Are you a convert to the LDS Church? Will you share your Conversion Story?

I was apprehensive about sharing my story on this forum but after reading some of the replies you got I felt compelled to do so.

I was 15 when I was converted. I was headed down the wrong path and I knew it. I hated the things I was doing and the person I was becoming. One night when I felt I had hit rock bottom I said the most sincere, heart felt prayer I had ever said. I asked for guidance - nothing more. I wanted to live my life right and needed to be pointed in the right direction. I didn't have good examples at home and I knew it.

The next morning, bright and early a knock came at the door. I opened it to 2 young men who told me they had a messege from our Lord and could they come in and share it with me. I had NO doubt that they were the answer to my prayer. I felt it in every fiber of my being. Everything they said made sence and I wanted to know more. We set an appointment for me to begin the lessons and a few months later I was baptised. The whole time I prayed with an open heart and mind and never did I have any doubt.

My life turned around completely. Because of the teachings and guidance of the church I headed down the right path and now 28 years later I love the person I have become and have never regretted joining the church.

One thing I have always found interesting is that the elders later told me that they had already tracked my nieghborhood a couple weeks before and were headed a few streets over. They both had a feeling they should try again and came to my house. I had only moved in with my dad 4 days before! I truely think it was Heavenly Father directing them to me.

People will say I was brainwashed etc - but that's not the case. I think it's so sad how other churches always feel the need to talk smack about the LDS church when our church teaches tolerance of other religions .... interesting. That alone tell me ALOT about the LDS faith.

Best wishes. P.S. Yes I give permission to post this on your blogspot.

My family was moving from Dallas, TX to the Bay Area in CA. On the way, we stopped in Salt Lake to visit family and go see Temple Square. I was 9 and it was my first time (that I remembered) being there or at any of our temples. As we were walking through temple square, an amazing peace came over me, "filled me" (that's what it felt like), and I knew that it was all true, that Jesus and Heavenly Father were real, that the temple was their house, and that I was a member of their Church. Up until that point my faith was in my parents. I trusted them and believed they were telling me the truth; but after that experience, I knew for myself that God and Jesus Christ were real and that the LDS Church really was Christ's Church. My testimony of those truths has grown since then and expanded to other principles, but that was the beginning...when I first felt truly converted.

I am sixth generation LDS but as you stated, we are all converted at some point in our lives. For me, I count my conversion to my freshman year at BYU. I had learned the book answers previous to that but it wasn't until I saw the gospel in action on the BYU campus that I finally felt the answers in my heart and in my mind. It was as though I had love for everyone and everything. I was just so filled with joy and happiness that no amount of stress or toil could spoil my peaceful feelings. I knew that my church leader's loved me and I knew that God loved me. I knew that everything I had been taught throughout my life was indeed true. The Church could not have come about simply by the machinations of devious men, but only by the inspiration and revelation from God. The scriptures were and are true and the men that brought them to light were and are prophets. I knew that then and know it now and what I knew and know, I cannot deny for the reality of it.

If any man will do my will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself. So spoke the Savior and we would all do well to follow that counsel.

Oceanwoman, sadly, is a prime example of someone who let the world show her what was "true" and not the Lord. She relied on websites and false information to lead her down the path... as many others do. They never truly convert, because they do not rely on the Lord for their answers, but look to men to prove their religion true or false. And when that happens, men will win, because men are influenced by the adversary. And we of course know he will do whatever he can to lead all astray...

I feel sorry for those who have had the greater light and knowledge, and tossed it aside, not seeing the symbolic beauty and nature of the gospel.

The gospel is either true or it isn't. No matter the flaws of men, which Oceanwoman likes to refer to - quotes, misconceptions, half-truths - they are flaws of men. Not God. And once a person KNOWS the gospel is true, and that information has come from God, then no amount of crap out there can sway them the other way...

The gospel is true. I have come to know for myself, through prayer, study and many spiritual experiences and I really do feel sorry for those who never know the truth. Or have been close to knowing it, but didn't get there. I have always felt the gospel was true. I have had many spiritual experiences during my life - from answers to simple prayers to Priesthood blessings of healing that were immediate. When I went to the temple for the first time, I was ready. I knew I was doing what the Lord wanted. I was in with my mother and the temple president's wife, discussing care for our garments, and she stopped and looked at me and said, "I have seen many brides come through here. I can see in your countenance the love you have for your Heavenly Father and know you have prepared." That meant a lot to me and I will never forget it. I felt like if other people could "see" the love I had for my Heavenly Father, I must be doing something right...

I know the gospel is true. I know the temple ordinances are sacred and wonderful. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet and that he restored the gospel through the power of Almighty God. I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and that any person can become closer to the Lord by reading and following it's teachings, than by any other way. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

I would really like to respond to this question, as I love sharing my testimony of Jesus Christ and of the restoration of his True Church to the earth but, after reading such hateful, bigoted, and untrue comments from the above non-LDS posters, I feel that it would be much like that spoken of in Matthew 7: 6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

Perhaps it will be sufficient for me to just add my witness to those from Linda Loo forward that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the Lord's Church. Those posting above Linda Loo are misinformed or outright liars.

How sad that people can't just keep their hateful unkind words to themselves. I went to your blog spot and sent my story to what I think was the right email address to do so! It was a real conversion story so I hope it reached you!

I am also going to e mail you my conversion story, as it is something very personal to me and I don't need to be berated here for my beliefs.

Hey, just a side note, not everyones story is silver lines clouds.

1. The mormon family I was around (and married into) and the "missionaries" came across as the LDS church being christian and very mainstream. (milk before meat) No controversial doctrines were told to me at the time.

2. Slowly but surly I figured out that I was lied to and many many beliefs I would NEVER FOLLOW! I was a young adult and I feel this is the downfall of this so called church. things like.(The EXTENT of smith's and Co. polygamy, polygamy in HEAVEN, a rock in a HAT translation, multiple FIRST visions! and much MORE)

3. I started researching pro and con, and EVERYTHING not faith promoting was covered up and sugarcoated!! The strange doctrines, racist statements, crazy ideas. everything!

4. The temple endowment was cold, creepy with a Hypnotic movie! I NEVER found a loving God there. I tried for years to get *something* out of it. Its kooky, that's it...about garments, I did not see how the Lord would care what underwear I was wearing! Sheesh....

5. Wrote my exit papers. I will not stand behind hateful statements from so called prophets and just the knowing about them and being LDS makes you guilty by association! IMO... I would have no part of it.

Sorry, I have personal integrity.

There is my conversion story.

*pinkadot* grow up and relize that the LDS church lies to some people, plain and simple. If you do not agree, ok.

Stop stalking me on every question, this is the 25th question or so that you have to tear down my answer...

I'll e-mail it to you.

I was born into the Mormon church. I knew it was false by the time I was 13. I came to Christ when I was in my 20's. One of my greatest desires is for people to come to a saving knowlege of Christ and to be free from the burdens placed on them by false teachers (i. e. The LDS Church)!