“Reflecting on my conversion over my lifetime, I can see the hand of my
Father in Heaven as he has patiently waited and encouraged me, sometimes
in the oddest ways, to grow nearer to him.
I was first introduced to the church when I was young, was baptized when I
was 8. Although my sweet family attended church sporadically, I was
allowed enough of the typical Primary experiences to build a foundation that
my testimony would grow upon. I learned to love my Father in Heaven, to
better understand my brother Jesus Christ, to pray and to love those around
me.
Through high school, I mostly attended church with my friends. One friend
always invited me to church, to sit with her family on the Sundays I would
attend church. Through these experiences, my understanding of the
importance of a supportive community, and surrounding myself with people
who also shared in a desire to be like Jesus.
Like most people, college was a time of figuring out who I was and learning
to adult in the real world. I went to church on occasion at a student mass at a
nearby campus. I loved that sweet spirit felt at each session, but I lacked that
commitment and fortitude to seek out much more of a relationship or regular
exposure to the gospel and the blessings in brings.
I married my sweet husband, one thing that particularly attracted me to him
was his love of God. In our first few years of marriage we would attend
Catholic Church together when it fit in our schedule. Those sweet moments
again helped me realize the importance that the spirit played in my life.
As a young wife and mom of three fabulous kids, I found myself
overwhelmed by life. Realizing our responsibility to introduce our children
to a loving Father in Heaven, we began to seek a church community. We
spent many Sundays at various churches around town, church shopping. I
appreciated the experiences to learn about other religion and found
something endearing that brought peace to my soul with each church. Still
having questions, I turned to the Bible and prayer. John 14:15 says, “If you
love me, keep my commandments.”. I prayed for help in finding a church
that would best help us really know the commandments, and for a
community that took them seriously and worked together to keep them.
About this same time, I had a new visiting teacher. Having children the same
age, she invited and included my family and I in various aspects of church.
She was different that most people in my life at the time. She was happy,
filled with compassion and a desire to serve. With her encouragement, our
family began attending church more regularly. There was a warm sense of
community, one that included and supported one another, and made honest
efforts to keep the commandments, to serve one another, and to grow
together and add to the good in the world.
I love what I have found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
While it’s not perfect, and doesn’t answer all of my questions, it has become
the perfect tool for me, and my family, to grow closer to our Father in
Heaven. I have learned that He knows me by name, He loves me perfectly
and wants me to return to Him.”
I Am Converted 