As a mother, my heart weeps for Mary, the mother of Jesus this day. What pain she must have felt to see what her son endured as He was beaten, reviled and humiliated, and crucified so mercilessly on the cross. What mother could bear to see her child in the throes of such agony? What depths of despair and grief she must have felt! I imagine she cried out when she heard her son utter words of love from the cross, "Woman, behold thy Son!" (John 19:26) Oh, blessed Mary, my heart aches at the mere thought of what you witnessed this day.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke eloquently about this Friday, when they crucified the Son of God:

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.
Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day they stood triumphant.
On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.
On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.
On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.
It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.
I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

Everything that I've learned about Mary tells me that she was a mother in every sense of the word. She would have been the kind of mother that would have rushed in to protect and defend her child without any thought to herself. I'm sure she wished that she could have taken that cup from her son if she could. How utterly helpless she must have felt. Yet, I also believe that Mary was prepared by the Lord for such a time. I believe that even in the midst of her pain and suffering, she was surrounded by angels who comforted her in her hour of need.

Mary was no ordinary maiden. She was virtuous, honorable, humble, and faithful. She was selected by God to be the mother of Jesus.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)

Words cannot express the depths of my love and gratitude for Mary, the mother of Jesus. In my mind she stands for everything that is praiseworthy and honorable about motherhood and womanhood. I know that she understood Jesus was only hers for a time, that He was meant to endure what He went through to save mankind. She knew this, yet, she was still His mother and so she suffered. Oh, how she must have suffered!

In my mind's eye I see her sorrow turn to pure joy when Sunday came. I can feel her burdens immediately lightened when she realized that He is risen. For Sunday did come! Elder Wirthlin continued;

But the doom of that day did not endure.
The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.
And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

As I praise and honor my Savior and Redeemer and celebrate His glorious resurrection on Sunday, I will also remember in my mother heart another mother - Mary, the mother of Jesus.

This Sunday is Easter. Christians everywhere will pause and reflect upon the central point of their theology: the resurrection and the redemption of Jesus Christ.

In this spirit, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) issued an Easter message. In it, they reaffirm the basics of Christ’s mission and atoning sacrifice. It is proper that they should do this. As the supreme governing body of the Church, it is their responsibility to set the tone for the season and for worship services this Sunday.

Here is their message:

“Every thoughtful person has asked himself that question best asked by Job of old: ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14). Try as we may to put the question out of our thoughts, it always returns. Death comes to all mankind. It comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its call is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life's journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.”

“Job's question was answered on that first Easter, when, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came unto the sepulcher. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen...’ (Luke 24:1, 5—6).”

“We solemnly testify that God lives. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the resurrection. Because of His glorious resurrection all mankind will live again. ‘Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!’ (Hymns, no. 136).”

The First Presidency
Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
(Source: Deseret News)

I appreciate this seasonal reminder. Although it is not as commercial as Christmas, Easter, too, can be a time of distractions. We focus on new Sunday clothes, egg-shaped junk food, pseudo-grass, plush rabbits, and so forth. Even the concern about not commercializing a sacred day can also be a distraction. I hope we do not get to the point where we define Easter as the time of year where we worry about commercialization.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. This month the Ensign, the official magazine of the Church, has been exclusively on the life and mission of Jesus Christ. This reinforces what members of the Church have been taught all along.

The fourteenth prophet of the Church, Howard W. Hunter, said:

"The doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized, nor can it be disregarded."

"Without the Resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a litany of wise sayings and seemingly unexplainable miracles—but sayings and miracles with no ultimate triumph."

"No, the ultimate triumph is in the ultimate miracle: for the first time in the history of mankind, one who was dead raised himself into living immortality. He was the Son of God, the Son of our immortal Father in Heaven, and his triumph over physical and spiritual death is the good news every Christian tongue should speak."(Howard W. Hunter, “An Apostle’s Witness of the Resurrection,” Ensign, May 1986, 15.)

And Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle in the Church, succinctly stated, “As far as man is concerned, all things center in Christ.” (Mormon Doctrine, 129).

It does not get plainer than that. I appreciate how the leaders of my church make our Christianity so obvious. You can never overemphasize the fundamentals, be it in reading, writing, or religion. Once Christ is in place, everything else then falls into its proper place.

That is why the Church has emphasized using the correct name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It reminds us of our theological center.

In fact, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a Christian church since before day one. Ten years before the Church was organized, Joseph Smith had his first experience with Christ and with forgiveness.

He wrote:

"Thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world, of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the of the minds of mankind. My mind became exceedingly distressed for I became convicted of my sins."

"I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy. And the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness, and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord (in the 16th year of my age), a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me. And I was filled with the spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord.”

“And he spake unto me saying, ‘Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.’" (1832 History. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 10-11. Standardized.)

We now call this event the First Vision. Not only was it an affirmation of God’s existence, but also an affirmation of God's power. Christ’s Atonement can change people’s lives for the better. Joseph Smith became what he was because of his relationship to Christ and his reliance upon the Atonement.

In a sense, the First Vision was also a first Easter for Joseph Smith. Like the women at the tomb and the early apostles, he saw the risen Lord.

But it also goes deeper than that. It was only after having this vision in spring 1820 that Joseph Smith understood Christ in the full and complete sense. Christ ceased being a shadowy and disinterested figure from the Bible, and finally became a living reality, and a source of personal inspiration and power.

I too have felt this power in my life. We work to discipline our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Personal effort is effective, but it is not enough. There needs to be some extra power that nudges us along in our righteous goals. This is God’s power, the Atonement. It is what makes bad men good, good men better, and better men perfect.

Behind all the things we do—having large families, abstaining from both coffee and premarital relations, genealogy and other good works—is Jesus Christ’s Atonement. It is what brings purpose and sanity to our endeavors.

One of my favorite quotes from Josephs Smith is his “in a nutshell” summary of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

"But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56)

All things are an appendage to the Atonement. This means that I must be an appendage to the Atonement. This sounds weird at first blush, but in practice it is not.

Paul, in the New Testament, explained the idea this way:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“Christ liveth in me.” I must become an instrument in the hands, the pierced hands, of Jesus Christ. Only then does my life have any meaning.

This scripture inspires me to be more and more like Jesus Christ. Hopefully, I can say like Paul that I’m not doing such and such, but it is Christ in me that is doing these good things. I think that is a worthy goal for all.

If I were to let the world tell me who I am and what I'm worth, I would be a very unhappy person indeed.

We live in a world that seems bent on telling us we're not good enough, pretty enough, or skinny enough. According to society's standards we are simply not enough! We are inundated with the world's idea of beauty and perfection. It is no wonder that so many are unhappy. When measured against such a measuring stick, many of us will be found wanting. Perhaps this is why so many young people struggle with self-esteem.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve of Apostles offered this counsel for all the young women of the Church:

I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not! But as one adviser to teenage girls said: “You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power." The key to feeling confident is to always listen to your inner self—the real you. And in the kingdom of God, the real you is more precious than rubies.

How can one as imperfect as I find happiness? Simple. I am happy because I know who I am. I do not let society decide my worth. I'm happy because I have been blessed abundantly by my Heavenly Father. No, I don't have a lot of money. I'm not as talented as many others. I'm not as smart as a lot of people I know, and I definitely do not look anything like the media's image of beauty. I have a lot of anxieties and worries. I worry about my children, about the future, and about my husband's safety. Still, I am so wondrously happy.

I'm happy because I've been given many gifts. I have the gift of health. The gift of a happy home. The gift of family. The gift of love. The gift of good friends. The gift of freedom. The gift of the Atonement. The gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know that I'm a daughter of God. I know that He knows me personally and loves me as I am. I don't have to be perfect or to be a certain size for Him to accept me. He accepts me as I am. He knows my many failings and He forgives me when I'm sincere about forsaking those weaknesses and faults.

President Spencer W. Kimball (12th President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) once spoke about an interview he had with a couple that was about to be married. He shared this advice with them.

Happiness is a strange commodity. It cannot be purchased with money, and yet it is bought with a price. It is not dependent upon houses, or lands, or flocks, or degrees, or position, or comforts; for many of the most unhappy people in all the world have these. The millionaire has comforts and luxuries, but he has no happiness unless he has paid the same price for it that you can also pay. Often the rich are the most unhappy.
If you think that ease and comfort and money are necessary to your happiness, ask your parents and others whose lives are in the autumn...
You ask, “What is the price of happiness?” You will be surprised with the simplicity of the answer. The treasure house of happiness may be unlocked and remain open to those who use the following keys: First, you must live the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity and simplicity—not a half-hearted compliance, but hewing to the line, and this means an all-out devoted consecration to the great program of salvation and exaltation in an orthodox manner. Second, you must forget yourself and love your companion more than yourself. If you do these things, happiness will be yours in great and never failing abundance.

Happiness is a gift that we can all have in our lives. Our Heavenly Father wants us to find true, lasting happiness. He wants us to feel joy in this life. The prophet Nephi taught us that men are so that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25) We've been given a blueprint to follow in order for us to find true happiness. It is up to each of us to decide if we are going to be happy by following our Heavenly Father or be unhappy by listening to the world. My happiness begins with me just as your happiness begins with you!

At last the verdict was in: Jesus Christ would be crucified. Already weak and exhausted from the Garden of Gethsemane, having stayed up all night being tossed here and there by evil men whose only aim was to see Him hung, by now Christ had suffered more cruelly than any other man on earth. His agony was only added upon by the Roman soldiers.

Roman regulations insisted that every man condemned to crucifixion be scourged first. This act alone was so brutal, so bloody, those inflicted often died even before they could be crucified. I don’t feel it’s necessary to go into the horrors of scourging here. Just know that it was far more horrible than we can possibly imagine.

After the scourging had passed, the Roman soldiers who held Christ captive here couldn’t quite leave Him alone. Instead they took Him back to the judgment hall where they once again stripped Him of His clothes, mockingly replacing them with one of scarlet, a sign of royalty. Someone braided together a crown of thorny vines. It’s possible each of those thorns were an inch long. He was given a reed to hold, like a scepter, and once again He was scorned.

One of the things that most amazes me about everything Jesus was asked to endure was His patience. Though men spat upon Him, swore at Him, said cruel things to make fun and provoke, Christ patiently bore it all. As He was beaten, slapped, scourged, and other physical abuses were heaped upon Him, Christ never once raised a hand to save Himself. He simply bore all things with patience.

Bruce R. McConkie, a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), taught to us follow Christ’s example.

“To fill the full measure and purpose of our mortal probation, we must have patience. This mortal existence is the Lord’s sifting sphere, the time when we are subject to trials, testing, and tribulations. Future rewards will be based on our patient endurance of all things” (McConkie, Bruce R.,Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, 557; italics added).

At this time upon Christ’s back was placed the cross He was to carry to Golgotha. We cannot know for certain whether it was the entire cross, or the crossbar. Even the latter would be trial enough, perhaps weighing 75-125 pounds. Christ is generally thought to have carried the crossbar, as crucifixions were generally done on a tree. The bar would have lain across the back of His neck, His arms tied to either side.

In this fashion Christ was prodded along through the streets on their way out of the city (no executions were performed within the city walls. Look up Numbers 15:35; 1 Kings 21:13; Acts 7:58). One of the soldiers carried a sign made by Pilate, indicating Christ’s name and supposed crime, which would later be fastened to the top of the cross.

Only now do we begin to see what toll all of the agonizing events up to this point had taken. Christ, under the great weight of everything He had endured, stumbled. He needed help. A passerby was called to by the soldiers and ‘compelled’ to carry the cross.

It is this man, Simon of Cyrene, who offers us a small ray of light in such a dark moment. Though we don’t know much about him, we do gain the sense that he had nothing to do with Jesus before this moment. He was not among the crowd who had demanded the life of Christ. He was not among those who joined the crowd in mocking and taunting the Savior. He was simply there because Mosaic law required all males of the covenant to come before the Lord during the Passover feast.

This one encounter, however, seemed to have affected Simon deeply. In Mark 15:21 we are given a small clue as to what eventually happened to Simon. “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.” Simon had two sons: Alexander and Rufus. How does this help us?

Rufus was later referred to in Romans 16:13, where the apostle Paul mentions him, and his mother, specifically. In fact Paul seems to know them very well. We learn an even more interesting fact through a professor at Brigham Young University.

“Archaeologists working in Jerusalem believe that a group of ossuaries (stone boxes for the burial of human bones) discovered in 1941 belonged to the family of Simon of Cyrene.... One inscription bears the name Alexander, a name rare among Jews at the time; he is identified as the Son of Simon” (Skinner, Andrew C., Golgotha, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002, p.112).

The event that took place the day Simon found himself called forth out of the streets of Jerusalem had such a profound effect on his life he became a converted member to the Lord’s Church, and his family as well.

The thought I’d like to close with, however, is the thought of Simon carrying a load for our Savior. So many times we feel the crosses we are asked to bear are too heavy a load on our shoulders, and we stumble. Often we are told to allow the Lord to help us, for His burden is light. There are few individuals throughout the history of the world who can claim they were able to carry even a tiny portion of Christ’s heavy burdens. Though he may not have thought so at first, Simon's life was truly blessed for that small act of service.

Easter week marks two of the most sacred events in all of Christianity - the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (informally known as Mormons) join other Christians in commemorating these significant events.

I watched a number of different documentaries on the life of Jesus Christ this week. Once again, I wondered how many who knew and heard Him in person failed to recognize Him as the Son of God, the Messiah. If I had been there, would I have been one of the believers or one of the many who rejected Him? I hope with everything in me that I would have been among those who were privileged to worship and learn at His feet.

At the end of our Sunday school class this past Sunday, our teacher challenged us to really focus on the Savior this week. She asked us to remember that this was the week that He died for our sins. She reminded us that before we go "hopping with the bunnies" to take time to realize the great significance of His gift.

I took her challenge to heart and have felt even closer to my Savior this week. I found myself reflecting on a number of different things. I realized that all of my life, I've thought of Him as my Savior and King, but also as my friend. I pondered again on the pain and agony He endured for us and wondered how it is possible that we can forget Him so conveniently at times. When I consider just what His sacrifice entailed, I can't help but feel humbled and amazed.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,
That for me a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

I marvel that He would descend from his throne divine,
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify.

I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt,
Such mercy, such love, such devotion can I forget?
No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the gloried throne I kneel at His feet.
(I Stand All Amazed, text and music by Charles H. Gabriel)

I have yet to sing this Hymn all the way through without getting teary-eyed. The beautiful sentiments expressed in it never fail to touch my heart and soul.

This Easter week I've rededicated my heart, mind, and soul to Him. I will continue to praise Him through music but also through renewed attempts to follow Him and to be a true disciple. I will honor Him by continuing to learn of Him and by teaching my children to love Him.
In honor of this Easter weekend, I want to share with you a couple of excellent sites dedicated to His Life and Teachings.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God - We discussed this site last month but it doesn't hurt to revisit it again this month. Take time to go through the site again especially the section on His Life and Teachings. Don't miss Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) article on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Don't miss this excellent video titled Finding Life in Christ. Be sure to read the powerful testimonies of modern day prophets who all bear witness that Jesus is the Christ!

Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of Mankind - This excellent site is dedicated solely to the life and teachings of the Savior. Be sure to read the interesting article about the earliest accounts of the Jesus' death and resurrection. If you're looking for historical background on the Bible, this site will answer some of those questions. Other sections include Teachings of Jesus Christ, Miracles of Jesus, Parables of Jesus, The Gospels, Non-canonical Writings, and many more. This is a fairly new site so be sure to check back often for it is sure to become a one stop source for information on the Savior.

Easter for me is a time of sadness but also of great joy because He is risen. He lives, He lives! I love and worship Him. He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my King, and the truest of friends.

None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

1 Peter 1:25 says "But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." Today's conversion story is from Don Busenbark:

My family did not attend any church services growing up. I remember going to a few different churches, always looking for something, but not really finding anything I liked or that touched me. I lived in an out-of-the- way area in Washington state and had few friends my age. When I was about 14 years old, two young men moved into my neighborhood and we became friends. Their family was LDS, but the boys were not really excited about church. I think they went because their family went.

Anyway, I was home and a couple of missionaries came to my door. It was 1980 and I was 16 years old. I was impressed by their message, but did not have time to visit with them. I played football, basketball and track and was very busy. I told them to come see me in the spring after football, before track started up. A girl I liked at the time had just joined the church a year before and was trying to get her family converted. I went to her house one day to find the missionaries there teaching a discussion. I listened and did not think much of it at the time. I was just trying to impress the girl.

My friends, the two young men who had moved into my neighborhood, invited me to a church activity a few weeks later. They told me they were going to Hawaii. I was shocked at first and then they explained that they were not really going to Hawaii, but they had a youth activity where they were going to pretend to go to Hawaii and then eat Hawaiian food and listen to music, etc. I thought that it sounded like fun so I went with them to the activity.

The members had set the overflow area of the chapel as an airplane. They had boarding passes, stewardesses, and airplane noises. I sat there trying to figure out what was going on when I heard engine failure noises and the lights flicked off and on. Soon the lights went out and everything was quiet. A person with a flashlight appeared and claimed he was Satan. He then proceeded to tell us what would happen if we did not follow the commandments. We then proceeded out of the overflow into a dark room that represented the Telestial kingdom.

We were then instructed as to what would happen to those in this kingdom and what it would be like. We went into another room which represented the Terrestial kingdom. Again, we were given instruction. This room was lighter than the previous room. Then we were escorted into the chapel where there was a Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father sitting in the front. The brother and sister representing Heavenly Father and Mother spoke to us about the Celestial Kingdom and what it would be like.

When they finished, the youth in the room began to stand and bear their testimonies. I remember thinking that this was so cool that the people of this church loved their youth so much that they did this for them to teach them to do what was right. I also remember thinking that if either of my friends stood up, I was going to stand up. I did not understand then, but I do know now, that the spirit was there bearing testimony to me of the truthfulness of this church.

My friends never stood up in the meeting so I never stood up, but I still remember how strong the spirit was in that meeting. After the meeting, my friends' dad asked if I liked the activity. I said that I did. Then he asked the golden question. "Would you like to
learn more?" Of course I said yes and that week I had a knock on my door from the elders. I was baptized a few weeks later in April of 1981.

Since then, the Lord has blessed me and my family. I am so grateful for that experience and for the spirit testifying to me of the truthfulness of the gospel."