For Mormons only. Non-mormons don't complain about this. This question is sacred not secret. Okay?

Question

How and why did you join the Church? Are you a convert or were you born in it? If you were born in it, have you received your own personal testimony of the truth of the faith?

Answer 1

My wife joined the church 2 and a half years after we got married in June of 1977. She was a "victim" of two sister missionaries out tracking. I was brought up a Lutheran, so I didn't particularly believe in the LDS church. But my wife was really charged about it all, so I said go ahead, and sort of at arms length supported her. She was baptized in Nov. of 1979. I went with her to church off and on, and then when our children were old enought to be baptized another pair of missionariestaught them the lessons, and invited them to be baptized. As the father of the house, even though I wasn't a member, it still fell on me to OK their baptizms. After a couple of nights of intense discussion, I gave them permission, and the three of them were baptized. A year or so later my wife again found herself "with child", and our fourth child was born in 1991. I was still a non member. The following year, I remember it was February, the guy that's currently our wards Bishop, was giving the lesson in Elders quorum, and the basic message that day was basically read the Book of Mormon. After the lesson was done for the day, I thought to myself, Heck, I can read, and I picked up one of the copies the Missionaries had left, and started to read The Book of Mormon. I remember feeling a bit amazed at what I was reading. How alike to the Bible it was. A couple of weeks later, as it was my habit at the time, I was sitting in Elysian park just outside of Dodger Stadium in
Los Angeles, and I was reading about halfway through Alma. I don't remember the exact verse, or chapter, when something just sort of turned on inside me, and I thought to myself, I get this now! I can get behind this now! I went home after work that night, and told my wife that I wanted to have the nissionaries over and teach me the lessons. She was somewhat dumbfounded. It had been 13 years since she was baptized,and now out of the blue, I wanted to be taught the missionary lessons! And I couldn't get them fast enough either. I about gave the missionary a heart attack when I told him to come by that following sunday, because my wife had been telling missionaries for 13 years to leave me alone, and don't bug me about joining, that I'll join in my own good time. And all of a sudden out of the blue, here I am asking to be taught. Usually the missionaries come about once a week to teach lessons. I had 3 a week for 2 weeks, and got baptized on my wifes birthday in March 1992.
That's the how, the why? 2 reasons. 1. that book. The Book of Mormon. I did exactly what that Elders Quorum teacher invited everyone to do. With an open mind and heart read the book, and decide for yourself its true meaning and worth. So I had skipped the introductions, and testimonies in the front of the book, and went to page 1 chapter 1 and started reading. It's the best missionary tool the church has.
2nd reason is more personal. I deeply love my dear wife. Our 30th anniversary is coming up in 2 months, and we have had 30 years of true bliss. I remember thinking even back when we were married that instead of "till death do us part" there should be some way to make that forever. The LDS church is the only one I've heard of that has a doctrine of eternal marriage. We got sealed in the Los Angeles Temple in 1993, and I love the lord even more for revealing this capability to remain sealed forever, which might just barely be long enough for my wife and I

Answer 2

I was born into the church. Yes i am received my own personal testimony of the truth of the faith. My studying and listening to others people testimonies. One thing is that i am always going to let my testimony grow. There is nothing that anyone can do or say that will have an influence on me to make me leave the religion. It will always be a part of my life and hopefully my future family's life.

Answer 3

I was born into a part-member family. And my mom was good enough to take us to church. My dad wasn't anti-Mormon, but some of his family is, and it's made for a lot of tension. But when did I know that the Gospel was true...I don't remember not knowing. I remember being a very little girl in Primary and after a lesson on the temple deciding that I wanted to be sealed in the temple one day. And I have lived so that I may. Through this journey called life, my resolve and my belief has deepened. And now I'm raising two children and I know, not believe...I KNOW hat God lives. I know that there are miracles. I have two of them living in my home..
My testimony did not just show up one day. I find that the more I nurture it, the stronger it grows.

Answer 4

Pinkadots life sounds like mine. I was born in the covenant, and went to all the usual meetings. My parents divorced when I was 4, my father was a returned missionary who eventually left the church and joined the catholic church.
My mother was single for many years until I was a teenager, then my mother remarried a nonmember. When I was in college my stepfather, finally joined the church. He is the only member in his family.

Many years later I met my husband, who was not a member at the time, he eventually joined the church. My lifes goal was to be married in the temple, so we waited a year. I'm so glad we did.

Now we are blessed with 2 of the Lords choicest spirits and have the pleasure of raising them in the gospel, as I was raised.

I received my testimony of temple marriage, in 1990, when my best friend invited me to attend her sealing. As I looked into the mirror, I saw eternity, and right then I knew that I wanted the same thing.

The spirit still tells me that this is the true church, during times that it makes itself manifest in my life.

Answer 5

I went to church once with a friend when I was 15, I felt the spirit and knew I needed to learn more. I was previously part of a Christian church, i found there teachings awkward (To prove I had faith I had to break up with my partner if I had one and I had to go around handing out cards with the churches address and number) I aksed my friend how I could learn more and they set up a meeting with the missionaries, I thin kit was 2 weeks later that I was baptized (I had then turned 16) I have been a member for 3 years now. I also converted my husband :D

Answer 6

My parents converted (via tracting!) about 6 years before I was born. So I was raised in the church.

...but of course had to go through my own conversion process, somethings like faith in God and prayer, I got right away from my youngest years.

My own testimony of the Book of Mormon I got when I was about 12, and first read it and prayed about it all by myself.

My first understanding of a real personal relationship with Christ and His atonement, and my own repentance, probably started at about age 14 and continues to grow as a work-in-progress to this day.

Thanks

Answer 7

I didn't go all the time growing up. I was baptized at age 18(my mom is LDS, but dad is Catholic, their agreement was to let their kids decide for themselves). Unfortunately I was inactive for a couple of years. I think even though I was baptized I wasn't fully converted. I would kind of go off and on. A few years ago I decided to start going again. I would usually go to the branch I grew up in during the summers, but not go while attending school. So when the new semester of school started my brother and I both decided to go. It was the best thing for us to do. I've learned so much more about the church since then and continue to learn more and more.

gw

Answer 8

I was born under the covenant - meaning born to parents who were members and who were sealed in the temple. That may sound very "deep"... I was raised in the gospel and very very thankful for that. My parents divorced when I was young, my dad quit the church, but my mother remarried and they were sealed in the temple. I am also sealed to my husband for time and all eternity.
Yes, I have received my own personal testimony. That's just what it is. Personal. I love the gospel and I love my Savior. I am so thankful for the blessings and promise of eternal family.

Answer 9

My parents were converted in their 20's, so I was born and raised in the church. I go every sunday, and yes I have recieved my personal testimony. It is amazing.

Answer 10

I started attending the church when I was anywhere from 6-8, I can't remember exactly. I went with one of my parents (the other is not LDS.) I went through all the missionary meetings to get baptized at about age 14 (at the request of the non-LDS parent, who thought I should not get baptized until I could make the decision for myself.) It was about the 4th meeting, when I decided I didn't believe, and I went on to explore other churches.
*Agnostic (I know you said for Mormons only, but I was close enough at one point....)