Comments on: My Conversion Story http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/ Truth Will Prevail Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:12:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melissa Madsen Fox http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105111 Melissa Madsen Fox Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:06:42 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105111 No offense taken; I remember the early 90s, and it was a small group. Maybe 20-30 at most. Now, it's a huge bustling ward (they've outgrown the institute building). Amazing what 15 years can do. No offense taken; I remember the early 90s, and it was a small group. Maybe 20-30 at most. Now, it’s a huge bustling ward (they’ve outgrown the institute building). Amazing what 15 years can do.

]]> By: ronin http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105037 ronin Tue, 01 Nov 2005 13:32:24 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105037 Well, I am a convert. grew up in a Hindu family in India, attended Catholic school K-12, and then ended up at the Univ of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a member of a pretty rowdy fraternity. Lived about3/4 of a mile from the "emaciated" YSA Branch that Julie found during Debate Camp. Anyways, all I knew then about our Church was that BYU was a Church school, and that Mormons sort of had multiple wives. Anyways, being in a frat meant that guzzling beer in copius quantities was a very important part of the fraternity lifestyle. Very late One saturday night,( after a party celebrating a Michigan Wolverines football victory), I found myself in the rec room of the frat house, quite drunk, and unsteady on my feet. So, a couple of friends and I sat down, and watched ESPN. Around 3AM or so, we saw a TV ad, that we thought was really funny - the story line had something to do with a couple of kids in a farm, who were playing with their dad's truck, and suddenly, it lost control, knowcking down chicken coops etc... And we were to drunk to figure out what the ad really meant, but, in our intoxicated state, we decided to call the 800# to get 3 copies of the "free book", whatever it was. Since it was "free", we drunks thought why not get it. So, I called, and talked to a really patient Sister at the MTC. It took me a long time to give her my name address etc, becasue of my slurred speech, inability to remember our address, plus it didnt help that my 2 equally drunk frat brothers were trying to help out!!!! Anyways, towards the end of my conversation, the Sister asked if we would prefer to have 2 "representatives" of the Church came to hand deliver the "free book". And I said, what the heck, if it still is free, I dont care. I forgot this episode the next morning, and thought nothing more about it, until I came back from class about 10 days later. As I entered the frat house, I was told that there were "2 football players from BYU" waiting to see me!!!!! And that's how I met the Elders!!!! After about a few weeks though, I decided to give up on them, becasue I definitely wasnt willing to give up drinking tea or coffee or alcohol!!! But I kept my copy of the BOM. Subsequently, I went through a couple of sets of Elders, but, again, my unwillingness to accept with the WOW tripped me up. By late 1994, I had moved out from the frat house, and had cleaned up my act, and was no longer living a party animal lifestyle. Summer of 1995, I hapened to run into Elder Bassett and Elder Tolentino, and started going through t he discussions again. And after a lot of prayer, I actually connected with the materials the Elders and I were discussing. And things moved forward in a positive manner, and in Dec of 1995 I was baptised, and I have been a faithful member since, and recently was called to be a Ward Missionary!!!! What a crazy turn of events, eh? A Mormon who actually met our Church becasue he was drunk ? As they say, Heavenly father works in mysterious ways!!!! Well, I am a convert. grew up in a Hindu family in India, attended Catholic school K-12, and then ended up at the Univ of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a member of a pretty rowdy fraternity. Lived about3/4 of a mile from the “emaciated” YSA Branch that Julie found during Debate Camp. Anyways, all I knew then about our Church was that BYU was a Church school, and that Mormons sort of had multiple wives.
Anyways, being in a frat meant that guzzling beer in copius quantities was a very important part of the fraternity lifestyle. Very late One saturday night,( after a party celebrating a Michigan Wolverines football victory), I found myself in the rec room of the frat house, quite drunk, and unsteady on my feet. So, a couple of friends and I sat down, and watched ESPN. Around 3AM or so, we saw a TV ad, that we thought was really funny – the story line had something to do with a couple of kids in a farm, who were playing with their dad’s truck, and suddenly, it lost control, knowcking down chicken coops etc… And we were to drunk to figure out what the ad really meant, but, in our intoxicated state, we decided to call the 800# to get 3 copies of the “free book”, whatever it was. Since it was “free”, we drunks thought why not get it. So, I called, and talked to a really patient Sister at the MTC. It took me a long time to give her my name address etc, becasue of my slurred speech, inability to remember our address, plus it didnt help that my 2 equally drunk frat brothers were trying to help out!!!!
Anyways, towards the end of my conversation, the Sister asked if we would prefer to have 2 “representatives” of the Church came to hand deliver the “free book”. And I said, what the heck, if it still is free, I dont care.
I forgot this episode the next morning, and thought nothing more about it, until I came back from class about 10 days later. As I entered the frat house, I was told that there were “2 football players from BYU” waiting to see me!!!!! And that’s how I met the Elders!!!!
After about a few weeks though, I decided to give up on them, becasue I definitely wasnt willing to give up drinking tea or coffee or alcohol!!! But I kept my copy of the BOM. Subsequently, I went through a couple of sets of Elders, but, again, my unwillingness to accept with the WOW tripped me up. By late 1994, I had moved out from the frat house, and had cleaned up my act, and was no longer living a party animal lifestyle. Summer of 1995, I hapened to run into Elder Bassett and Elder Tolentino, and started going through t he discussions again. And after a lot of prayer, I actually connected with the materials the Elders and I were discussing. And things moved forward in a positive manner, and in Dec of 1995 I was baptised, and I have been a faithful member since, and recently was called to be a Ward Missionary!!!! What a crazy turn of events, eh? A Mormon who actually met our Church becasue he was drunk ? As they say, Heavenly father works in mysterious ways!!!!

]]> By: manaen http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105026 manaen Tue, 01 Nov 2005 07:55:54 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105026 58. Matt, the last four lines of your comments are very similiar to <a href=http://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php?p=2582#comment-98143>Jesse's experience</a>, to <a href=http://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php?p=2582#comment-97137>mine</a>, and that of several other people here. Your comments and theirs helped me realize that it's not unique, but is the mighty change of heart everyone should have. 58.
Matt, the last four lines of your comments are very similiar to Jesse’s experience, to mine,
and that of several other people here. Your comments and theirs helped me realize that it’s not unique, but is the mighty change of heart everyone should have.

]]> By: Matt http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105024 Matt Tue, 01 Nov 2005 06:04:40 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105024 Beautiful story Julie. Definitely not boring. In addition to providing some needed nurturing to my own testimony, it reminded me of my own roots in Geekdom. My conversion has been somewhat complex, at least for me. I was born and bred in the faith. Throughout highschool I was very active and hoped to teach seminary for a living. I served a mission and worked for the church the following year. To this day, I believe that my conviction and testimony in those formative years was genuine. However, starting at about 16, there were a few issues that I found I could not completely come to terms with. It was not until I was 22 that I began confronting them. By 24 I was certifiably agnostic and, at best, indifferent toward the church. In the following years, my life floundered in spiritual indecision. After a divorce, a drug and alcohol addiction, a suicide attempt and many other trials, a large number of which were natural consequenses, I was whipped. Like Lamonte, it was in my trials that I again found God. For me, there was no other way. I had to believe that there was something out there. At first I shyed away from the conception of God that I grew up with. However, as my relationship with God has deepened, my testimony of the gospel has returned. Today I do not shy away from the issues that troubled me. I do not cower at the thought of past sins. My soul is at peace and my cup runneth over. I am able to love others. I am able to give. That I am able to say this today is a miracle to me. God bless it. And God bless Owen- good book! Beautiful story Julie. Definitely not boring. In addition to providing some needed nurturing to my own testimony, it reminded me of my own roots in Geekdom.
My conversion has been somewhat complex, at least for me. I was born and bred in the faith. Throughout highschool I was very active and hoped to teach seminary for a living. I served a mission and worked for the church the following year. To this day, I believe that my conviction and testimony in those formative years was genuine. However, starting at about 16, there were a few issues that I found I could not completely come to terms with. It was not until I was 22 that I began confronting them. By 24 I was certifiably agnostic and, at best, indifferent toward the church. In the following years, my life floundered in spiritual indecision. After a divorce, a drug and alcohol addiction, a suicide attempt and many other trials, a large number of which were natural consequenses, I was whipped. Like Lamonte, it was in my trials that I again found God. For me, there was no other way. I had to believe that there was something out there. At first I shyed away from the conception of God that I grew up with. However, as my relationship with God has deepened, my testimony of the gospel has returned. Today I do not shy away from the issues that troubled me. I do not cower at the thought of past sins. My soul is at peace and my cup runneth over. I am able to love others. I am able to give. That I am able to say this today is a miracle to me. God bless it. And God bless Owen- good book!

]]> By: Craig from Utah http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105017 Craig from Utah Tue, 01 Nov 2005 05:18:20 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105017 Julie, I have also experienced that God will use nature (like lightnig in your case) for your own growth and benifit. The worth of a soul IS GREAT in HIS sight. Julie,
I have also experienced that God will use nature (like lightnig in your case) for your own growth and benifit. The worth of a soul IS GREAT in HIS sight.

]]> By: Julie in Austin http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105005 Julie in Austin Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:34:45 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105005 Thanks to Lamonte and john and swingdancefan for sharing their stories . . . the bloggernacle is a better place for having your testimony. Oops, sorry, Melissa, no offense intended . . . it was just such a SMALL group for someone who had only ever experienced church in the form of a Catholic Mass on Christmas or Easter! Thanks to Lamonte and john and swingdancefan for sharing their stories . . . the bloggernacle is a better place for having your testimony.

Oops, sorry, Melissa, no offense intended . . . it was just such a SMALL group for someone who had only ever experienced church in the form of a Catholic Mass on Christmas or Easter!

]]> By: swingdancefan http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-105001 swingdancefan Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:04:53 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-105001 Julie, your mention of going to church not out of desire, but out of convenience reminds me of another story. Not my conversion story, but my father-in-law's, published in the "Missionary Moments" of the Church News back in the early '90s (I think): When Dad was first in the military, the only way to go off-base on weekends was to attend church. He wasn't much of a church-goer, but his buddy had put down "Mormon," so Dad did, too. The buddy quit going after a while, but Dad kept it up and was converted. As for the debate connection, I coach speech at one of the top programs in the country; my son lettered twice at his school back in Oregon, and my daughter's in her third year of speech, second year of Original Oratory here in Montana. There's nothing like it! Julie, your mention of going to church not out of desire, but out of convenience reminds me of another story. Not my conversion story, but my father-in-law’s, published in the “Missionary Moments” of the Church News back in the early ’90s (I think):

When Dad was first in the military, the only way to go off-base on weekends was to attend church. He wasn’t much of a church-goer, but his buddy had put down “Mormon,” so Dad did, too. The buddy quit going after a while, but Dad kept it up and was converted.

As for the debate connection, I coach speech at one of the top programs in the country; my son lettered twice at his school back in Oregon, and my daughter’s in her third year of speech, second year of Original Oratory here in Montana. There’s nothing like it!

]]> By: Mike B http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-104993 Mike B Mon, 31 Oct 2005 23:44:33 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-104993 What I meant was the "pioneer ancestor stuff" doesn't mean that much to me. What I meant was the “pioneer ancestor stuff” doesn’t mean that much to me.

]]> By: Mike B http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-104990 Mike B Mon, 31 Oct 2005 23:35:56 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-104990 Julie in Austin #44 - "I sometimes wish I had those pioneer ancestors everyone is always talking about." Funny that you mention that. I have an ancestor who was taken in by Emma Smith during a difficult time. I've been a member all my life, and the "ancestor stuff" doesn't mean a whole lot to me. I've never mentioned this bit of history in church (or, actually, anywhere else for that matter). I should probably repent and cherish it more, but my testimony is based on other things. Julie in Austin #44 – “I sometimes wish I had those pioneer ancestors everyone is always talking about.”

Funny that you mention that. I have an ancestor who was taken in by Emma Smith during a difficult time. I’ve been a member all my life, and the “ancestor stuff” doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. I’ve never mentioned this bit of history in church (or, actually, anywhere else for that matter). I should probably repent and cherish it more, but my testimony is based on other things.

]]> By: Melissa Madsen Fox http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/10/my-conversion-story/#comment-104958 Melissa Madsen Fox Mon, 31 Oct 2005 20:58:20 +0000 /?p=2671#comment-104958 "that little emaciated branch that met at the Institute" On Hill Street, right? When were you there?! I should take offense at the word "emaciated" because that was *my* branch; at least for the summers. I loved the people there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them. But I won't, since you weren't even properly an investigator. “that little emaciated branch that met at the Institute”

On Hill Street, right? When were you there?! I should take offense at the word “emaciated” because that was *my* branch; at least for the summers. I loved the people there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them. But I won’t, since you weren’t even properly an investigator.

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