Hi, I'm Rick Gough

I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am husband and father of 4 children. I have two daughters 8 and 10 and twin boys at the age of 5. I work at a global company called Britich Telecommunications.

Why I am a Mormon

I am a 5 generation Mormon. My ancestry canbe tracked back to Jospeh's Smith Jr. brother Hiram Smith through his secod wife Mary Fielding Smith.

Personal Stories

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?

Since reading the Book of Mormon I have gained a personal understanding of how the Savior wants me to act and how I can be the best possible person to live with God and Jesus Christ.

How I live my faith

I strive to keep the 10 Commandments, serve in Scouts and attend church while teaching my children right, from wrong.

What is the priesthood?

Rick Gough answered...

I am humbled for this authority that God has given me to use for others in need.
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 do some call Mormonism a cult?

Michael Johnston answered...

Because we believe in continuing revelation through Prophets as in the days of old, i.e. Moses, Abraham, this is uncomfortable for some people because media has made our Prophets seem like evil men leading people astray, when they are just trying to teach us correct principles so that one day we all may return to live with our Father in Heaven.

Another reason is because we believe in the sacred nature of temples, meaning only worthy members may enter the Temple so people think that evil rituals are performed. However, in reality the nature of the temple is uplifting and beautiful and gives us clarity to what the purpose of life is, the plan of salvation, and other topics such as life, death, and the atonement of Christ. The temple is not "secret, but it is sacred. However, we encourage all to live so that they may one day enter the temple.

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