I guess to start, it would be best if I started with my step-father (hereafter referred to as “my dad,” dad” etc) who was born and raised in the church. He and my mom married when I was 5. My biological father was a militant atheist who especially disliked the LDS faith. My great-grandmother on my biological father’s side however insisted that I go to church. So, when I was with my biological father for the weekend, I went to church with her. When I visited my mom every other weekend, I went to church (LDS) with them. I remember being very young and thinking that church was church, Christian was Christian and that they were all the same. Once when I was about 9, I was at the Protestant church with my grandmother and had gone to the youth bible class. My teacher, who was a very nice lady named Terry, was teaching a lesson out of the Old Testament. She asked a question (unfortunately I don’t remember) and I raised my hand to answer. I responded by quoting the Book of Mormon. She told me that I was wrong and that the Bible was the only source for God’s word on earth and that the Book of Mormon was wrong. I was so upset as I felt the tears filling my eyes. I knew I was right and didn’t understand why she was telling me I was wrong.
Skip down some years and I’ve decided to move in with my Mom and Dad because they’re moving from my home state (California) to Texas. At this time, I’m 15, going on 16, and for the most part, am not really interested in going to church or learning about these kinds of things. I considered myself “philosophical” and “spiritual” but never really felt the proper necessity of learning about the Savior or our Father in Heaven. Eventually, I stopped going to church all together and it remained this way until I met the girl who would become my wife, Caroline.
She is from Germany and comes from a long line of Lutheran Pastors. In fact, where her Mom lives and preaches now, it is just outside the city where the castle resides in which Martin Luther translated the Bible into German. When we married, two things happened that caused me to give a second chance to the whole Christian experience.
Firstly, because Caroline was used to going to church (but not being really sure what she believed) she insisted we find a church and be consistent about going. I told her to find a church that she’d like to go to and we’d go.
Secondly, I started getting more and more involved politically and I found (without getting into what my own personal politics are) I realized that my political beliefs, to my own interpretation, matched what the Church taught for doctrine, advice and counsel.
Because of these things, I began to do my own research and homework and became determined to find a church as well. After this, my wife and I decided that we would go to the Lutheran church in the morning and the LDS church in the afternoon and after some months, decide on where we’d like to go permanently. I decided within a few months that I would like to be baptized into the LDS Church. Of course, my Dad was very happy with this decision and then asked how Caroline was doing and how she felt about it. I knew she wasn’t quite there yet and was having serious reservations about joining – not because of doctrinal issues really – but more so because most of her Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents and Mother were all Pastors in the Lutheran Church. It was the faith she was raised in.
I told my Dad that although I knew I would be baptized, I would like to wait to do so until she was ready. That way, we could get baptized together on the same day. My Dad gave me some advice that I will never forget and can even apply to other areas of life. He said “You know, if you get baptized now, it might make it easier for her. You would be a priesthood holder and could bring that spirit into your home. She would be able to see from a very personal perspective the goodness that you would have and that might make it easier for her to decide.” I knew my Dad was right, and made the necessary appointments to get baptized as soon as possible.
I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints January 2nd, 2010. From that day forward, we had missionaries out our apartment twice a week for dinner and lessons and we also did our own scripture study. I could tell that this put some pressure on my wife, but it was clearly good pressure. She knew that she must decide because, ultimately, she wanted to be a faithful Christian. After a year of study and searching, of prayer and fasting, she made her decision. She decided that she too would be baptized into the true Church of Christ.
Of course, the Lord was not done blessing me though. My original desire was to be baptized on the same day as my wife – that we would be baptized together.
What date was Caroline baptized? January 2nd, 2011. An exact year after me, on the same day as my baptism.
I received the added blessing on top of this to be the one to baptize her. What a tremendous blessing this was for the both of us! We were both incredibly happy and knew that the Lord does hear our prayers, and when our desires are righteous, we know that He’ll bless us and then some! And boy, did we get all that we asked for!
We both are now currently studying at Brigham Young University – Idaho. We live in Rexburg and as I type this, I’m looking up at the Rexburg temple, which we can see from our townhouse. I feel as though I was one of those trumpeted back to the house of the Lord by Moroni. How grateful to my Heavenly Father and His Son for this blessing. We’ve already scheduled to be sealed for time and all eternity at the Salt Lake Temple this next April.
Interesting side note – When we married, neither of us were members. Yet the day of our marriage was April 6th – a tremendously important day in LDS history. The church was officially organized this day. Joseph Smith taught this was the day the Savior was born. And also this was the day the SLC Temple was dedicated.
Obviously, the Lord has had His loving hand in my life leading me on the straight and narrow and I recognize it for what it is. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and wishes for me to return to Him again. I plan on doing so, with my wife and family in tow. I love Him very much. I love the Savior and am so thankful for His atoning sacrifice – without which, none of this would’ve happened or be possible. I love this Church. I love its leaders. I love this gospel and I love its principles. I love the Spirit that we feel as we study the scriptures and ponder the words of Prophets and Apostles. I love reading the words of the Savior and do my best to liken all scriptures unto myself and family. I know that by doing all of these things and by following the commandments, I will see my Father in Heaven and Savior in the flesh.
I know all of these things to be true and say so in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.