About the Author

         My name is James D. Downer, 11th (and last!) child of James and Clara Downer. By now, you're probably thinking something like, "11 kids! Holy cow!" Yes! One thing we "Mormons" value above all else on this beautiful Earth is our families. My family is my comfort in life. My sisters, especially, are the closest people to me in the whole world (aside from my parents, of course), and just talking with them is always a bright "cherry" on the "ice cream" of my day. I've learned so much from my family--of course, they're far from perfect, as we all are imperfect, but they're still wonderful--and I have the magnificent blessing of being sealed to them for time and all eternity. Wow! For eternity! With my ENTIRE family!! What an experience that will be!
          I was born in California and lived there for, oh, 8 years. I am a cancer survivor--I was diagnosed with A.L.L (leukemia) at age 2, but have been cleared. Let me just say how much I love my family and my Lord for helping me through the 2 to 3 years I underwent chemotherapy. I was baptized at 8 years old and then moved off to Vegas! ... Well, actually, Henderson, but geographically, it MIGHT AS WELL be Vegas. I currently live there (technically) and have been for 10, 11 years now. I am currently attending Southern Utah University (SUU) and studying Integrated Engineering. I am also currently preparing for a full-time, 2-year proselyting mission for the Church, an experience I've been looking forward to all my life. I will have the privilege of serving others and bringing them the beauty that is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.
          Jesus the Christ is the center of my beliefs as a member of the LDS Church. In fact, contrary to popular belief, we are a very Christian faith; in the Book of Mormon--a book I also hold dear to my heart as a second witness, the Bible being the first, of our Lord Jesus Christ--the ancient American prophet Nephi wrote:  

          And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ (2 Nephi 25:26).

          We also believe we have His restored and full Gospel on the Earth and that our Church is the only true and living church upon the Earth. Why living? Because we believe in continued revelation and priesthood authority through said revelation--that Joseph Smith, through revelations that began with his First Vision of The Almighty Father and His Son Jesus Christ, restored the priesthood authority lost with the death of the Apostles after Christ's ascension into Heaven. In restoring the Gospel, Joseph Smith was led by revelation to golden plates which contained the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon completes the Bible as ancient yet living words of Christ to men through his prophets. Scripture through revelation continues today through divinely appointed prophets and apostles, and at the head of this Church, on the Earth, is President Thomas S. Monson, and I testify that he is the mouthpiece of our God. We believe that families can be together forever through the ordinances performed in the temples and that through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end, the mercy of Christ's Atonement can claim us so that we can return back to Heavenly Father's presence and live there for eternity.
          So why am I a "Mormon?" The typical answer is that, well, I was born with the Gospel always in my life. But I have taken time to read the Book of Mormon and have taken the ancient prophet Moroni's challenge to heart:

          And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:4).

          I have prayed about this marvelous book, and the answer came to me with a warm yet resounding YES! I testify that Jesus is the Christ, that He atoned for us, died for us, and is risen! I testify that Joseph Smith did indeed see God the Father and His Only Begotten and did translate the Book of Mormon by divine power. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the Earth, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.