Conversion at the Right Time
- itcametopass
- Nov 30, 2018
- 3 min read
I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 16, during my journey to baptism family opposition was frequent and at times fairly challenging but at the time I felt like nothing could compare to what was going to happen 6 months later.
I wake up one October Sunday and I'm getting ready for church, something felt different but I couldn't place my finger on it. My parents' bedroom door was locked which was unusual but I didn't even think twice. I'm almost ready for church when my little brothers come running to me, "Dad's in bed with another girl." My heart stopped, I didn't know what to do or what to think. "Mom's on her way, I called her," the older of my two brothers said.
When my mother gets there shes a mess. She grabs the boys and leaves and I took myself to church. I felt dead inside, I couldn't look at anybody or say anything I was just dead. I took the sacrament then I left to my uncle's house.
After that dreadful day I was a mess, "why would my dad do that?" "Why would God let this happen. I'm doing everything right?" "What did I do to deserve this?" On top of these questions I had to pretend that I was fine even though everybody knew that I wasn't. My grades plummeted, my desire to be in the gospel was dwindling and I wanted no part of church, until one night.
I remember kneeling and crying asking God what I did wrong and why he is letting me suffer. Shortly after the prayer I had an intense, warm feeling rush over me and my crying stopped. It was my first time experiencing anything like that and I don't know why but I felt like I could get through this mess.
As time went on things weren't easier but they weren't getting worse. At this point in time my mom, brothers and I were living at my uncle's. My dad had gotten arrested for drug abuse and school was still a challenge. But I was living life and pushing through this challenge. But the most important part of all of this was that my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ was growing. There has never been a more powerful power in my life than what I felt during those hard times. I came to know that Christ really had suffered as I had and that He felt my pain. I know it was Him who was carrying me through this time.
I love how God has a plan for every single one of us. I received the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life exactly when I needed it. I was converted just enough to keep trusting and the outcome was incredible. God had changed my life. Not in a harmful or negative way. He taught me how to rely on the Atonement of His Son. By no means did my problems or challenges disappear, but they became bearable. I felt like I had added strength to deal with the challenges that I was facing.
Today I am a returned missionary, my family is back together and is doing great. I know God loves all of us. He has a plan for us. And when times get tough Jesus Christ will carry us.
-Gavin
Comments