Hi, I'm Emilio

I'm proud to be an Arizona boy, I'm proud to be an American, I'm proud to be a Christian, and I'm proud to be a Mormon

About Me

I am a normal guy. I love to play sports. One of my favorite hobbies is scuba diving, after my mission i'm hoping to get more into it. I love spending time with my family. My cousins and I love to go out and play paintball for the summer. I am serving a mission right now in Alabama Birmingham and I am loving every minute of it. I love my country and my church. I have a firm faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the Church. I am proud to be a Mormon.

Why I am a Mormon

I grew up in the Church but while I was deciding to serve a mission I had to more deeply question my testimony if I was going to teach people about our beliefs. While searching my soul and asking God ,much like the young prohet Joseph Smith did, I got the answer that a mission was what i needed to do. I love being a member of the Church, the Gospel has blessed my life and I continue to see the Lord's hand in my everyday life. The Book of Mormon is true, I know this cause i constantly study from it to not only increase my knowledge but to also help me out with any problems I may be facing. There are no problems that Christ can't help you through and I know that the Book of Mormon helps everyone come closer to Christ. The number one reason that i continue to teach and learn about my church is because out of all the other christian religions i find the most peace and answers in my church. It just makes sense...just ask God.

Personal Stories

In what ways have your prayers been answered?

Prayer to me is such a sacred opportunity that our loving Heavenly Father has given us. The ability to talk to him is such a great blessing and i know that he hears and answers our pleads to him. In the first few weeks of my mission I was in a place i had never been with people i had never met and prayer was one of my only comforts. God blessed me with soothing peace and the knowledge that everything would work out. If we earnestly seek his help and guidance our Father in heaven will not let us down.

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Every morning and every night I pray to my Father in Heaven. It gives me the needed direction in my day to day life. I cannot express the power of prayer through my words, all I can say is to try it out for yourself and see if God will answer your prayers...I know he will! I've had countless blessings/miracles come from praying and it has effected my life for the better.

How I live my faith

By following the example of my Saviour Jesus Christ I try everyday to become a better person. The Gospel of Jesus Christ are the teachings of the Church and I know that if I live faithfully and rely on the Lord I will be doing what my Father in heaven wants me to.

Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?

Emilio answered...

As members of the Church we are all supposed to continue to do missionary work whether it be service to someone in need or inviting a friend to attend a meeting or Church event but as Mormons young men starting at the age of 19 have a duty , much like it is a civic duty to vote, to serve a full time mission which consists of 2 years of devoted work. We always try to follow our Saviours example and his entire life was that of missionary work. It is a great blessing for me to be able to be serving a mission for my church right now and I know that by diong this I am coming closer to Christ everyday
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Austin. answered...

No. Every worthy young man is expected to serve a mission, though there is no punishment for not doing so. Also, not every young man is physically or mentally capable, so there are circumstances where a young man may be excused from service. Young women may also serve missions, but are not expected to do so.

Serving a mission means a full-time commitment, leaving family and friends to preach the gospel in a place assigned by the Church.

I served my mission in Los Angeles, California.

Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

Braden Scothern answered...

At many times in the Bible prophets were commanded to practice polygamy. Some of these prophets were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon.

We know that plural marriage is a sin unless God commands us to practice it. In the Book of Mormon the prophet Jacob tells the Lords will on the subject, “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” (Jacob 2:27-30).

So only as the Lord commands His people is it acceptable. While they early saints accepted this it was not an easy commandment to keep. They had many struggles with it and only under the direction of the Lord was it carried out. The Church leaders closely supervised the practice and only those who had been authorized by the Lord were to practice. In addition to that all of the marriages had to be performed by the sealing power of the priesthood which had been restored. It was not a temporary thing when it was practiced.

In 1890, President Woodruff received revelation that plural marriage was no longer acceptable to the Lord. So the practice was stopped instantly. Anyone who practices polygamy now is NOT a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.