I was raised in the high mountain valleys of Utah, where my Mormon Pioneer ancestors fled after being persecuted for their religious beliefs. My family has been faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for generations back on both sides. I was raised in this faith, and have matured into my own commitment and understanding of the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Vicki and I met as we were both serving voluntary proselyting missions for the Church in Finland. This gave us a good start on our relationship with common beliefs and experiences – and we both speak fluent Finnish as a result! We believe that family relationships extend beyond this mortal life, and that through adherence to certain principles we can be together forever. This adds great meaning and value to our lives. We have raised our children in the Church as well, and now all of our children have also served missions; Ryan in Fresno California (speaking Spanish), Adam in Stockholm Sweden (speaking Swedish), Brennan in Los Angeles California (speaking Korean), and Lyndi in Tallahassee Florida (speaking Southern). We both commit a portion of our time to voluntary service in the Church and in the community where we live. The Church has a lay ministry with no paid clergy. I have served twice as the Bishop of a congregation, and currently fill an administrative role providing programs for the youth of several different congregations. My faith is a great blessing in my life and has been a defining factor for me as I have created my purposes.
Learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at http://lds.org and at http://mormon.org
If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would like to see an application of some counseling principles for couples click here.