Hi, I'm Scott

I grew up in Wichita, KS and now live in Nebraska. I was raised as a Husker fan. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I recently finished my medical training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. I am now working at a Spine Center in Nebraska with a great group of surgeons and enjoying having a little more free time to spend with my wife and kids. I enjoy fishing and other outdoor activities. I enjoy exercising when I get that chance and can motivate myself!

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in a typical midwestern family with parents who taught me good "Christian" values of hard work, respect for others and basically treating others the way I want to be treated. I never remember going to church on Sundays as a kid but always spent time with my family. I remember a friend of mine in 5th or 6th grade telling me he went to church and that prompted me to ask my parents why we didn't go to church. Not too long after that the missionaries from the Mormon church were in our home teaching my older brother and I about Jesus Christ, his Atonement for all mankind, Joseph Smith, the Restoration of the Lord's church and the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ. Little did I know my parents had been baptized in the church some 10-12 yrs earlier and had just not been active since moving to a different area of town shortly after their joining the church. My parents allowed my brother and I to make our own decision to be baptized or not. Being baptized into the Mormon/LDS Church was the best decision in my entire life.
I later served a mission to the Texas San Antonio Mission. 8 months after returning home, I went back to Texas with my mother who had job training in Austin. I stayed in San Antonio with a family I knew from my mission days. 4 months later I married their middle daughter.
I know our Heavenly Father knows us personally, as we are all his "offspring" as Paul states in Acts 17:29. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and has provided a way for all mankind to return to His presence through obedience to the gospel. I know Joseph Smith was called and prepared by the Lord to restore the Lord’s church in our day. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God revealed to ancient prophets who lived here on the American continent and stands as a second witness with the Bible to testify that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Jesus Christ stands at the head of his church and directs it through revelation to a living prophet.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

I feel like I was blessed by the Lord with "simple faith" when the missionaries introduced the gospel to me as a 12 yr old. I always believed Joseph Smith was called by God to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth and translate the Book of Mormon. However, I remember a specific time as a missionary in Texas that I came to love and appreciate that simple faith and testimony of the Prophet Joseph.

I was serving in Fredricksburg, TX and was having a tough time due to illness hitting my companion and us not being able to go out and work amongst the people. After about 3-4 days I became very frustrated with the situation and found myself just wanting to share my testimony with someone...anyone. Finally, we were able to go out and work. We were out knocking doors when a lady answered and quickly started yelling and being confrontational. I felt a gentle peace come to me as I listened to her berate the church and declared Joseph Smith to be a "fraud." My only words to her prior to leaving her doorstep were..."Ma'am, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God." She abruptly slammed the door in our faces. However, I remember having that same peaceful feeling with me the rest of the day and every time I can share my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.

How I live my faith

I recently moved to Nebraska from Texas where I served in one of the local bishoprics. A bishopric is a group of three men whose responsibility it is to govern the affairs of the congregation and make sure everyone's needs are met both spiritually and temporally. In the past I also served in the Young Mens program of the church helping the young men learn the skills they will need to be successful throughout life.
As a father I work hand in hand with my wife to hold Family Home Evenings where we set aside one night a week, usually Monday Night, to spend with our family learning the Gospel, playing games, watching movies and just hanging out. These events are usually about 10-15 mins due to wrestling matches that seem to spontaneously break out b/w my 3 boys:))

What are Mormon Temples used for?

Scott answered...

As members of the church we have the opportunity to prepare ourselves spiritually to enter the temple and perform ordinances and make sacred covenants, or promises, with the Lord. In order to enter the temple, one must demonstrate, in their daily lives they are living the commandments and have an interview with one of the local church leaders to assure you are prepared to make and keep these covenants.

We can be married for "time and all eternity" rather than "til death do us part" and be "sealed" to our families. This has always helped me feel a special peace knowing that I won't be separated from by wife or children.

A lot of people think the work in the temple is "secret" but it is more appropriately referred to as "sacred." We actually encourage everyone to prepare themselves to enter the temple and partake of these sacred ordinances and covenants. One example of this is genealogy. There have been many people who lived on the earth and never had a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and make these covenants during their lives. Therefore, we seek out our dead ancestors through family history research and then take their names to the temple and perform these ordinances on their behalf.

In short, the Lord has always had temples on the earth since the time of Solomon, to help remind us of the importance of the family and how it (the family) is the central unit in the Plan of Salvation.
Aubree answered...

Temples are used to perform sacred ordinances necessary for salvation. One of these is a temple marriage--making it possible to be together as a family for eternity. Since these ordinances are sacred, only members who are striving to live the gospel may enter. All members are strongly encouraged to become and/or stay worthy to enter the temple. Members also go to the temple to seek guidance, comfort, and personal revelation from God.

What are Mormon women like? Do Mormons believe in equality of men and women?

Stephanie answered...

I think this is the question that I am most frequently asked. And as a woman and a member of this church, I consider myself an expert on the subject.

Mormon women are like any body of women--we're all different. We have different goals, we have different backgrounds, and we all have our own and very different struggles. But, there is one thing that unites us: and that is the love we have for the gospel, and the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. We are His daughters. We are oh so special to Him. We have been sent to this earth with talents and abilities that He knows only we can fulfill. These are things that build His kingdom--that lift, inspire, and strengthen those around us.

We believe that we are created equally. Women are not more special or more important than men. Men are not more special or more important than women. We are equal--but just because we are equal doesn't mean the things that we do are going to be the same, or even have to be the same. We work together in equality and together we accomplish what needs to be accomplished--and that can only be done as we work together.