Hi there!

Hello reader. My Name is Alex Thomson, and this is my blog. This being the first post I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself, about this blog, and what the two of us (the blog and I) will be about for the next two years.

About me

I was born and raised in Oregon, born in Albany and raised in Corvallis, and as far as I’m concerned it’s the best place on earth. I was born of “goodly parents” who taught me just about everything I know and whom I love very much.

I’m the oldest of five children, three boys and two girls. My family has always been close, but after the death of my sister we grew even closer. While her passing was a huge trial in our lives, I feel that it was also a blessing in disguise, because it helped us to realize the brevity of our time here on earth and the importance of Gods plan for us, His children.

I was Homeschooled until I was 16 years old, whereupon I began attending LBCC (the local Community College) and eventually earned my Associates Degree.  I intend to continue my education further, but for right now I am devoting all my time and efforts to a work that I know to be far more important. You see, I have been called to leave my home and my family, my personal hobbies and academic pursuits, and serve two years of my life as the Lord’s ambassador to His children in Canada.

But I will not be a stranger in a strange land (at least… not TOO strange).  For me and my family going to Canada feels something like coming home… well maybe not “home” per se… but more like visiting our slightly eccentric cousin, who lives way out in the woods and insists that they are a sovereign nation, despite the fact that it would be a ton easier to just throw in the towel and accept statehood already… but I digress. I am truly excited to serve the people of Canada, because, in a way, they are my people.

On my father’s side my Great Great Grandpa Thomson immigrated with his wife and children to Canada form Scotland in the early 1900’s. My Grandfather was born and raised in British Columbia, and my Grandmother’s family moved from California to Vanderhoof British Columbia when she was only nine. They actually met in Canada and only later moved to the United States where my father was born.

On my mother’s side, my Great Great Great Great... (A lot of “Greats”) Grandfather also lived in Canada, where in 1836 he met a man by the name of Parley P Pratt near present day Toronto. Pratt introduced him and his wife to the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, they were later baptized and he went on to hold several fairly prominent leadership positions in the church. My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was John Taylor.

Again, I’m excited to serve the people of Canada, and share with them the wonderful message of the gospel. It has been a blessing and a source of strength in my life and in my family’s lives. I know that this is the time, the place, and the work that I am meant to be doing.

About the blog

Why the blog? I am starting this blog so that you, yes you, can keep track of my adventures and experiences on my mission. Why do you care? I have no idea! But if I haven’t bored you to tears yet, why not keep reading? Who knows, you might actually learn something.   

So how’s this going to work? Well, I can’t post here myself, but I can write emails, letters and pictures home. So my dear sweet parents (bless their optimistic hearts) will be posting some slightly edited versions of those emails, letters and pictures on my behalf.

Edited? Yes, edited. Spelling and grammar goofs mostly, but also any personal information about myself, my companions, or the people we meet, may be redacted in order to preserve some degree of privacy. So if you see a bunch of people referred to as Brother K, Sister Q, or Elder J, it’s probably not because Canadians only have single letters for last names.

About my church

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but you probably know us best as Mormons. Many people think Mormons are kind of weird, but that’s only because they don’t really understand who we are and what we believe. I’d like to tell you a little bit about what we believe, but lucky for me Joseph Smith, the Lord’s first prophet in these later-days, already said it far better than I ever could.

 1 – “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”

 2 – “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”

 3 – “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

4 – “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

5 – “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”

6 – “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.”

7 – “We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.”

8 – “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”

9 – “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

10 – “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

11 – “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

12 – “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

13 – “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

To learn more about Mormons and what we believe visit Mormon.org, or click on the orange box to the right to view my profile.

About my mission

I have been called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and have been assigned to labor in the Canada Vancouver Mission. As I understand it my mission includes most of British Columbia, minus a chunk out of the southeast corner where the Calgary Canada Mission took a bite out of it. The top half of my mission is basically nothing but trees, mountains, and Grizzly bears. The bottom half is a lot more like what I’m used to; still a lot of trees and mountains, but more people, Costcos, Walmarts, Safeways and Starbucks than bears.

About my testimony

As a kid I attended church and read the scriptures with my family. In my teens I still went to church and read the scriptures, but I also attended seminary (a kind of early morning gospel study group for the youth), and strove each day to be an example and testament of Christ to those around me. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t always do a great job, but I tried to do just a little bit better each day.

While I was raised in the church I didn’t always have as strong of a testimony of the things I was taught. I can’t say exactly when, but sometime in my teens I really started to think hard about what I felt, what I believed, and what I knew, and it was during that time that my own personal testimony really began to grow. I questioned everything, because I believed that I should, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be a God, He must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

So I asked, and I found my answers. And while I cannot say that I have a perfect knowledge or testimony of all of the doctrines of the church, I can honestly say that I know this church is true. That I know that there is a God, and that He loves us. That we are His children and that He has a plan for us. That Christ atoned for our sins and that through Him we can be free. That Joseph Smith was a true Prophet, and that he was the Lords instrument in restoring this gospel to the earth. That Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s Prophet today, and that He leads and guides this church.

I am excited to serve the people of Canada because the message taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, because it has blessed my life, and because it has the power to bless the lives of all who are willing to hear and accept it. Of this I testify. Amen.

How to contact me

From September 5th to September 26th I will be at the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center), so if you would like to contact me during that time you can send letters and packages to:

Elder Alexander David Thomson
MTC Mailbox # 208
CAN-VAN 0926
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

After the 26th it would probably be best if you sent any letters or packages to the Vancouver Canada mission home. You can find the address in the box to the right.
For now, farewell. 
And God be with you 'til we meet again!