Hi, I'm Daniel Thomas

About Me

I was born in the North West, the youngest in a family of four. I grew up on an acre lot with a undeveloped pasture as a back yard. My father made it a point to keep us boys busy and summers and school weekends were filled with gardening, landscaping, welding, and woodworking with camping fit in when we had time. As I reached my teenage years, my parents decided to make more time for recreational activities and we began frequenting the local ski resort, whitewater rafting and kayaking, and mountain biking. I loved to play soccer from an early age, and played recreational coed up through college. After not listening to the Spirit's warning, I injured my knee and have since taken up road biking/commuting to work by bike to fill in the Soccer/Skiing void.
I served as a full time missionary in the far east of Russia. I met my bride while attending college where I studied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. We were sealed in the temple to one another for time and all eternity. We have a beautiful young daughter who is 8 months old.

Why I am a Mormon

Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings direction and purpose to my life. It focuses on the importance of family and is so needed in the world today. Many a disagreement has been resolved through remembering principles of forgiveness, humility, and eventually kneeling in prayer to invite the Spirit back into our homes.
I was raised in the church from birth and taught well by my parents the Gospel of Jesus Christ not only through their words but more importantly through their actions. I do not consider myself brain washed. My parents gave me the opportunity to choose freely and I have recognized the difference of actively participating in the Lord's kingdom and going about my own alternative ways. Keeping the commandments brings true joy in life, not temporary unnatural excitement followed by guilt and shame.
I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church, restored in its fullness is true. Through the influence of the Holy Ghost (feelings of peace and joy) I know the principles are true. Where the Lord has given promised blessings for keeping specific commandments, I have tested this promise, kept the commandment, and recognized blessings come into my life.
I hope to be a influence for good for my family by my actions and the lessons I teach and continue the legacy laid by my parents and grandparents.

How I live my faith

As a member of the Church, I have been assigned 6 families who have invited me to visit with them in their homes, bring gospel messages from the Prophet, and administer priesthood blessings of comfort and healing. I have a young companion who goes on these outings with me who is currently in high school.
My family and I strive to read from the scriptures daily and to live the commandments. We have weekly "family home evening" where we gather as a family of three and sing hymns and have a gospel centered message.
I also have been asked to serve in our ward's bishopric. As with all callings (positions) in the church, the bishopric is unpaid service. In the bishopric, my responsibilities include asking members of the ward (congregation) to speak in church, teach correct principles of the gospel, extend callings to other members of the ward to serve in the various organizations of the ward. As a bishopric, we seek confirmation from the Spirit of the Lord as to who should serve in which position.
Areas of the ward organizations are divided up amongst the Bishopric. My responsibilities are focused over the organizations of Sunday School, Cub and Boy Scouts, Primary (ages 0-12), the Library, care for the Physical Facilities, Public Affairs, Sports, Perfecting the Saints, and Deacons & beehives (ages 12-14). Individuals serve in positions across these various organizations to lighten the load on our Bishop after the pattern of Moses who delegated his responsibilities to individuals of the Children of Israel (Exodus 18:13–23). We love to spend time with our ward family and invite others to learn about and participate in our activities.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Daniel Thomas answered...

Not all Mormons serve missions. The invitation is extended to every worthy young man and he chooses to serve for himself. Women are also given the opportunity to serve (my wife chose to serve as a missionary before we met). I encourage the young men preparing to serve missions to choose to go because of the wonderful experience and faith building opportunity it was in my own life.
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Nick answered...

"Required" is an interesting word when it comes to faith and religion. In the Mormon Church no one is "required" to serve a mission. Church membership is not revoked for not serving a mission. In this sense, they are not required, yet serving a mission is encouraged at many stages in life and in many different capacities throughout the world.

Missionary service is a tremendous blessing, a challenge, and one of the main focuses of the faith. The life of Jesus Christ was the life of a missionary in many respects. Performing service for one another, preaching the glad message of the gospel, and increasing the faith and dedication of God's children are exemplified in Christ's life and mirrored by those in missionary service.

To dedicate a portion of one's life in service propels those who serve and those who are served into a better life. During my two year mission to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and during my two year service mission with LDS Family Services, I was greatly blessed and strengthened. (I hope those whom I served found some value in my service as well.) That strength has taught me to better navigate this life, has kept my family relations intact, and has been the method of helping others overcome their trials as well.

Spiritually speaking, I don't find value in reflecting on what my life would be like without serving a mission. Instead, I rejoice in knowing that without that time in missionary service my life would be significantly less happy and productive. In my life, serving a mission has taken on many of the characteristics of a "required" act since I can't picture myself progressing very far without having served as a missionary. While not required to be a member of the Mormon church, missionary service has been a critical and welcome part of my life and growth spirituality. I will be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to serve missions, and look forward to serving in many more.

What is the Book of Mormon?

Ben answered...

We believe in a loving Father in Heaven who desires all of his children to have His precious word. "Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?" (2 Nephi 29:7).

Of course, with any thing concerning God, it is important to find out, personally, if the work is true. What better source can we trust than God Himself? Through prayer we can know, independently of anyone else, where the truth lies concerning any matter.

In the introduction to the Book of Mormon we read: "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost." I testify that this pattern of revelation is true. If we take the time to study it out in our minds, ponder upon the truth and ask God, in faith with desire to act upon our answer, that we will receive. He has answered me, and He will answer you when you ask in faith.