Ray

Since I am one of the originals, I figure I should introduce myself. I am going to do it a little differently than most – some bullet-point biographical info, followed by a couple of links to things I’ve written on Mormon Matters and my own blog (and have mentioned here in different posts):

1) Born in Bountiful, Utah; raised for 11years in Taylorsville area, then until graduation in Santaquin.

2) Graduated from Payson High School in Utah County.

3) Engaged prior to my mission (before her senior year in high school). Caused a major stir among friends.

4) Mission to Sapporo, Japan.

5) Married very soon after return from mission.

6) Attended college at Harvard; cross-registered in multiple classes at the Harvard Divinity School. (HUGE testimony builder, btw)

7) Graduated and taught junior and senior high school in Alabama. (Always wanted to be a teacher, so walked away from grandiose college dreams.)

Sold educational software (instructional technology) and managed/built sales organizations for almost 10 years, throughout the Eastern US (while living in OH).

9) Walked away from upper management to spend time with a needy “son” (legal guardianship for about a year, while his mother got her act together) and my wife and six biological kids.

10) Now am the Director of Admissions and Marketing at a Continuous Care Retirement Community in our area.

11) Oldest boy is preparing for a mission; the other five range from 12th to 1st Grade.

12) I am an author and admin on Mormon Matters, write occasional posts for a few other group blogs in the Bloggernacle and maintain my own personal blog @ http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/ (The Things of My Soul).

13) I’m not shy or reticent about commenting on blogs, as everyone knows who has been around the Bloggernacle for a while.

A little about my parents and upbringing can be found on my personal blog:

http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-niece-died-this-morning.html (My Niece Died This Morning)

My background story concerning my view of the Church and the Gospel is described in the following post:

http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/22/the-bright-night-of-my-soul/ (The Bright Night of My Soul)

If anyone has any questions about any of that, fire away.