Voices

People answering the Orange County Poll and others interviewed for this series were asked to elaborate on their feelings about God, worship and spirituality. Gregg S. Wall, 41, an insurance broker from San Clemente .

He is a member of San Clemente II Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Religion is a guideline. By learning correct principles and following those correct principles, I think it brings me closer to my Father in Heaven and my older brother, Jesus Christ,” Wall said. “It helps me to build faith.”

Religion has been a force in Wall’s life from the beginning.

“I was born into the church and baptized at age 8,” he said. “As I got older, going to college, another young man asked me some questions about the church that I wasn’t able to answer intelligently and I felt embarrassed. . . . I did know that our church was different . . . (but) I didn’t really have the answers.”

Wall said the church’s doctrine allows him to “guide and direct my family in a way I hope is pleasing to my Heavenly Father; it gives us a lot of joy and happiness in our family.”

“The family is the main unit of the church. . . . We guide and direct ourselves by living according to the principles that the church teaches. . . . It is a way of life.”

Joe Amsterdam, 42, of Fullerton is a sales representative for a steamship line.

He is Jewish and attends Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton.

“Religion plays a tremendous part in my life, an increasingly important part in my life,” said Amsterdam, who attends services with his family every Friday night and teaches religion classes on Saturdays. “I’m in the process of a fairly heavy spiritual awakening.”

“Theologically, I have a very strong God concept. . . . Family values have done more to make it all coalesce. . . . One of the most difficult things for us as a family is to come to the same level of observance at the same time,” said Amsterdam, whose own increasing interest in spirituality has been an impetus for his wife and children.

“I get different things from each experience (of prayer). . . . Worship at home is extremely special because that’s when the family is together, even for a brief time for sharing, discussion and reminding us of who we are as a people and where we are going. . . .

“Private prayer is an opportunity for personal introspection and evaluation. Community prayer, prayer in synagogue, is an opportunity to experience the spiritual in the presence of friends who all share a common belief. . . .

“The kids’ social life revolves around the temple. Our closest friends are temple members. We spend a great deal of our social time at the temple with these friends or with these friends outside the temple.”

Karen A. Barnes, 40, is a teacher from Cypress.

A Catholic, she attends St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress.

“Religion is the focus of everything I do,” Barnes said. “It was important for looking for a spouse. . . . It’s something we share with our children.

“We like being involved in parish activities. And for me personally, it’s why I have chosen to teach in Catholic schools for 15 years. . . .

“I was the oldest of nine children, and came from a very strong, wonderful Catholic family. My husband came from a Catholic family as well. . . .

“I think my own parents had a real belief in their faith, especially in times when my mother was really ill. . . .

“From worship, I get a reflection on where I am going as a person, a reflection of how I am with those I choose to spend my life with. . . . And it’s fun for me to be with people. I like community prayer and community activity, but I also like time for quiet reflection. . . .

“Religion is how we live, how we treat other people (and) what we believe in. It’s not like we wear it as a badge. Being Catholic is comfortable because that’s what I feel at home with . . . sharing both joys and trials.”