“As a youth, I went to Boy Scouts, most of early morning seminary, dances, and other activities. It was always great to hang out with and make new friends across the stakes, but it was mostly just another social scene for me than a sacred piece of my life.
Over time, my attendance at both activities and church became less and less. As high school ended I moved and started my college experience off by joining a fraternity, and moved into the fraternity house.
That first semester was filled with a pretty stereotypical freshman “frat-bro” experience. By the end of the semester though, I could feel my lifestyle taking a toll on me mentally, physically, and admittedly, spiritually. However, I did not know how to right myself in my situation. I was too embarrassed and ashamed to ask my family, or other leaders I’d looked up to as a youth.
Almost as soon as I had resolved I would just continue on my path until things inevitably got better, I woke up one morning and everything changed. As I started my normal routine of climbing out of bed, and walking down the big staircase to our dining hall for breakfast, a bulletin on our news board that spanned the main landing caught my eye.
On the front of the bulletin was a familiar picture that I had seen hundreds, if not thousands of times in my youth. The picture was a picture of the Savior, with an invitation to the institutes open house.
I had felt the Spirit’s whisperings before, but never had I felt a prompting so strong as I did that day.
I had to go to the open house, and struck up a conversation with a kind gentleman, who turned out to be the branch president of the student branch. He invited me to church that weekend and subsequently to his house for family home evening that next week. I went to church and everything seemed alright, so the next night I went to the family home evening activity. However, after the activity concluded and everyone had left the President and I kept talking, for another 3 hours.
Thanks to a couple of inspired missionaries that knocked on our fraternity door and left a flyer, I had the opportunity to bring myself back to a path that had always been there waiting for me. Just under a year later I had received the blessings of the temple and was on my way to serve my mission, where my knowledge and testimony of the gospel continued to grow.
I know I’m not perfect, in act or knowledge or anything really, but I do have a knowledge of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the miracle of repentance. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has filled the holes in my heart and my life more than once, and I am grateful for the inspired individuals the Lord has placed in my path. I know that Christ is my savior and I am amazed how he continues to save me day by day, week by week, and I am so grateful for that gift.”
I Am Converted 