Hi, I'm Samuell

I was born with Hemophilia A. I often lived in a hospital. Today I am a father and work outdoors as a Park Ranger. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I have been married to my wonderful wife many years and we have 3 precious kids. We both went to college. She is a teacher and my education is biology and GIS. We both went to Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. They have beautify Azalea Gardens each spring.
I now work as a Natural Resource Specialist for the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. You may know us better as Park Rangers. I work at the most beautiful lake in Texas. Canyon Lake has water as blue as the Caribbean. I am currently working on my Masters in Biology. Not an easy task but it will be worth it when I am done.
I love to read. I remember my first books as a child. I buy books for my kids at every garage sale, thrift store and discount book store I can find. They love to have stories read to them.
I have a creative/engineering side also. If love to come up with new ideas or ways to redo something to make it better. I often find ways to build things for my kids to play with. I am a tinkerer that loves to create, repair and analyse everything. I love it when something breaks because I have an excuse to take it apart and see how it works.
I have moved around often growing up as the family followed work. We have lived in nearly every major City in the state except El Paso. I have visited there though.
I grew up in a large family that has kept growing. I am 1 of 10 kids (7 boys, 3 girls). 1 half brother, 4 step siblings and 4 siblings. A well mixed family with a lot of love.

Why I am a Mormon

My father was a convert to the faith years before he met my mother. I grew up in the faith. I am not Mormon because I grew up surrounded by the religion. I am Mormon because I chose to learn and grow and pray to know the truth.
I was baptized like every other kid at the age of 8. I did it because I felt it was right.
After high school I felt like I was floating and did not have direction. I was depressed and felt alone at times even with my large family. I took to my knees and started to read the scriptures, pray and fast, hoping to find my direction.
I prayed to know if what I had learned growing up was true. I prayed and studied for months.
Then one day I felt the Holy Spirit touch my heart and I felt a change in my soul. The Spirit told me I was in Christs restored gospel and that it is true. I can not describe the joy you feel when you finally receive that deep assurance from the Holy Spirit.
A deep desire to serve welled up in me. I found myself doing service for my family and friends. This went on for years and then I slowly started drifting in my church attendance. I used work, family or health as an excuse. I soon went inactive and I did not attend any religious activities for nearly 2 years. I was pre-occupied with living and ignored religion.
I began to feel an emptiness like something was missing. It was hard but I showed up again one Sunday for service. I was wrapped in the arms of strangers as if I had known them my whole life. My old friends where there too and received me with great love.
I knew I was where I was suppose to be. I have never turned away since.
I gained a testimony of the truth as a young man and learned later the value of that testimony given to me by the Holy Spirit so long before.
I am a Mormon not because I was born into the religion, but because I chose to learn for my self if what I had learned was true or not. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the Earth.

Personal Stories

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?

Harmony and peace are very difficult to achieve in a family. I grew up in a large family and have 3 kids of my own right now. Each person has their own wants and needs.
Often to achieve that peace we seek, we have to let go of the selfish side of our lives and ask what everyone else needs. Put your self last and the family first.
Take time to have a family night together. Single parents can play games, write stories or take their children to serve others in a nursing home or soup kitchen. Teach service by example and your children will follow.
Once they learn service you will find that their is less of "ME" in the home and more of "US".
Seek to teach through good examples.
It is hard to say I Love YOU if you did not hear it growing up. Give it a try. the first times I did it the words sounded odd and foreign. It did not sound normal. Now I say it often to my parents, siblings, wife and kids.
Seek time out of each day to read at least 1 page or chapter out of the scriptures. They will bring peace to your soul. Then make time to read with the family. They will find peace in them also.
Pray with your family and by your self. Prayer does not have to be elaborate to find Heavenly Fathers ear. A sincere simple prayer of thanks will help bring peace into your home.
Be willing to say "I Am Sorry" and mean it. Be humble enough to admit you are wrong and to not rub it in someone else's face when you are right.
Treat your family the way you want them to treat you. Pray with them, play with them, read with them. When you do these things often, you will find harmony rests upon your home.

How I live my faith

I have served in several callings in church. I have been a Young Single Adult Representative for our congregation while growing up. That is how I met my wife.
My wife and I also served as the Nursery class leaders for 3 years. We prepared lessons and cared for the young kids while their parents went to class. We also prepared special holiday activities and classes for the kids. I loved that calling the most.
I have also served as a financial and records clerk for 3 years. That was great knowing the Lord trusted me to handle his tithes.
Currently, I serve as a teach for the Elders quorum. I teach 1 to 2 lessons a month and share that responsibility with 3 other teachers.

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Samuell answered...

If you sincere desire to know what religion is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth today, you must be willing to humble your heart. Without humility you can receive an answer but you will not accept the truth even when it is presented to you.
Once you have humbled yourself, set down and begin to read the scriptures. Read and study the scriptures, both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Think about what you are reading. Take notes and write down your questions. Ponder the words of the prophets.
Then kneel down in a private place and pour out your heart unto the Lord.
Ask with sincere intent to know if the LDS faith is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask and expect an answer. Listen and be patient.
When you are ready, the Holy Spirit will testify to you the truth. You will feel a peace come over you and an assurance that you have found the Lords true church.
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Sean answered...

Before I was baptized, a missionary told me that I could read the Book of Mormon and find out for myself if it was true. I liked that idea. I've always been a person who wanted to know the truth for myself. After the missionary had suggested I read it, I decided to try. It was a big step of faith to pick up a book and read it without knowing for sure. Over time, I developed a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.

The same goes for knowing if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of Christ once again established on this earth. A simple prayer to your Heavenly Father can open so many doors of truth.

The real way that I know it is true is how it has helped my life. Without the Church, I'd be lost. I am grateful for it, and for the knowledge I have that it is true.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Gary answered...

Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God. His birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the many prophecies contained in the scriptures concerning the coming of a Savior. He was the Creator, He is our Savior, and He will be our Judge (see Isaiah 9:6, 53:3-7; Psalms 22:16-18).

Under the direction of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the earth (John 1:10; Hebrews 1:2).

When Jesus lived on the earth (approximately 2,000 years ago), He led a perfect life. He taught by word and example how people should live in love of God and others.

Through His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and by giving His life on the cross—that is, by performing the Atonement —Jesus Christ saves us from our sins (1 Peter 2:21) as we follow Him. Because of the Atonement, you can be forgiven of your sins when you sincerely repent (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 26:30).

Through His Resurrection, Jesus Christ saved us from death. Because He overcame death, we will all be given the gift of resurrection, that is to say our spirits will be eternally re-united with our bodies (Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22). When life on this earth is over, Jesus Christ will be the final Judge (Acts 17:31; John 5:21-22; Acts 10:42).