[TK409]

Thanks a lot for sharing your testimonies.

I was raised as a staunch Baptist with heavy anti-Mormon "training." I was 18 when I began reading the Book of Mormon in order to prove it wrong to my LDS friend. I had thought it was a history of Mormons. I visited the church and met with the missionaries all in an attempt to discredit the religion and "witness" to my friend about how they were being misled.

I had always been taught to prove my point by the scriptures. While meeting with the missionaries, I was surprised when they said I could pray to find out of the BoM was true. I thought, "What a leap of faith they're taking because of course God will tell me it's false!" I was guardedly intrigued when I found out that it as actually another testimony of another people that were visited by Christ. Still, my mind was closed so I prayed like this...

"Dear Lord, it probably isn't true, but just in case, why don't you let me know."

I received no answer.

Then, the more I met with the missionaries, I found some of my personal questions being answered. Things I hadn't even been looking for. Answers about God, Jesus and the Holy ghost being three individuals, no paid ministry, and living in heaven before we came to earth. When they explained that Jesus Christ had restored his church to the earth with all the truth that was contained in his original church, and with NO paid ministry, it became important to me to find out if the book was true - because if the book is true, then Joseph is a true prophet of God, and the Church has been restored. So I read the story about Nephi building the ship and receiving direction from the Lord, then I prayed:

"Heavenly Father, I want to know if the story I just read, about Nephi building the ship actually happened. I'll change whatever I need to in my life if you'll tell me if it's true."

I remember feeling that I could not doubt it. I could not say that it didn't happen. The more I pondered it, I felt that I had literally no doubt that it was true. I wasn't sure it was an answer because I misunderstood the "burning in the bosom" - I thought I was supposed to feel a literal physical burning feeling, like something that was slightly painful. I've since learned, and experienced many times a burning feeling that is more like warm tingles and a quiet feeling that everything is going to be ok, or rather a general feeling of peace.

I went back to the missionaries and said I didn't feel the "burning" feeling but I knew the BoM was true.
They said, "what did you pray for?"
I said, "to know if it was true".
They asked, and what do you know now?"
"Well, that it's true... ohhhhh, that's my answer!"

There are several other things that were distinct confirmations for me about the truthfulness of the Church, but this was the moment I gained a testimony specifically of the Book of Mormon. Now I love it. The prophets in the BoM come so alive to me and I have no reservation that the book is a true history of the ancient people of the American continent. I know Christ visited these people shortly after his resurrection - the highlight for me in the Book of Mormon. After I joined the church, I had an overwhelming feeling to serve a mission. So I did!
A reformed anti-Mormon Baptist turned Mormon missionary! I've been a member now for 19 years and have been active ever since.
- Chris


.