I have not always been a member and this church, but am so grateful to be now. This is how I came to believe...As a young child I went to a Presbyterian church. Really all that I remember is fun classes, nice people, and super cool candlelight services for Christmas. We started going to a Lutheran church when I was in middle school. I went through their confirmation program. My most vivid memory is that it was held in a portable and we had to trek through the forest to get there. (I know, random, right?) Anyway, after I was confirmed we started going to church less and less until eventually we became the Christmas/Easter sort of people. I loved it! Free Sundays all year long!
Scott and I started dating in 2002. Little did I know he was a Latter-day Saint (LDS). After a while, the missionaries started popping up. I'm pretty sure one wore a cowboy hat. I wasn't interested in learning about or joining a church. But, eventually, (about 2 years later) I started having questions and wondering.
So, I officially met with some missionaries and they started teaching me about the church and what Latter-day Saints believe. I mostly recall thinking that everything just fit. Life as we know it was just explained so well. Why we are here. Where we are going. You know, those big questions. But still, I wanted to know for sure that these answers were true and that I believed them. The missionaries said that if I prayed, Heavenly Father would answer. I tried (felt silly of course) and didn't seem to hear anything in return.The missionaries made me a list of scriptures about prayer, the Holy Ghost, receiving answers, etc...
As I read, one verse in particular stood out to me. It read, "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought, save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." After reading that, I changed my approach to prayer. It was then that I received my answer. I finally felt relieved, comforted, good, and I knew that it was true.
I joined the church on August 13, 2005. I know that God has a plan for me. I know that plan is more spectacular than I could imagine on my own. With God, I really can accomplish anything. He cares about, and loves, me and you. I know that he placed people in my life so that I could come to a knowledge of this church. I love my family, I love my Savior, and I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
