Hi, I'm Ron

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm a retired technical writer now enjoying my first love--woodworking. I grew up in rural Colorado and have never had a desire to leave. I spent six years in the Air Force during the 60s. My wife and I have six children and 23 grandchildren, my oldest grandson now serving a full-time mission for the church. All of my four boys are Eagle Scouts and have served full-time missions around the world.

After my forced retirement, I began to restore antiques, build custom furniture, and make wooden toys. I love to create furniture from pictures for people. Mostly, I love to take broken furniture, destined for trash because it is "beyond repair," repair and refinish it, and return it to families as a cherished heirloom. There have been many tears shed when a beloved piece is once more usable.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in a home with an abusive alcoholic father. I felt fear most of my childhood. I lived across the road from a Pentecostal church and attended vacation bible school one summer when I was about 10 years old. I felt an attraction to God and religion and it became important to me. My paternal grandmother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints when I was 12 years old and sent the missionaries to see us. The first meeting I had an overwhelming desire to know more. I was baptized, along with my family, just before Christmas that year. For a while, the whole family attended church regularly, but after a while Dad fell away, not spiritually but physically. Mom attended fairly regularly while I hardly missed church. I needed that safe haven where I learned the truth about God, Jesus Christ and His atonement, and the power of the Holy Ghost, that has lasted my whole life. After a year at college, I began to succumb to some of Dad's challenges. I met my wife, who was not a member, and was married in a Protestant church. I never had any doubts about my religion, I just wasn't strong enough to live the principles. The Lord intervened and I enlisted in the Air Force to avoid being drafted. We were assigned 1800 miles from home. The Mormon elders found me and after some very sacred experiences, my wife joined the Church and I returned to activity. I finally found the strength to overcome my demons with the Lord's help. We raised our family in faithful activity in the Church as they are raising our grand children today. The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints saved my life. I testify of it's truthfulness. It hasn't been easy to make correct choices always, but I know what those correct choices are, thanks to the Lord and His Church.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I have a great love for the Prophet Joseph Smith. He endured derision as well as physical pain and suffering for his experiences yet, he was undaunted in doing God's will. As an uneducated young boy he saw and talked with God, the Eternal Father, as well as the Savior. He listened and obeyed and in time received the plates containing the Book of Mormon. He translated these plates through the power of God and we are blessed with them today. He suffered unjust imprisonment, beatings, and finally death at the hands of a mob. He never varied in his calling from the Lord. He became a highly educated man who could hold his own with the "educated of the world." He was a devout father and husband who lived what he taught. I have walked where he walked and feel his presence confirming the truth he taught. I know he is a prophet of God.

How I live my faith

The Church provides a way of life for me and my family. I spent many years as a scout master. The Church uses BSA as the activity arm of the Priesthood for young men and boys. I have served as an athletic coach. I have had the blessing of working with youth for over 40 years and love them dearly. My wife and I now team-teach youth ages 14 to18 in Sunday School and look forward to each Sunday. Over the years, I have had many opportunities to serve in leadership in Ward and Stake assignments. Teaching has always been part of every assignment and I love it. Most of all, my early years of tobacco and alcohol addiction have been a tool to use in helping others. My wife and I lead a 12-step Addiction Recovery program for those in our area. We have done so for three and one half years and have a year and a half to go. It is a joy to watch others begin to heal and gain control of their lives. That's the way the Lord works, He uses people who have grown or need to grow to help others.

Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?

Ron answered...

What a waste my life would be if I couldn't be with my sweetheart eternally. The separation for eternity would be beyond what I could endure. We have been married over 50 years and cannot imagine it ending. The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that it does not need to be so. By being sealed for time and eternity in a holy temple and living the principles of the gospel, I know that I can share eternity with my dear wife. What a joy and comfort that is. It also makes me try harder to live my life so I can be worthy of that great blessing.
Daniel answered...

When married by earthly power and the authority of man, our vows are "Until death do you part."

We believe that families can be together forever as part of our Heavenly Father's Great Plan of Happiness. His Work and His Glory is to bring to pass the exaltation and eternal life of man. He wants us to be even as He is and to return home to live with Him again.

Through the ordinances of his Holy Temples, God's son's and daughter's are able to make covenants. Through the power of His Holy Priesthood, be sealed together for all of time and eternity as Husband and Wife, parents and children.

Families were designed and instituted by God with the intent that they be forever. The love we feel in this life does not need to be cut off when we die. Those who have already died are not lost us forever. God has mercifully made a way by which all who would accept these saving ordinances can do so, living or dead.

We perform these ordinances for those who have in the past died so that they may have the opportunity of accepting them on the other side if they so choose to do so.

How can we come to know our Father in Heaven?

Andrew answered...

The same way that you come to know anyone better, talk with him. Our Heavenly father blessed us with prayer, which is the means by which we converse with him. Think of every prayer as a phone call, not writing a letter; expect God to answer your prayers and listen for his response. Prayer is a two way conversation and the best way to come to know our Father in Heaven and what he wants for us.