Hi, I'm Jim

I am 42 years old, a husband, a father of four children. I live in Alabama and I'm a Latter-Day Saint.

About Me

I have an associates degree of applied science in electronics technology. I am currently working as a real estate title searcher. I grew up in and LDS household, although my family was not always active in the church. My father joined the church when I was five years old. I am the oldest of two children.

Why I am a Mormon

Although I grew up "Mormon," the decision to remain so was all mine. My family was not always active in the church. When I was fourteen, some people from the church who lived near me, came to visit me and invite me to church. I began attending without my family. Later, my sister attended with me for a while, but my parents did not return to church until some years later. During my teenage years, I not only attended the LDS church, but also had some fairly extensive exposure to the teachings of other Christian churches, and was able to see how they differed. In this way, I was able to go to the Lord in prayer and receive direction as to which was true. I have learned for myself that although nearly all Christian churches teach the basic truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the only way for us to live with God, none of them contain the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its entirety. None, that is, except the one which He personally set up on the Earth during His mortal ministry, some 2000 years ago. The same church which he subsequently restored to the Earth many centuries after it was lost. The church which today is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

How I live my faith

Recently, I have been asked to be our Ward Mission Leader. Essentially, my primary duty is to assist the other members of the church in spreading the word about the Savior and His church. I help people to understand that we are true Christians, although some would have you believe otherwise. We believe that God loves all His children. We believe in all of His word. Part of His word says that in the mouths of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. The Bible, which comes to us from the Jewish people, is one witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ. With many other (non-Christian) belief systems out there, how are God's children to know for sure which system is correct? He has given us a second witness, written by people on the American continent thousands of years ago. These people were separated from the Jews by two oceans. And yet, they had knowledge of their Redeemer. After He was crucified and his body lain in the tomb, he was resurrected on the third day. He spent some time afterward instructing His apostles and disciples further in the Gospel and afterward ascended into Heaven. Following this ascension, he visited the people on the American continent. We have their testimony in the Book of Mormon, which supports the Bible's claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. I know that Jesus Christ lives and is personally directing the work of this Church. I am happy to be able to share this knowledge with the world.

Why do Mormon missionaries proselyte?

Jim answered...

Our missionaries proselyte for several reasons. Foremost among them is the fact that we have each voluntarily agreed to obey the commandments of God and Jesus Christ, and have made a solemn promise to them that we will do so. One of those commandments is found in the Bible, Mark 16:15, which reads, "And he said uno them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." We proselyte in order to be obedient to this commandment.

Another reason we proselyte is found in the Book of Mormon. A missionary named Alma was accused of preaching in order to lead people astray and glut himself on the labors of others. In other words to do it for money, so he wouldn't have to earn an honest living. He answers by explaining that he doesn't receive any money at all for his preaching, and in Alma 30:34, he says, "And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoincings in the joy of our brethren?" Another way of saying it is that when we preach the gospel to people, and they embrace it and receive joy from it, we receive joy ourselves. It is the ultimate win-win situation, because both parties are uplifted, and neither is beholden to the other. Both are beholden to the same Savior, Jesus Christ.

We have a glorious message to share, and it doesn't do any good to keep it to ourselves.
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Nick answered...

Our decision to serve missions is motivated by our belief in the Gospel and our desire to fulfill the Savior's command to "preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. The Gospel teaches us that we are all sons and daughters of God, and so we feel a kinship with all of God's children and a desire to help them enjoy the peace in this life that the Gospel provides.Our missionaries are not salesman and won't take much of your time, but I know that your decision to invite them into your home will change your life for good!

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?

Kristen answered...

This is nothing new, nor is it exclusive to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Many faiths practice alms or a tithe, including Islam and Sikhism.

A voluntary religious contribution of 10% is a tithe or tithing. This type of offering is mentioned many times in the both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, chapter 28 verse 22, the ancient patriarch Jacob covenanted with the Lord, "and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

Everything we have, our lives, the earth and everything in it, have been given freely to us by a loving Father in Heaven. He asks only a small portion in return to help build his kingdom on the earth.

When my husband and I were first married, we decided to make paying a 10% tithe a top financial priority, and it has been a great blessing to us through the years. In Malachi, chapter 3 verse 10 it states, "Bring yea ll the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you thei windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." This has certainly been the case with us.

I realize that 10% of one's income can seem like a large sacrifice. However, when the law of the tithe is kept, it serves as a portal through which great blessings (both tangible and intangible) can flow. The Lord always finds a way to bless those who do what He asks them to do.

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