Hi, I'm Gary.

I was born and have remained a "Hoosier" my whole life, but I have only been a member of the church for a few years. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

My first wife passed away about 12 years ago and I was fortunate to find a new love who introduced me to the Mormon church. I have been actively engaged with Special Olympics for over 20 years now and I enjoy many sports, both as a spectator and as a participant. I really enjoy helping others and joining in on service projects. My family is very important to me, and I love being a part of my fellow church families' lives as well.

Why I am a Mormon

After my marriage four years ago, my wife (a life long member), step-daughter and I began attending church regularly and I soon began learning more about the church from the missionaries as well. I read the Book of Mormon, and having no doubt about its truth, wanted to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My step-daughter and I were baptized on the same day. I continue to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ each and every time I read from the Book of Mormon. My wife and I have now been sealed to one another for life and eternity in the Temple. We will soon have a Temple right here where we live, and we will be able to conveniently do work for our ancestors so that we might be together with them some day.

How I live my faith

I try to treat other people just as I would like to be treated, with honesty and integrity. I enjoy serving in the Church where I have an opportunity to help others. Since I've been a member of the Church I've not only been able to teach young children, but I've had the privilege to serve in several different capacities within the organization of the Church. My faith is not just for Sundays, but for everyday of my life. I'm the first person on my side of the family to become a Mormon, but my hope is that others will someday see that I do belong to Jesus Christ's Church, and that they will be baptized just as I was. I do have a testimony that Jesus Christ stands at the head of our Church today and that we do have a living prophet to guide us. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true and serves alongside the Bible as a second witness of Jesus Christ.

Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?

Don answered...

Recently I taught a Sunday School lesson about the Apostle Paul who was cast into jail because of being falsely accused of taking non-jews into the holy parts of the ancient temple. The penalty for doing so was death. It caused me to think of the sacredness of the temple, and that people throughout history have gone through a preparation process in order to approach God through temple worship.

In our time, both members of the church and non-members who have not prepared are turned away from the sacred parts of the temple not because of secrets, but rather due to the sacred nature of the temple and the preparation required to go there. Anyone can go to the temple, given they prepare themselves and demonstrate that preparation in a visit with those responsible for qualifying persons for entrance to the temple.

I love the peace that comes from being in the temple, having prepared myself to approach the Lord in His house. I feel His Spirit there. I am grateful that others who are there have prepared themselves in the same way.

Anyone who wants to know more about the nature of the temples can ask any missionary what it takes to qualify to go there. My personal experience and witness is that it is worth qualifying oneself and experiencing the beauty and peace that is constantly there.
Keith Proctor answered...

In the Temple we are taught some pretty powerful truths about who we are, where we came from, and why we are here. It's not the kind of experience you can just walk into and get. There is significant spiritual preparation and learning needed first. It's better to be prepared and enjoy the fullness of the experience than to rush into it too quickly and end up confused. The ordinances in the temple also require that you prepare yourself to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. The best way to prepare for the Temple ordinances is to begin living their teachings consistently before entering the Temple. This is your way of showing Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that you love them, obey them, and are ready for additional light and knowledge. Without this preparation, any ordinance of the Gospel would be an empty set of rituals. The Temple, in its fullest sense, prepares men and women to return and live with God as His sons and daughters. Anyone in the world can experience the power and beauty of the Temple, but a wise Heavenly Father has set out certain guidelines for their personal preparation first. Those who love Jesus Christ and walk in His ways will find in the Temple a power beyond their comprehension and a closeness to God not possible anywhere else in the world.

What is a “testimony” that Mormons speak of?

Megan! answered...

A testimony is the knowledge that a certain principle is true, right, or good. For example, I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He did truly atone for our sins. In order to gain that knowledge, I have studied, reflected on what I learned in my study, and prayed to have that knowledge confirmed in my heart. As an answer to those prayers, (for there were many--building a testimony is an ongoing process) I have felt the truth in my heart.
We can gain testimonies of many principles. Another way is to put that principle into action, as sort of a test. In order to gain a testimony of prayer, we might try praying. To gain a testimony of the principle of tithing, we might try paying a full tithe. (10% of our income.) As we strive to live these principles, the Holy Ghost will confirm the truthfulness of them to our hearts. We will know that they are right; we will have a testimony of them.

Mormons also talk about "bearing testimony." This simply means to share the testimony we have gained with other people, either in a formal setting (like in church) or in a more informal setting (like in a conversation with a friend.)

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Joseph Smith

As is the case throughout history God has communicated to His children through prophets. God used a humble man as a prophet to restore His Church on earth who ultimately died defending His faith.

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