 | This user has been on Wikipedia for 16 years, 7 months and 10 days. |
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I grew up in California and the United States east coast in a large Mormon family that emphasized education. After serving an LDS mission, I finished college, started a family, and got a real job.
I've always been politically unaffiliated, though nearly all of my neighbors, associates, friends, and family are Republicans. I fancy myself a moderate and centrist, whatever that means. I don't think there often are good solutions to difficult problems, but we still have to fight for a better world.
I am an active, believing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I enjoy Mormon history as a hobby. Faith-promoting history is important to my religious life, but frank history can be more powerful as it presents people and events that I can actually identify with and believe. Integrity would have me consider differing sides of controversies, even though it gets messy and can make clear answers unattainable.
I started contributing to Wikipedia in March 2008. While objectivity is impossible, I appreciate neutral language, consideration of all sides, and self-doubt. I like a well-cited article because one of Wikipedia's greatest strengths is surveying the major sources.
I tended to follow lots of Mormon pages, sometimes helping with vandalism, orphans, published works, and missing details, but generally avoiding larger battles. In recent years I've been "less active" since I find it difficult to find the time for lengthy research, writing, and editing. It's still a lot of fun, but I don't even know how I made time in the past.
I don't have a wiki law degree, so if I violate Wikipedia's numerous conventions, rules and politics, please kindly help me while assuming good faith.
