Hi, I'm Dustin

I'm an engineer, have lived in Colorado for over twenty years and I'm a Mormon

About Me

I recently finished a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. I like to play sports and be outdoors generally, my favorite sports are basketball and football. I love to read and can go through several books in a month. My all time favorite book is The Lord of the Rings.

Why I am a Mormon

Though my parents were both members and I was raised in the Church we didn't really actively participate as a family until I was 9 or 10 years old. My father made several changes in his life that were more in keeping with the standards and principles the Lord has set forth. I was old enough to notice the difference those changes made in his life and for the rest of our family.

How I live my faith

Currently I work with the young men that are in middle and high school. I teach them on Sundays and help to plan and provide weekly activities where they participate in Boy Scouts and provide service to the community

How is the Book of Mormon different from the Bible? How did Joseph Smith obtain the “golden plates” or Book of Mormon?

Dustin answered...

The only differences between the Bible and the Book of Mormon are where each takes place and the people in them. The Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with people here in the Americas while the Bible is a record of God's dealings with the people in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify and prophecy of Jesus. The Book of Mormon, like the Bible declares that the only way we can obtain eternal life is through Jesus Christ and his teachings. One of my favorite passages from the Book of Mormon is in the very last chapter of the book. It says, "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." Everything depends on Christ and our relationship to Him and the Book of Mormon will help to strengthen that relationship and our faith.

Joseph Smith was a prophet just like Moses, Elijah, and the other prophets from the Bible. He received revelations directly from God as well as through angels. One of the revelations he received was where to find the plates the Book of Mormon had been written on and how to translate the records into English.

What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

Joshua answered...

I am sexually attracted to other males. For awhile, I struggled with how a loving Heavenly Father could allow for me to be attracted to other males, and then ask me to abstain from same-sex relationships. However, as I have tried to deal with my attractions in a Christ-like manner, I have found that He really does love me. I have grown so much spiritually as I have learned to deal with my same-sex attractions. I now understand that everyone has challenges in this life. I am no different.

The Church has a high standard on morality. The only sexual relationships that are permitted are between a man and his wife. This may prove difficult for both people with same-sex and opposite-sex attractions. However, I believe that by obeying this law, we can gain greater peace and happiness. God does know what is best for us, and He gave us this law to bless us.

Same-sex marriage distorts what marriage is all about. It is based on the lie that because you are attracted to the same sex, you need to be in a same-sex relationship in order to be "true to yourself". Many members of the Church can testify that this is not true. Some have found peace and joy in celibacy, and others gone on to have faithful and fulfilling marriages. For a long time, I thought I couldn't get married, but the Lord has blessed me to develop a sexual attraction to a beautiful woman and we have a wonderful marriage.