My Conversion!

I was reading a post over on Segullah and it was making me think about my own conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It has been 19 years since I joined the church. I am most thankful for my friend Michele Matteson who first invited me. So here is my conversion story.

I was born Catholic and raised in New England. I went to church in dresses every Sunday. My mother had great faith in God and as a result so did I. I attend CCD which were religious classes taught to young Catholics. Some of the things they taught never made sense. When I questioned my teachers, they would say I just needed to have faith. So I continued to attend class and do my best to believe the things I was taught. I really loved the feeling of doing what God wanted me to do. When I was a kid whenever anything really good happened I would feel this warm tingling feeling through my body. I was known to say to others, “Did you feel that?” My younger sister thought I was crazy. I thought I was special. So I tried to seek out situations that would leave me feeling that tingling. When my parents divorced sometimes we wouldn’t see my Dad for weeks. Some days I would say things like, “I wish my dad would come by and take us for ice-cream!” Then he would show up out of the blue and take us. My friend thought I had a gift. I thought I was special. I felt like my really good wishes would be answered and so I tried to save my wishes for only really good things. My life went on that way till I finished high school, then I went through a rough year. In that time frame one of my friends from school investigated and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had never gone to church before but she would say things like, she knew her church was true. I thought she was crazy. Still I was curious about this new church she went to and I really wanted her to invite me.
Over the summer my friend went to BYU, she came home for the two weeks between summer and fall. One night we all went to the beach the moon was huge and red and we all talked about Revelations and the end of the world. The next day my friend invited me to go to the Vineyard with her and some people from her church, I said I would. Her friends were a group of missionaries. We spent the whole day together with members it was really fun and at the end of the day we watched a movie. It was really good and I got that tingling feeling. After the movie the missionaries invited me to read some chapters in the Book of Mormon, I agreed and made a plan to go to church the next day.
When I got home I read the chapters and then I started from the beginning of the book. The next day I went to church and had a great time. Everyone was so friendly. That night they taught me the first discussion. When we talked about The Holy Ghost I got the same feeling I always got and knew exactly what they were talking about. Over the next two weeks I met with the Elders several times and finished the Book of Mormon. The missionaries invited me to pray about the Book of Mormon and to be baptized after our second visit. I thought they were crazy, I was Catholic and my mother would never let me join another church. I didn’t even consider the possibility. However, I continued to take the discussions. When they taught me about the apostasy it made perfect sense. I really felt everything they were telling me was true. Towards the end of the discussions out of the blue one night my Mom asked me if I was going to join that church. I was quick to respond “What do you mean?” She said, “You just seem so happy!” I said, “What do you think about it?” She said, “As long as you believe in God and Jesus I’m fine with it!” so I just said, “I think I might!” Then she said she thought I should go talk to a priest before I made up my mind. She made me an appointment for the next day.
Nervously the next day I walked up to my church and met with the priest. He was very nice and we had a long talk about my intentions. In the end he said I should give my church more of a chance and then he blessed me that I would make the right decision. My heart skipped all the way home. When I got to my house, I locked myself in the bathroom and prayed about all the things the missionaries had taught me, about the Book of Mormon and if I should be baptized. I knew immediately that it was all true. I felt so happy I called the missionaries and left a message I would be baptized as soon as possible.
The day of my baptism was amazing I remember the moment I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost the most because I just couldn’t stop shaking.
This was only the first moment of my conversion; over the last 19 years my testimony has grown line upon line about each and every part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In end I learned I was special, I was a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loved me and that the Holy Ghost could be my constant companion. It has been a wonderful blessing to have found the church and I can say I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true and I like to say it, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Indian Summer!

View from The Metacomet Trail

Growing up here in the North East my childhood was filled with names taken from the Native Americans who once roamed these places.

Streets, towns, lakes, beaches and even businesses carry the Natives Americans names.

Many of the things we said would not be considered appropriate today for example:

Indian sunburn -that's when you put your two hands on someones arm and twist in opposite directions squeezing the skin so it turns red.

Gave my sister more then a few of those.

Another term we used was:

Indian giver- which is when someone gives you a gift and then takes it back.
Called my sister that more then a few times.

Now when my children speak of Indians they are almost always speaking of people from India. When they use the term to speak of Native Americans I always reinforce the politically correct terms. In fact it is through studying with my kids I have learned most of what I know about the Natives from this area. I am happy to say they learn a much more realistic account of events.

In school I was taught about the Native Americans but it was always about the happy Indians who helped the pilgrims teaching them to hunt turkeys and sharing their corn, who all sat around one big table sharing a meal. Then freely gave their land away.

The purpose of all this talk was because today I was thinking about Indian Summer. Which is a couple of days of warm calm weather after the first freeze. It usually occurs at the end of October or the beginning of November. It's my favorite part of fall and I am hoping to experience it soon!

I'm happy when I say Indian summer it means nothing negative to my children. I hope they remember the Native Americans who first inhabited this land with reverence and respect. That as well rounded children they learn that humans can live in peace and should not be judged by their appearance. There is a place for all no matter their beliefs.

We are all spirit children of a father who loves us.