Hi, I'm Paul.

I'm from Las Vegas. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I was born in Las Vegas, the fourth child of nine. After serving as a church missionary in the Philippines, graduating from college with a degree in Neuroscience and getting married, my wife and I moved to Nashville. I'm currently working my way through an anesthesia residency and I have four crazy wonderful kids.

In my spare time, I like politics, technology, and music. I'm going to run for a public office some day. And if that doesn't work, I'll be a roadie for my little bro's rock band who I'm positive will be famous.

Why I am a Mormon

Besides a deep conviction that this is truly the church of Jesus Christ?

Besides a true spiritual conversion that took place in my teenage years when I was feeling independent and slightly rebellious and I realized I didn't have to blindly accept or follow the religion of my parents without knowing for myself that it was true and right?

In the New Testament, Matthew says that "...by their fruits ye shall know them." And he's referring to prophets. Well, since my personal conversion, I've tried my best to live the gospel as its taught to me in church, in the scriptures, and by living apostles and prophets. And I'm blown away by the abundance of the so-called "good fruits" that bear forth. Despite all the daily stress, trials, and temptations, I feel so blessed. I feel comforted, calm, and confident. And it just reaffirms that my choice to follow in the footsteps of my parents was right.

Personal Stories

Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and with great sacrifice he was an instrument in God's hand to restore the church as it had been previously established. This was a huge undertaking, and was not easy to say the least. But the effects of his life were and still are far-reaching.

I'm profoundly grateful for that man. He gave everything including his life to further the work of the Lord.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?

The Mormon church to me is like the "Easy Recipes" book for successful living. I just follow steps 1-10 and presto the turkey comes out of the oven just right. Seriously, my wife and I try hard to follow the principles we are taught in church. We pray together with our children as a family. We go to church every Sunday, and treat the Sabbath day as a day of worship. We take time every night to read stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon with our kids and help them glean the little pearls of knowledge. And we just try and follow the example of our Savior: love, patience, and kindness.

How I live my faith

I am currently serving as a councilor in the bishopric of our ward. Specifically, I help the bishop oversee the youth and single-adult programs of our congregation.

I also am a "home-teacher", so I have a few families that I check in on periodically to make sure all is well with them. As a hometeacher, I've had tons of opportunities to serve people. I've helped repaint the exterior of a house, mowed lawns, brought over meals, fixed computers, visited people at the hospital, helped move heavy furniture, and been a listening ear. It's been rewarding, and I've made some lifetime friends in the process.

Why is family so important to Mormons?

Paul. answered...

Families aren't just important to Mormons. They're important to everyone. When you lost your job and need money, when you need free babysitting for your kids, or when you need a listening ear you go straight to your family for help. And I imagine that your best memories involve your family. Our society is built on families.

But more than that, families are ETERNAL. When Mormons get married in a temple, they are sealed together as an eternal family. This makes our commitment even that much more. Its a wonderful concept that makes me take my role as a father and husband seriously.
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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.

How can we come to know our Father in Heaven?

Richard Maden answered...

Just start out with a small prayer to God and just this one act will start you on a path that will bring you into a relationship with Him. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance from the missionaries this is the thing they live for.