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Hi I'm Kimball Gardner
About Me
I was born and raised in Layton, Utah (not counting the 3 years I lived in Casper, Wyoming), and I am now 19 years old. I graduated from Clearfield High in June of 2011, and I am currently serving the Lord in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. After, I plan on studying and majoring in English at Brigham Young University. I also seek to marry in the temple and raise a righteous family, and pursue a career in the English field. I enjoy playing basketball, reading, writing, listening to music, hanging out with friends and family, and watching college football (Go Cougars!!). I enjoy watching basketball, and my team is the Utah Jazz. I love Italian food and pretty much any kind of Hispanic food, so it's great here in Puerto Rico! My mother was born and raised in Argentina, so I have a love of that country and its food specifically. My father was born and raised in the church, and he served his mission Argentina. That's actually where he met my mother, and after he finished his full mission, they began writing to each other, and were finally married in 1987. Now, 25 years later, here I am, serving a mission! Also, my father and I have recently published a joint-published book, "Terror at Iguazú". By joint-published, I mean that he wrote a book, and I wrote a book, both with the same title, and they were published together under this title. I wrote the bulk of mine when I was 15, and it's just now been published. It is an adventure/action book, and it was a lot of fun to write!
Why I am a Mormon
I am a Mormon because I know that this is the only true church upon the face of the earth. A lot of people think that growing up in Utah, I was a member of this church only because my parents were, or because it's expected. I'll admit, that's true to some extent. But every member of this church has to develop and gain their own testimony of whether or not this is true; and that's what I've done. I can now testify with a surety that I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Redeemer. I know that He lives, and that through Him, there is no wrong that cannot be made right. I have received this testimony myself, by asking the only pure source of knowledge, our Heavenly Father. As such, I also know that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, and that he was called of God to restore the church of Jesus Christ again on the earth, as well as the authority. I know that because of this, this is the only true church. It is Jesus Christ's church, with His authority, and that He leads and guides this church through a living prophet on the earth today. I know that because this church is the only one with the authority, it is the only one in which we can receive all the saving ordinances, and make the needed covenants to return to our Heavenly Father. And I know this because I have read the Book of Mormon, and I have asked God. He has answered me, and I can testify of this with all the sincerity of my heart. I would encourage all to do the same, so that they might come to know of this for themselves.
Personal Stories
How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?
The Book of Mormon is the most incredible book on the face of the earth, for the simple reason that no matter how many times one reads the book, one can still learn from it. However, personally, the Book of Mormon has brought me closer to God through my study of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through reading the Book of Mormon. In this book, we read so many times, in so many chapters and verses, about the enabling power of the Atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of my favorite chapters, Alma 36, tells us about the healing power, and how even the vilest of sinners can be made clean again. Why this brings me closer to God is because it gives me the hope that a person such as I can always repent and be made clean through the power of the Atonement. As another witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, the Book of Mormon has testified to me over and over of His divinity and mission, and His overwhelming love for each of us; and it is something for which I am eternally grateful.
How I live my faith
As of right now, I am serving as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puerto Rico, riding my bike all over the place, rain or shine. As a missionary, I have been set-apart from the world as a minister, preacher, and teacher of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I have been called to cry repentance "from the morning, even until the going down of the sun" (Ether 12:3). My purpose is to invite all others to come unto Christ by receiving the restored gospel through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I am an ordained minister, and literal representative of Jesus Christ. As Mormon said in 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." It is a sacred calling, and one which I am so grateful to have received. At the end of next year, when I return to my home, I will still be a missionary, but a member missionary. I will not be "full-time," but I will still help all those from where I am to receive this restored gospel as well. I currently serve in the San Juan stake of Puerto Rico. It is a great adventure, and I love Puerto Rico!
