This blog is compiled and edited by me, John Teal, Elder Teal's Dad.
About Me
Happily married with 3 children Rachel 20, Jacob 18 and Ruth 15. By day I am self employed and carry out property maintenance. I suppose many of my outlooks are influenced by my LDS beliefs and general life experiences. I have several hobbies including building scale models, photography and walking our Cockapoo dogs. I would also list internet blogging as a hobby
Why I am a Mormon
My parents joined the church when I was 2, and like most LDS children I was baptized when I was 8. Around the age of 10 for various reasons, my families church attendance became less frequent to the point of being non at all. Not long after my 18th birthday an old family friend visited our home and invited me back. Out of curiosity I went to church for an evening activity. When I arrived at church that evening on a large Motorcycle, playing loud music, the members could have been put off by my appearance. But I was welcomed back, as if I had never been away. I made lots of new friends and have been an active member of the church ever since. At this point I had to relearn much of the gospel and gained a personal conviction of its truth. At around 19 I met my now wife and we dated for a while until I accepted a call to serve a full time mission for the church. After 2 years of missionary service, I returned home and I picked up the relationship with the girl I had left. We were married 12 months later. Before serving a mission I had completed an engineering apprenticeship which helped me find work, I have been very blessed since then, as I have only been out of work for 2 days in all those years. Some people may say the church dominates my life, but my answer to that would be. the church is my life. Everything I have that is of worth, has come through involvement with and service in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How I live my faith
As a typical modern family we live busy lives. I run my own property maintenance company and my wife Joanne is a physiotherapist. As Latter day Saints, we fit in several weekly church activities. Monday evenings are special as we are strive to be at home together as a family to spend time together. On Tuesday evenings each week our youngest Ruth attends a youth activity run at our local chapel. I serve in the church as voluntary Institute class teacher, this is a Thursday evening religion class, aimed at 18-30 year olds. Each morning I get up at 5.30am to teach a week day seminary class to my two youngest children and 8 of their peers from our local church unit. This daily class runs from 6.10am to 7.00am. I wont lie and say this is an easy commitment every morning, but the 3 of us recognize the positive affect that it has on our day. The Church places a big importance on traditional family life which has a strengthening effect on us. Little things help us, like always trying to sit round the table for an evening meal. Walking the dog together and other opportunities that give us a chance to talk to each other. We strongly believe in the adage "the family that prays together, stays together"
