Hi, I'm Danny

I study languages in my spare time. Music's in my blood. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I grew up in Utah and lived in the same house from when I was born until I moved out to go to college after high school. I'm the youngest of four kids and the only boy, and I love my sisters a ton. My parents are my heroes, they are such loving and faithful people and taught me the value of hard work, independence, and reliance on the Lord.
I love to learn, especially the languages of the world. From a pretty young age I had a fascination with the ability to speak different languages and as an ambitious teenager tried to learn several on my own. I have studied many and developed some proficiency in a few. I can only claim real fluency in Spanish, but I speak French well enough and could get by pretty well in Hebrew and Romanian. When I started attending BYU I decided to major in Linguistics, the scientific study of language, and so far I've loved it. I'm not sure exactly what career path I'm headed for, but I've considered teaching, translating, technology, business, or government intelligence.
In my free time I love to read good books, especially ones that help increase my knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, though good thought-provoking novels I can also really enjoy. I love to listen to good music of almost genre. I also love spending time with friends and family. My family is really musical. We love to sing together and enjoy musicals, and I play the piano.

Why I am a Mormon

I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints essentially because that's what God has told me he wants me to be. My family has actually been in the church for many generations, and my parents were both faithful members all through my childhood, so that's how I was introduced to the church. I went to church every Sunday, we read the scriptures and prayed as a family often, and I of course believed what I learned and grew in knowledge as I matured.
Like most people, I hit in a point in my adolescence when I had to really do some soul searching and find out for myself if what I had learned in my home and at church my whole life was really the truth. There were definitely some forces in my life wanting to distance me from the Church, but after some sincere prayer, study in the Book of Mormon, and reflection on spiritual experiences from my past, I couldn't deny that I knew it was true. I was able to see that little by little, God had revealed to me that it was true, and I continued to have experiences that confirmed that feeling. So, I stuck with it. I did the hard thing and tried to live according to the values and beliefs I knew to be the will of my Heavenly Father.

Personal Stories

How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?

I can't imagine what my life would be like if I didn't know God's plan for me. It seems like no matter what's happened in my life that knowledge has been a supporting light in the darkness, something that fills the emptiness. The more that I've learned about the plan the more my perspective has changed and I've been able to focus on what's really important. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and he wants me to become like Him. He's sent me here where I have to deal with the weaknesses of this mortal body, but I know that if I can endure through this life and keep His commandments, even when I don't always understand why, he'll take my imperfections and correct them. He will heal me completely and bring me back into his presence and crown me with glory and power and neverending happiness. Every day I remember that and try to have an eternal perspective. I am safe and secure in the knowledge of what God expects of me and what I can do so he can bless me.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer for me is what keeps me going every day. It's my direct line to my Heavenly Father when I feel joy and want to express how grateful I am for what he's blessed me with, when I'm in need and need to plead for his help, and when I just feel the need to express myself to the one being who knows me best. I think prayer has helped me most in resisting temptation and enduring trials. The simple act of kneeling in humble prayer every morning and night, and often throughout the day, keeps me conscious of my Heavenly Father and what He wants me to do, and helps me to keep the Spirit close. The darkest parts of my life have been when I've gotten out of the habit of praying frequently.

How I live my faith

I'm currently serving a full-time mission for the church in the Portland, Oregon area, teaching the Spanish-speaking population. I spend every day walking the streets, knocking on doors, and visiting people in their homes sharing the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll have spent two years here when my mission is through and I'll go back to Utah to return studying. I'm not paid for my service here but the rewards are far greater than anything money could buy.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Danny answered...

I feel like this question doesn't need much explanation. Why wouldn't the family be the most important thing in our lives? I mean, where would we be without them? But in reality, when I think about it, I suppose I was blessed to be born into a wonderful loving family and not everyone is so blessed. Nevertheless, the family unit is the way God planned for His children to come into this world and be instructed, cared for, and nurtured.
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Greg answered...

After I joined the Mormon Church I learned about the importance of families. Not long after that I realized that if I was going to follow this teaching I needed to tell my father that I loved him. That was very difficult for me since my dad and I argued so much. I spent the better part of 2 weeks trying to determine how I could do this. When the time came I found that the words came more easily than I had thought. From that point to the time he died, about 22 years later, he and I had an entirely different relationship. We were now friends. And I found how much I regretted all our arguments while growing up. And now I find that I miss him and more fully understand how important our families are.