A Lifetime of Conversion by staff
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on April 19, 2008 |
I was born into a family that had been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.
Some would say that would make it really easy to feel that the church is the church of Jesus Christ restored because it was what I was raised with.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.As a young teen, I wanted to know for myself if the church was true.
I wanted to have a personal testimony.
I read The Book Of Mormon, The Holy Bible, and studied many different world religions.
As I did this, I came to appreciate all that these different beliefs and cultures added to our world.
One day, when I was fourteen, I decided that I had studied a great deal, and it was time that I ask God about the church.
I remember that I had just finished reading in the Doctrine and Covenants about Joseph Smith’s prophecy about the Civil war, and had written about it in my journal as I knelt down to pray.
I asked God, in the name of his son, if Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God, and I immediately felt this wonderful warm and comforting feeling within myself.
It was so warm and so good, that it brought tears to my eyes.
It was that moment that I gained knowledge from God that Joseph Smith was a prophet.I always wanted to have my own light, and not have my testimony hinge on what my parents or others believed, so I sought out to gain a testimony of anything and everything that I was taught and read about in the scriptures.
I gained a testimony of the blessings of tithing, by exercising my faith, and paying it.
So many times I had everything covered when I had no idea how I was going to do it.
Or when food was low, someone brought more to me.
Our Father in Heaven truly loves us, and he will provide for us.I gained a testimony of fasting with a purpose when I was about 16.
My best friend Billie was being sent to live with her sister’s father because her mother didn’t want to raise children anymore.
My friend Billie was a new member in the church, and I loved her very very much, still do.
I did not want her to have to go and live away from me and her other friends, so I called up some of my friends, and asked that they fast with me that Billie’s mother would have Billie come back home, and that is exactly what happened.
By the end of the week, Billie was back.
I have since fasted for many causes, and have had wonderful blessings poured out upon our family.I gained a testimony of temple attendance after I had lived in an area where I could not attend as often.
The peace and blessings that the temple brings are so wonderful.
I enjoyed my time there so much!
It was so special to get to be in a place that is so holy, so peaceful and feel that love that my Father in heaven has for me, and for all of us.
Leaving the stresses and worries of the world behind for those moments I will forever cherish, and I look forward to my next opportunity to attend.I gained a testimony of the priesthood from so many personal experiences in my life.
As a teen I suffered from Endometriosis, and blessings of healing helped me deal with that painful condition.
I have also experienced blessings that helped me carry my children far enough that they were able to survive their births.
I have been given blessings that have comforted me a great deal through many trials that I have experienced.I have a testimony of forgiveness.
With all that I went through as a child, I think this was the hardest testimony to receive.
It happened about two years ago, when I actually forgave what others had done, even though they never said they were sorry.
I was amazed at how much this changed my life!
I was able to love others much more deeply, I stopped worrying about getting hurt, and I was willing to express to others how much I care about them.
I became even more compassionate, and felt so much joy!
I wish I had learned this earlier in life, but I am so thankful that I learned it!I have an unshakable testimony in my Savior Jesus Christ.
There are so many experiences that I have had and they are so sacred to me that I will not share them.
I will say that I know that he lives, and there is nothing that would ever be able to make me deny that.
I would rather die then deny him.
I know that he lives, I know that he loves all of us, and I am so amazed that he loved us so much to do all that he did for us.I know that miracles happen today, and they occur all around us.
I have experienced many.
I am thankful that I have.I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon contains the word of God.
That this is Christ’s church restored on the earth.
I have not only gained a personal testimony of this, I have literally studied all that I can, and I know without any doubt that this is Christ’s Church.
There is no other church that has the authority of God, that has all of the principles and Ordinances in effect today.
I am so thankful to be born in a time when I can be blessed to be a member of Christ’s restored church.I know that there are prophets and apostles on the earth today, and that they speak to us the word of God.
I have a testimony that we can be together forever, bound together as eternal families.
I am so thankful for the knowledge that those who did not have a chance to receive the gospel in this life, are able to have the opportunity to choose or deny it for themselves, that we are able to do vicarious work for them, and on their behalf, fulfill those required ordinances.
We live in such a wonderful and glorious time.
I am not certain why I am so blessed as to have been able to be right here right now, but I am ever thankful for it.
