has to be a real ticket, or you won't be let inside to watch the game.

Heaven is kind of like that, to quote from the scriptures "Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit he can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." John 3:5, so unless you are baptized, being born of water, and recive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, being born of the Sprit, you can't enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Baptism has to be done in the right way and with the right authority, or it's like somebody trying to get into that basketball game without the ticket. It's not going to happen. Period.
Show more of my answers Show less of my answers One Moment Please
Cary answered...

If baptism is the gateway to Heaven, then the baptizer is a border agent. Would you want any old person who claims to know how it's done to just start letting whoever wants to into your country? Why do you insist they carry a badge and wear a uniform, and have an ID which proves they are legitimate representatives of the government? It's the same way with God's rituals. All over the scriptures, whenever there's a ritual performed it was performed by a duly authorized representative. Doesn't it just make sense that if something essential for our salvation would be required, that it should need to be done God's way, by God's authorized representatives? Acts 19:1-6 even shows a time when the authority of the baptizer was in doubt, and Paul re-did the baptisms for good measure. With all the confusion that comes from competing people claiming to speak for God, or claiming to know His will in this matter or that, I'm glad Mormons teach about authority. There's so much more clarity about who we should listen to, and who might be perfectly well-intentioned, but who really shouldn't be listened to because they're not authorized.

What do Mormons believe about the nature of God?

Kathleen answered...

This question is easily answered in the words of one of the children's songs "I know my [Heavenly] Father lives, and loves me too". We believe in a loving God, who knows us each individually. Another way I know that God loves me because he has heard and answered my prayers many times. Some people think that God is angry, but I do not believe that is so. Matthew 7:11 reads, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those that ask him?" I think that just explains it all- as parents we want the best for our children. God, our Heavenly parent, wants the best for us, too. As parents, we recognize that giving our children everything they ask for isn't necessarily what's best for them. God does this for us also.