The Gift That Keeps On Giving

January 2025

Paris Thomas could never have imagined that his life would change forever because of a simple knock at his front door. After dropping out of high school at age 14, Thomas was at home one day when missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stopped by. At first, he wasn’t going to let them in, but when his mom saw the words “Jesus Christ” on their name tags, she welcomed them. Thomas says, “There was no way anyone was going to close the door to Jesus in her home!”

After talking to the missionaries, Thomas immediately started reading the Book of Mormon; he loved it so much that he completed it in a few days. He was eventually baptized into the Church.

Thomas grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama, in an area that has a high crime rate. He lost two of his brothers as a result of gang violence. Joining the Church completely transformed Thomas’s life.

The missionaries motivated him to get his GED, which started him on the path to higher education. He also served a mini mission for the Church in his hometown, and one of his fellow missionaries planted the idea that Thomas could attend Ensign College (then LDS Business College). At first, he wasn’t sure about attending, but over time he became convinced. He moved to Salt Lake City and the elder’s family took Thomas into their home and helped him to be successful. After attending Ensign College for two years, he served a two-year mission in England, joined the Navy, and attended American Military University. Thomas recently completed his law degree at Brigham Young University.

Thomas refers to Ensign College as “the gift that keeps on giving.” He loved what he learned while at Ensign, and the educational foundation he built there led him to where he is today. In addition, being surrounded by returned missionaries motivated him to serve a mission. He says, “I had a ton of friends, and I just felt very accepted while I was there.”

Thomas’s life could have gone down a very different path, but because he joined the Church and subsequently attended Ensign College, he was able to make lasting change and be an influence for good. Thomas says that all of the good choices in his life started with him attending Ensign College and living a life on the covenant path.

Donations helped to make his educational journey possible. Thomas says, “I was somebody whose life could have really gone sideways and really gotten on the wrong path. People donating has not only allowed me to become educated but [to become] a productive member of society and someone who gives back. . . .  Donations and giving are important and make a difference in the lives of the people who are most vulnerable. If you want more people to become productive members of society and, in turn, give back, please continue donating.”