Hi, I'm Ron

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born 25 March 1938 in Rapid City, SD because that was where the nearest hospital was at the time, to where my parents were living. My father was working for the AU7 Ranch in Wyoming at the time. After my father died in 1943, my mother married one of their former ranch employers and I was raised at Colony, Wyoming by my stepfather, Jim Newland and my mother, Velma. I grew up a cowboy and became a Wyoming peace officer. I always maintained some cattle and/or horses somewhere, continued in the cowboy occupation while working a career as a Wyoming lawman. The last 20 years of my career, I was a Range Detective. I was the first Range Detective ever hired by the state of Wyoming. I currently live a bit north of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and am retired. My wife, Linda and I work as Ordinance Workers in the Denver Temple. We have 7 grown children, 27 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

Why I am a Mormon

Strong Mormon families in our community influenced my decision to join the church.

Personal Stories

Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?

We do genealogy work to connect missing relatives to their families so that their spirits may be united for all time and eternity. Family history is an important work to us because we believe that our ancestors who have passed before us are waiting to be joined as families in Eternity. That cannot be accomplished by anyone except living mortals. Genealogy work is fascinating and immensly rewarding when we finally discover whole families, learn something of their lives and are able to unite them.

How I live my faith

I strive daily to be as good follower of Jesus Christ. We live the gospel as best we can in this turbulent time in our lives.

What does Mormonism teach regarding baptism?

Ron answered...

I believe that Jesus' baptism was done to sanctify him, while setting an example for all mankind to follow. Jesus taught that no-one can enter the kingdom of God without first being baptized by total immersion in the name of the Father, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
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Jerad answered...

For us, baptism is a two way promise or covenant with our father in Heaven. We promise to obey his commandments, take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and to always remember him ((D&C 20:77-78) and he promises to give us a remission, or forgiveness for our sins and his spirit to guide us (3 Nephi 27:19-20). However, we must keep our promise to maintain the blessings offered by our Heavenly Father. Baptism is preceeded by faith in Jesus Christ and then repentance. Once we repent of our sins and change our lives, we enter into the waters of baptism. We believe in being baptized by immersion, by someone holding the authority of God (3 Nephi 11:19-27), and at an age of responsibility, when we can recognize the difference between right and wrong (the age of eight is set as when we can do this) (D&C 68:27). There is symbolism in baptism by immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ and also the death of our past lives and a rebirth where we are cleansed from sin (Romans 6:3-6). Baptism must also be followed by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-6).The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a second baptism by fire and completes the baptism by water (Matthew 3:11 and John 3:5).

What is faith?

Zen answered...

Of all the definitions of faith I have read or heard, I add the simplest and most complete to me, which is the Love of Christ. I cannot think of a better way to describe faith. Love of Christ is the substance of hope in something evident we can not see with earthly eyes. It is the faith in Christ or the love of Christ that enabled Able to make a more perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). That love is why we believe in Christ, it is why we have grace, it is why we have works, it is why we have belief, it is why we have hope, it is why we have charity, it is the very essence of faith, and faith is the very essence of the Love of Christ

Perfect knowledge is worthless without faith. For instance, most of us have perfect knowledge that applying a pointed pencil to paper will cause a mark. That knowledge will not make a mark if we do not exercise the elements of faith called works (picking up the pencil, applying it to the paper, and making a mark), belief (that doing so will make a mark), and hope (that it actually will make a mark). It is my desire that you would exercise works to find out about Christ and study Him, that you would believe on His words and His life and His sacrifice, and that you would hope that He would have an effect in your life. If you exercise this faith, you will truly come unto Him.