Hi, I'm Bern

I'm a father and husband. Mostly, for half a century, I've been trying to be a better person.

About Me

I'm 50 years old. I'm married and have 4 kids (all adults.) I've never run for public office, never won a major award and I suppose if you googled me there'd be little evidence I have made a real impact on the planet. I've never had, nor do I expect I'll ever have my 15 minutes of fame. I'm just not that talented. But I do know God knows me and he loves me. I know that my family knows it too. Together and apart we feel we have a real purpose for our existence. I'm generally a happy person (despite all the self depreciating comments.) I believe that Faith is a choice one has to make daily, and that has made the difference in my attitude and progress in this world. I'm happy to be a Mormon.

Why I am a Mormon

Being a member of this church isn't easy. The commitment takes effort. You can't just decide to be 70 or 80 percent in. I'm a member of this church because I believe it is true. Not just kindof true or true just for me, but true through and through. I believe in life after death. I believe that we are on this earth to be tested and challenged and that are earthly choices matter eternally. I believe families can be together forever. I believe the standards we try to live by are God's standards. I believe there is a prophet on the earth today who talks with God. I've had enough spiritual evidence to simply say I'm a true believer.

How I live my faith

I am a missionary in the 12-step addiction recovery program of our church (similar to alcoholics anonymous). Yes, members of our faith battle addictions also. I also have some mid-level leadership responsibilities in my local church. I also am a merit badge councelor, and I have taught genealogy and family history for nearly 10 years. I sing in the choir and have just enough musical ability to get me into trouble.

How can we stop the spread and influence of pornography?

Richard. answered...

I frequently hear people say that we need to protect children from pornography. That statement is true, but it forgets that adults are also damaged by the self-gratifying attitudes that pornography depicts. Pornography changes how we view each other. We should be politely vocal about our desire to avoid pornography. Pornography should not be forced upon us by our friends, government, employment, or entertainers. But it will be if we don't speak up about our values.
Jocelyn answered...

I believe that Mothers have the power to combat the evils of our day, one child, one bedtime story, and one encouraging conversation at a time. When we teach our children about their worth as children of God, they will find confidence in themselves, and they will be armed with the power to make correct choices and the wisdom to recognize that following Jesus Christ is the path to true happiness.

What is the priesthood?

Ethan answered...

I like to approach questions by looking at the words of things

"priest" has reference to either the concept of one who leads, one who is elder, or one who is holy I like to remember that the words 'holy' and 'whole' are linked by a common ancestry. When something is 'holy' it's essentially saying that it's complete, that it's healthy..

And "-hood" makes reference to the state of being, and not just any state of being but a state of being that's worthy or correct for it's placement. That is, that it's done properly.

So one could say the priesthood is leadership or a point of reference that's completely suited to the position in which it's been placed.

Another way to look at it is to say it's God's perfect order. That is, it's God's perfect arrangement.

In our Church we often give a definition of priesthood as being "the authority to act in God's name" and that's exactly what it means to be a part of God's perfect order. If God commands something to be done by you, and you do it, then you are acting under, and with that portion of God's authority that he's permitted you to exercise within his perfect order.

Just as with any instance where someone tries to act in the name of someone else there are bound to be those who try and do so falsely. That's why God has things ordered in such a way that one can know for certain if someone has His God's authority, or not.