Inside The Missionaries Studio: Elder Sam Stout

     I have written plenty of blogs and the funny thing is that I really have never written one that has described who I am. Well, my name is Elder Sam Stout and I hail from the good old land of Ogden, Utah. My fathers name is Mike and my mothers name is Jane and they have been some of the biggest motivating factors in my life. I have an older sister named Bailee who is married to an awesome guy named Brett and they have 2 little kiddos, Johnathon and Gage. My brother Tanner is a really funny guy who served an LDS mission to Brazil. He just got married to an awesome gal named April of which I have never met before. My other brother Derek is the braniac of the family and always has a witticism ready to be heard. He served an LDS mission in Hawaii and had a great time getting chubby. I come in last and you probably have figured out from my blog that I am the goofy looking one! I love my family so much and they really do mean the world to me!

     I have always tried to walk to my own beat and one thing that you will realize about me that will be extremely noticeable is that the clothes I wear will probably never match. I didn't plan on trying to make a statement, I just think that a brown shirt feels good with bright green and yellow plaid shorts. I really enjoy comedy and am a big fan of improv comedy. It really helps me express who I am and I get to have a lot of fun in the process. I am a mega sports fan and I love to play them as well; especially baseball and softball. One of the greatest moments in my life was seeing Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies smoke the LA Dodgers 10-1! When it comes to music, I'm all about alternative and if you mention anything about the Red Hot Chili Peppers; I will be on a long tangent about how they are so amazing!

     To those who do not know, I am serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I serve in the Tennessee and Western Kentucky area and really enjoy associating with the people down here. They are some of the most friendly and loving people that you will ever meet. There are plenty of reasons of why I am out serving a mission. I am following the example of a great dad and brothers who showed me by example how awesome and rewarding a mission is. I have always grown up in the church and from a young age I made up my mind that I was going to serve a mission because it was what I was told to do. One of the main reasons I am out here is because I have been given much and I wanted to help with others relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I have been able to meet some amazing people out here and it truly has been a treat to meet them and see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has changed their lives. I am no where near perfect and I can be a spaz at times, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary.

     I hope you were able to get to know me better and God be with you till we meet again.


     

Family : It Better Be About Time

     I have been thinking a lot lately upon the importance of family. All families have their ups and their downs. I remember all the boys in my family gaining up on my sister and in turn she would lock us out of the house. I also remember trying to read a book in my room when all of a sudden my brother would come charging in and shoot a soft air bullet into my shin. The times that I remember the most with my family however are the good times. If it was either going ice fishing with my dad or going on a drive just with my mom, I cherished the special times with my family.

     The worlds view of the family is decaying by portraying the family as just a group of people who do all sorts of crazy things. God's view is that the family is one of the most important social-units of time and all eternity. With our family, we can learn about and strengthen our testimony in Christ in the home. The home can be one of the most sacred places on the whole Earth. It can also be one of the worst environments. Satan is doing all that he can to destroy families and the home. We need to protect our families and our home!

     As the Lord said about Abraham, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." -Genesis 18:19. We need to be able to allow the Lord to have confidence in our families and that our family will keep the way of the Lord. Our lives will have more meaning, we will be happier, and our relationship with God will be strengthened.

     I know that family is ordained of God and I'm so grateful for my family. My family is no way near perfect but we are striving to do what is right. God is our loving Heavenly Father and he sent his son Jesus Christ into this world to die for us! Joseph Smith was a young boy who did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and in fact translated the Book of Mormon. God Speed Till We Blog Again!


Let me know what you like and what you think I could improve on.