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This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to share my conversion story. For those of you who don't know, I was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just two years ago, and it is by far the BEST decision I have ever made. Here is my talk I shared in sacrament meeting- it is very dear to my heart.
Back when I was in eighth grade, my best
friend had invited me to attend girls camp with her. I was so beyond excited to
spend a week with my best friend in Utah at this spa themed girls camp. I was
ready for mani-pedi’s, none of dad’s rules, and the company of my friends! Life
of a 14 year- old right?!? I didn’t even care that it was a church camp, I just
wanted a vacation! Or so I thought.
As the week went on, I was just loving
every second of it. Homemade meals all day long, sleeping in a luxurious cabin,
it was just an overall great time! I can remember throughout the week I began
to develop close relationships with the young-women’s leaders that had been
attending. On Thursday night, the last night of girls camp, I can remember
packing up my suitcase to return home the next morning, when all of a sudden
the leaders start hurdling all of us girls up for a “testimony meeting.” I had
never even heard the word testimony in my life. I was honestly a little
confused at what we were about to do. Next thing I know, all of us girls are
gathered together in a circle around the campfire and one by one, girls would
stand up and bear their “testimony” of the church. Girls were crying and
weeping and I can remember just sitting in my camp chair just totally confused
by what was going on. My best friend, Abby, stood up and began to speak. She
mentioned how grateful she was that I was able to attend camp with her and
share these experiences with her, and she began to cry as she bore her
testimony of the church. One of the young women’s leaders came up behind me and
comforted me, as I began to cry for what I thought was “no reason.” I didn’t
know why I was crying. After returning home from camp, I was determined to
learn about testimonies and what exactly they are. I wasn’t sure how I was
going to do this or what was going to come of it. So little 14 year-old Marley,
joined Abby in sacrament meeting for the rest of the summer. I started going to
mutual activities and stake dances with my friends. I was having a lot of fun
doing these things!
Once my freshman year started, I began to
make more and more friends with members of the church, and soon enough, it
seemed like my only friends were members of the church. I remember most of them
being so surprised when I mentioned I wasn’t Mormon. A few months into the
school year, around November, I get a knock on my door. When I opened the door,
there stood two elders and about 7 of my closest friends. It was a total shock!
This was the first time I had ever met with the missionaries. We proceeded with
a discussion, and I absolutely loved it. The spirit was so strong, I just
wanted to keep learning more about the gospel. The following week, I received
more visitors at my door. This time it was sister missionaries that were new to
the ward I was located in. Those sister missionaries diligently came to my
house every single week for about 7 months.
I
was what they called an “eternal investigator”.
Finally, in May of 2012, Sister Fine and
Sister Abeyta sat me down and asked me that question I knew I was bound to
hear, “Will you be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints?” immediately I said YES. I knew that this church was true
with all my heart and that I wanted to be a member of THIS church! We planned a
baptism date for later that month and they continued to meet with me every week
until then.
The
day before my baptism date, the sisters came to my home with the members of the
bishopric, along with 2 Elders, for my baptismal interview. As we were
proceeding with the interview, a sudden knock on the door was heard. It was my
mom, who I hadn’t seen in a while since my parents are divorced and I had been
living with my dad. She came in and demanded that I was not to be baptized,
that she didn’t approve, blah blah blah, just a bunch of stuff I didn’t want to
hear. She left within a few minutes, and right as she did, I remember looking
over at sister Fine and she told me I wasn’t going to be able to get baptized
until I had both of my parent's permission. At that moment, I was just totally
upset. This was the moment when I realized that I had gained a testimony of the
gospel. Tear were streaming down everyone’s face and we ended the interview,
and my baptism date was cancelled. For the next year and a half, I continued to
go to church every single Sunday with Abby, and every single mutual activity,
and stake dances, and youth conference, and girls camp. I went to EVERYTHING. I
knew at this moment, I was going to be a member of this church eventually, no
matter how long it takes! Finally, both of my parents realized that this was
the case, that I had reached a point where I was going to be baptized as a
member of the church one day. Finally that day came, when my parents had
decided that I was able to get baptized. Late September 2013, I started taking
the missionary discussions again, and this time, we went through them fast,
meeting to do several lessons a week.
On October 12, 2013, I was baptized as a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was THE best day
of my life and I am so grateful for my opportunity to be apart of this amazing
gospel. I know that through the trials and hardships of waiting to be baptized,
my testimony was strengthened immensely.
I know by living worthily, praying daily,
and pondering the scriptures, we are able to seek and ask Heavenly Father for
his will to receive personal revelation. As we allow the Holy Ghost to guide us
and teach us what is true, He will testify of Christ and we will come to know
the truthfulness of this gospel. It is important for us to have that constant
companionship of the Holy Ghost so we are able to communicate with our Heavenly
Father. Through baptism, we are blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost to act
in our lives as we remain worthy. The spirit of revelation is real- and as we
act upon it, we are able to receive blessings in our lives. I testify that
missionary work is vital to forming Christ’s church here on the earth and that
teaching others about the gospel will strengthen your testimony and theirs. I
testify that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly father live and guide us to return
to be with them again someday. I’m so grateful for the gospel in my life and
all of the blessings I have received since becoming a member of the Church. I
leave these things with you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I love you all for reading my blog, especially this post.
Have a safe & happy Thanksgiving break!
XO
Marley
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