Wow...I love reading everyones story! Truely amazing!
For me actually was kind of wierd, but i believe in destiny, and how God has a set plan for all of us. So I know that the way I became part of the LDS church, and all the steps I had to take, to be put in that right set of mind to fully embrace the true meanings and teachings of the church.
I grew up in Utah, so I was surrounded with friends who were members. They'd always invite me to the church activities, and young women activities. I was curious, but always too shy to ask anything. When I moved to Spanish Fork Utah during the summer of 6th grade, I didn't have friends because school hadn't started yet, and so most of my time was spent at the library! I started to read Mormon authors like Anita Stansfield and Jack Weyland! I fell in LOVE with the books, and the first books that ever filled me with emotion and actually cried! I read these books all through high school!
I soon started to take intersest in the LDS faith. There were terms I didn't understand. By that time my freshman year of high school I became really close with this guy (who is now my husband). He was a member of the church, and on occasion I would ask him about those terms I didn't understand. And I really started to take interest! Anyways, I knew the basic beliefs of the church, but never really thought about actually taking the lessons.
All of my family are Catholic. So when I started to date my husband they'd always tease me because I was dating a "Mormon". Even though at that time, he was inactive, I felt very embarassed about the teasing.
So after 1 year of dating, we found out I was preg. Telling my parents was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Immediately my mom wanted me to get an abortion. But I knew better. I knew that because I made a bad choice I was supposed to take on the consequences. Either way, I knew in my heart that this was meant to be, a bad choice on my part, but that the actions that had to be taken from that day forward were meant for me to grow and learn.
So I got married, kept going through school, dealt with marriage problems, emotional problems, my parents and other people. I just had to stay strong. I started to really drift away from any belief at all. I mean I knew God existed, but I didn't go to a church or anything like that. I was just going through so much that I just felt alone.
So after my jr. year of high school my husband and i moved to houston texas with his family. At this time it was SO SO hard for me, being a young mother, going to school to finish my senior year, coming home and doing house work and taking care of a baby. It was SO hard. But I was determined to do something right for once. With alot of hard work I finished my senior year. And became a stay at home mom. At this point any church related things, I'd really just not even bother. It wasn't until I went to visit my parents back in utah for the first time since my daughter was born that I really started to think about my faith, and if the catholic faith was the right thing for me...I really had to think hard, because I didn't want to have to explain to my daughter one day why we don't asist any church, or have to explain to her who Jesus Christ is...and be afraid of just ending up confusing her. After my return back home, I started to pray about possibly learning more about the LDS church. I asked questions, talked to my cousin who is a convert. And then one day on our way to pick up my brother in law from the airport, i had used the restroom at a gas station. By this time I had prayed and not recieved any kind of answer. So I'm in the bathroom and I look over at the door, and there is graffiti and writing, and there was this one that cought my eye it said "You will never be truly happy, unless you let God in heart" and for me that was it. For me that was my answer to my prayers! Soon after that, I finally told my husband about this whole thing, (he had no idea I had any intentions of becoming LDS) he was proud and very supportive. I recieved the lessons and soon after got baptized on December 31st. 06'. It was one of the most amazing and rewarding decision I have ever made. I have a strong testimony from the BOM, the scriptures have helped me lift my spirits when I need them the most. I can just sit down and read any passage I turn to and find something uplifting to whatever situation I am in. Its helped my daughter have the curiousity of what I am reading and sits down also to "read" the scriptures. Its truely blessed my heart! And my husband is still inactive. I'm working on setting an example I haven't given up! I've gone to church every sunday for the past couple of months! I've recieved my calling as a Young Women's teacher (miah maids) and I've seen all these events truely bless my life and my family!
And thanks to everyone who shared their story in here! It was a pleasure reading your stories!!
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