Hi, I'm Thomas

I am a Husband, Father, exercise fanatic and Buckeye fan and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I am a husband and father of 6 children. I love my family and would do anything for them. I enjoy both playing and watch sporting events, especially college athletics. I particularly follow The Ohio State University Buckeye teams. I exercise regularly and find it invigorating and stress relieving. I am an Eagle Scout and am active with my son in the Boys Scouts of America program. I enjoy camping, hiking, fishing and all kinds of outdoor activities. I enjoy cooking when I have time and am the designated breakfast maker on Saturday mornings.

Why I am a Mormon

I was born into a wonderful family who are members of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been a part of my life from birth. In fact my family heritage dates back to the restoration of the Church. Despite this fact there still came a time in my life when I needed to decide for myself if what I had learned in my youth was correct, or if I wanted to take my life in a different direction. The questions I asked and the soul searching I undertook were answered. Not in some great, profound angelic manifestation, but through many little experiences with the spirit of the Lord. The accumulation of these experiences has brought me to where I am today and I couldn’t be happier. The knowledge I have that the course of life I am pursuing is in accordance with what my Heavenly Father wants for me is invaluable. I do know that Jesus is the Christ, the very son on God. He loves me and wants the best for me. I try and live every day such that when I meet him again I can be proud of the efforts I have made to live, serve and love as he did.

How I live my faith

On a day to day basis I try my best to live in such a way that I bring honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I feel it an obligation to represent his name the best that I can.
Within the structure of the church I have served in many capacities. I am currently the Stake Executive Secretary, which means I support the Stake President, the leader over a large geographical area of members. I also support my children who have weekly activities held at the church building. These activities are meant to help them grow and build character. My greatest strength is as a teacher and I always accept the opportunity to substitute for others when they are not available.
I very much enjoy serving others and take the opportunity as much as possible to help members with needs. This most often occurs in helping them move, doing house repairs or clean-up, and counseling on financial matters. I also enjoy helping families with child care, so husbands and wives can go on a date or attend other church activities.

What is the Word of Wisdom that Mormons talk about?

Thomas answered...

By technical definition the Word of Wisdom is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. On February 27, 1833, the Lord revealed which foods are good for us to eat and which substances are not good for the human body. He also promised health, protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey the Word of Wisdom.
On a practical level anything that will contribute to physical health should be done. This includes the foods we eat, the liquids we drink, exercise, proper rest, and abstaining from anything that can be physically addicting. This is a very individual law. Although there is a list of "do's" and "don'ts" this is not comprehensive. Each person should examine their own situation to determine the proper course of health. For example, if someone is allergic to a food or substance then they obviously need to abstain from it. If someone is diagnosed with diabetes, then this will further dictate what type of diet and exercise is appropriate for them. The goal is to stay in control of your body such that you have the energy and vitality to serve.
There is also a spiritual side to the law as well. When we are in control of our bodies, we can more easily feel the spirit of the Lord. If someone is more concerned about the addictive cravings of their body or their senses are dull due to substance abuse, then recognizing promptings from the Lord becomes increasingly difficult.
I have experienced the promised blessings. I have been blessed with excellent health and have been protected from harm on many occasions. I have also received plenty of Knowledge and wisdom that I otherwise may not have gained.
Mark answered...

The word of wisdom is the Lord's law of health. We abstain from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea, and are encouraged to eat wholesome food and grains, and not eat excessive meat. I am asked all of the time by my fellow residents at the hospital why I don't drink coffee, and how I can stay awake all night on call without it. I don't consider it a sacrifice, though, and am as awake and perform as well as any. It is true that the body will be more healthy when following the word of wisdom, the but the main benefit is spiritual. The knowledge that you are in line with the the Lord's teaching is the most important thing.

What are Mormon church services like? Are visitors allowed at church meetings? Can I attend church?

David answered...

Come to church with us! We would love to have you. I know attending an unfamiliar church meeting can be scary and intimidating. Feel free to go up to anyone you meet and tell them this is your first time coming. You should always feel welcome to come and attend with us. Mormon church meetings may be different than other church meetings you've attended. We typically have three meetings you can attend. Our main meeting, we call Sacrament Meeting, is intended for individuals and families to attend together. Sit up front, sit in the back. There are no assigned seats. In this meeting, we try to focus on the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. You will hear several prayers and gospel messages given in this meeting. Another meeting we have on Sunday is Sunday-School. This meeting is designed to focus on specific teachings of Christ. It is often somewhat interactive, with some class members asking questions of the teacher throughout the lesson. You are free to ask questions or simply sit back and listen. We hope you feel a genuine spirit of warmth and friendship as you attend. The final meeting we have on Sunday is a Priesthood or Relief-Society meeting. Men and attend the Priesthood meeting and women attend Relief-Society. Here we focus on the teachings of Christ that are appropriate to our roles as men and women. You should also feel free to participate, ask questions, or simply sit back and listen.