Hi, I'm Codi Alan Rakes Ruttenbur

I'm a son, a big brother, a real nerd, a missionary, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm 21 years old and currently serving my mission in Alaska. I love writing and reading as well as acting and watching movies with friends. Right now I am half way done with writing my first book and hope someday to be a novelist. I'm a scuba diver, an eagle scout, and a wanna-be-martial artist. I'm also the first of 10 kids in my family. Right now I'm out here in Alaska, doing everything I can to share the gospel with God's children and set the example for my wonderful siblings. I'm in to serving God and I try to keep my heart where it really matters.

Why I am a Mormon

Because I truly believe that this is the only true church here on earth. I believe that so strongly that I was willing to earn my way to pay for my mission and give up 2 years of my life in the service of God so that other people can have what I have. I'm a Mormon because being a Mormon really isn't just being a "Mormon," its being a Christian. I'm a Mormon because I want to follow Christ, and I believe that this is his church, not Joesph Smith's, not Thomas S. Monson's, but truly the Church of Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

I try to live my faith every day of my life. I try to keep the commandments as best I can, I try to be Christ-like to all those around me, and I pray and read my scriptures every day so that I can have a personal relationship with my father in heaven. More than this, I try to bring this to everyone around me, because what I have really matters, and I want everybody else to have it too.

What is the priesthood?

Codi Alan Rakes Ruttenbur answered...

The Priesthood is the authority to act in God's name. Our church believes that without Priesthood authority we cannot govern God's church here on earth.
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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.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Madelyn answered...

I feel that men and women both have different but equally important roles in getting us back to God. In God's eternal plan we were spirits in His presence before this life. To progress we needed to get bodies on this earth, then perform specific ordinances (eg baptism, marriage) to return to God after this life. Women were given the godly power to bring spirits into this world and give them bodies, then nurture and raise these children with God's inspiration and guidance. The men were assigned the responsibility (through the God's Priesthood power) to serve others and administer the ordinances that will bring God's children back to His presence after this life. Both roles are necessary and equally important to God's plan for us.
I don't think women need the Priesthood to be powerful influences and to do God's work in their homes and in the church. I see men grow spiritually, and their characters become more godly when they act in God's name through using the Priesthood.
I have never felt the need to hold the Priesthood myself. I can still receive all the blessings offered by the Priesthood, my prayers can be just as powerful, and I still have access to the inspiration of God in my life.