My life is constantly changing and quickly at that. In the last 12 months alone I've made major changes in my life and since my blog is about me and my changing life, it only seems fitting to tell you of my conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as it is a huge part of who I am today and the basis of the changes happening in my life now.
I've spent the last few summers working at camps. During the summer of 2013, I worked at a Christian camp. With my coworkers we often talked about our faith and our beliefs. One evening we were talking about our beliefs and it just hit me: I didn't understand why I believed what I did. I grew up being taught these things but there were several beliefs I was confused by and couldn't find anyone who could tell me the answers. I began my junior year of college unsure of my own religious beliefs and felt a little lost and confused.
After the first day of classes, my neighbor invited me with her to a church event. I walked in with my neighbor and my roommate as everyone was finishing a lesson with a prayer and then everyone got in a large circle and began playing games. I had so much fun and was so happy to have made new friends. At this event I also met the missionaries. They were fun guys but I wasn't open to being taught at that time. However, less than a week later, this changed. I was curious about the religion and I had many questions. We set up a time to meet that weekend where I could ask them questions and they would answer.
At this lesson I asked a LOT of questions. When I say a lot, I truly mean a lot. I wrote about 100 questions down and had my neighbor answer several and let the missionaries answer the rest. The missionaries were so willing to answer my questions and eventually we agreed that teaching me a lesson would be the best way to answer my questions accurately. So they proceeded to teach me a lesson on the restoration of the church. This truly did answer so many of my questions such as why the church was named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and where the Book of Mormon came from? Throughout that lesson I felt so happy and I knew that the things they were telling me were true. There was no doubt in my mind.
After this lesson I was pleased with the answers I had received and I agreed to read the Book of Mormon and if I were to come to know it was true, I would get baptized. I began reading that night. We had 2 more lessons within a few days and I had continued to read and even went to church already. At this point, I knew the Book of Mormon was true which meant that what the missionaries were teaching me was true and that this was truly the church of Jesus Christ restored on earth today.
At my third lesson with the missionaries we decided to set a date for my baptism. I hadn't told my family of my decision yet and I wanted to do this in person so I planned for October 26, 2013 to get baptized. One of my wise missionaries told me he didn't feel that was the right date and suggested September 28, 2013. I didn't care what he thought at that moment so we planned for October. The next couple of weeks were full of tears and trials. My family was disappointed in me. My sister refused to speak to me. My parents didn't like my decision at all. My friends no longer wanted to be my friend. The camp I worked at told me I wasn't allowed to work there anymore because I was "no longer a Christian" and that there would be consequences for my actions. My pastor at the church I attended told me that she was concerned about me. People thought I was joining a cult and that I wasn't thinking clearly.
This was incredibly difficult. I had lost so many of the people who were important to me within such a short time frame because of one life changing decision. I was so upset and didn't know how to handle the situation I was now in. I met with my missionaries again and just cried and told them what was happening. They explained more to me that after I got baptized I would receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and that this gift would be a blanket of comfort to me throughout this time in my life. I listened and received a blessing. Then, I made the decision to move my baptism to September 28, 2013. The next weekend. I informed my parents that I was moving the date of my baptism and tried to explain why to them. I invited them and several of my friends to my baptism.
The day of my baptism was hard. Not a single nonmember who I invited showed up. I felt completely unsupported and I freaked out. I wasn't sure if I should get baptized without any of my family or friends there to support me. I cried a lot (again) but my missionaries talked to me and reassured me that everything would be alright. So, I got baptized. It was the most amazing feeling I've ever felt. I felt so clean. I felt so strong. I felt so loved. I knew that I had made a wonderful decision and I knew that my journey was just beginning.
After my baptism I had this misconstrued thought that because I had been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost that I would never have another problem. OH MAN, was I wrong. If I'm going to be honest, the hardest things I have ever gone through in my life have happened and are continuing to happen now, after my baptism. The difference? I've changed. I've learned of the Gospel and the atonement and how amazing both of these things are. I've learned how relevant and truly infinite the atonement is in my everyday life. This helps me to know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father loves me so very much and that even when I am absolutely positive that there is not a single person in the world who understands my feelings, Jesus Christ does. It is one of the most comforting things to know in this world where there are so many people yet we tend to feel alone.
Fast forward 12 months and here I am. I have a changed my religion, my attitude, and my lifestyle. In just a few short months I will be moving across the country from Michigan to Idaho to attend school. I've become a strong woman and more confident in myself and my abilities. It's truly amazing to see the ripple effect that one decision I made to change my life has affected all other parts of my life.
I'm so happy with the direction that my life is going and I know that my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are pleased with my decisions and in the end, it's up to them, not me or anyone else.
I know that this is truly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the same church that Jesus established when He was on earth. I know that it was restored by Joseph Smith. I know that he was a prophet and translated the Book of Mormon for us to read and study today. I know that Jesus Christ performed the atonement for every single one of us to help us and to comfort us. I know that Heavenly Father is our kind and loving father who is anxiously waiting for us to come back to Him. I know that the Holy Ghost is constantly with me and it helping to guide my decisions I make each and every single day. I know that these things are true. They are so comforting to me now and are a light for me when life seems dim. This Gospel has helped me to change my life and continue to make changes in my life.
If you have any questions feel free to comment or check out Mormon.org !
I've spent the last few summers working at camps. During the summer of 2013, I worked at a Christian camp. With my coworkers we often talked about our faith and our beliefs. One evening we were talking about our beliefs and it just hit me: I didn't understand why I believed what I did. I grew up being taught these things but there were several beliefs I was confused by and couldn't find anyone who could tell me the answers. I began my junior year of college unsure of my own religious beliefs and felt a little lost and confused.
After the first day of classes, my neighbor invited me with her to a church event. I walked in with my neighbor and my roommate as everyone was finishing a lesson with a prayer and then everyone got in a large circle and began playing games. I had so much fun and was so happy to have made new friends. At this event I also met the missionaries. They were fun guys but I wasn't open to being taught at that time. However, less than a week later, this changed. I was curious about the religion and I had many questions. We set up a time to meet that weekend where I could ask them questions and they would answer.
At this lesson I asked a LOT of questions. When I say a lot, I truly mean a lot. I wrote about 100 questions down and had my neighbor answer several and let the missionaries answer the rest. The missionaries were so willing to answer my questions and eventually we agreed that teaching me a lesson would be the best way to answer my questions accurately. So they proceeded to teach me a lesson on the restoration of the church. This truly did answer so many of my questions such as why the church was named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and where the Book of Mormon came from? Throughout that lesson I felt so happy and I knew that the things they were telling me were true. There was no doubt in my mind.
After this lesson I was pleased with the answers I had received and I agreed to read the Book of Mormon and if I were to come to know it was true, I would get baptized. I began reading that night. We had 2 more lessons within a few days and I had continued to read and even went to church already. At this point, I knew the Book of Mormon was true which meant that what the missionaries were teaching me was true and that this was truly the church of Jesus Christ restored on earth today.
At my third lesson with the missionaries we decided to set a date for my baptism. I hadn't told my family of my decision yet and I wanted to do this in person so I planned for October 26, 2013 to get baptized. One of my wise missionaries told me he didn't feel that was the right date and suggested September 28, 2013. I didn't care what he thought at that moment so we planned for October. The next couple of weeks were full of tears and trials. My family was disappointed in me. My sister refused to speak to me. My parents didn't like my decision at all. My friends no longer wanted to be my friend. The camp I worked at told me I wasn't allowed to work there anymore because I was "no longer a Christian" and that there would be consequences for my actions. My pastor at the church I attended told me that she was concerned about me. People thought I was joining a cult and that I wasn't thinking clearly.
This was incredibly difficult. I had lost so many of the people who were important to me within such a short time frame because of one life changing decision. I was so upset and didn't know how to handle the situation I was now in. I met with my missionaries again and just cried and told them what was happening. They explained more to me that after I got baptized I would receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and that this gift would be a blanket of comfort to me throughout this time in my life. I listened and received a blessing. Then, I made the decision to move my baptism to September 28, 2013. The next weekend. I informed my parents that I was moving the date of my baptism and tried to explain why to them. I invited them and several of my friends to my baptism.
The day of my baptism was hard. Not a single nonmember who I invited showed up. I felt completely unsupported and I freaked out. I wasn't sure if I should get baptized without any of my family or friends there to support me. I cried a lot (again) but my missionaries talked to me and reassured me that everything would be alright. So, I got baptized. It was the most amazing feeling I've ever felt. I felt so clean. I felt so strong. I felt so loved. I knew that I had made a wonderful decision and I knew that my journey was just beginning.
After my baptism I had this misconstrued thought that because I had been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost that I would never have another problem. OH MAN, was I wrong. If I'm going to be honest, the hardest things I have ever gone through in my life have happened and are continuing to happen now, after my baptism. The difference? I've changed. I've learned of the Gospel and the atonement and how amazing both of these things are. I've learned how relevant and truly infinite the atonement is in my everyday life. This helps me to know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father loves me so very much and that even when I am absolutely positive that there is not a single person in the world who understands my feelings, Jesus Christ does. It is one of the most comforting things to know in this world where there are so many people yet we tend to feel alone.
Fast forward 12 months and here I am. I have a changed my religion, my attitude, and my lifestyle. In just a few short months I will be moving across the country from Michigan to Idaho to attend school. I've become a strong woman and more confident in myself and my abilities. It's truly amazing to see the ripple effect that one decision I made to change my life has affected all other parts of my life.
I'm so happy with the direction that my life is going and I know that my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are pleased with my decisions and in the end, it's up to them, not me or anyone else.
I know that this is truly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the same church that Jesus established when He was on earth. I know that it was restored by Joseph Smith. I know that he was a prophet and translated the Book of Mormon for us to read and study today. I know that Jesus Christ performed the atonement for every single one of us to help us and to comfort us. I know that Heavenly Father is our kind and loving father who is anxiously waiting for us to come back to Him. I know that the Holy Ghost is constantly with me and it helping to guide my decisions I make each and every single day. I know that these things are true. They are so comforting to me now and are a light for me when life seems dim. This Gospel has helped me to change my life and continue to make changes in my life.
If you have any questions feel free to comment or check out Mormon.org !
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