My husband is a convert. He joined the Church while he was in Guam, serving in the Navy. This was over 32 years ago. How grateful I am for parents who teach their young men and young women to stand for the truthfulness of the Gospel.

Steve is the first of his family to join the Church. His sister and his parents still live in Kansas City and Windsor, Missouri. Over the years they have come to see the church in a different light than that taught in their own church.

Whether your children serve full-time missions or serve their country, they have such great influence on others. It was difficult to send our oldest son on his mission, but also a “relief”. Now someone else could keep their eye on him.

He served well and did a lot of growing up. He and his dad kind of had power struggles and I was beginning to think the reason the Lord called missionaries at age 19 is so their mothers don’t kill them (I don’t look good in vertical stripes.) He served in the Adelaide Australia Mission and when you are half a world away and out in the “bush”, it gives you time to think. The people he served were very poor, humble people, who appreciated everything the Lord blessed them with and he fell in love with the people and the culture. When Jeff returned he was a humbled young man, who had worked hard and there was no longer the power struggle with his dad.

That was ten years ago. He is now married and has two children and still serves faithfully. It wasn’t as difficult sending our second son to the Auckland New Zealand Mission. Chris was always a hard worker and everybody’s friend. He too fell in love with the people and the culture.

Now, we have sent our youngest son, Will, to the Portland Oregon Mission. This was very difficult! He was our companion, our “to do” list, our social life. I told my husband we need a jar titled “conversation starters” so we have something to talk about. Before it was always about what Will was doing or where he was or something.

Between these boys, we had two daughters. They are married with families of their own. So my husband and I are officially “empty-nesters.” I can hardly wait to get home from work on Thursday’s to read Will’s email. I can only say, I am thankful for each experience each of our sons brought to us through serving their missions; and for our daughters and their eternal companions (husbands.)

For those of you with sons and daughters on missions, hang in there. This time will not only be sweet to you, but glorious to those who find the church through our missionaries. I was born and raised in the church and often took it for granted. When I married Steve, and listened to his conversion story (which I never, ever get tired of hearing, even after 30 years of marriage) and realized how dramatically his life was changed, I too became “converted.”

The church is true. What comfort this knowledge brings to my heart. How humbled I am at the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. No matter were our sons and daughters serve, they take the teachings of our homes with them: our “traditions”, our family home evenings, our counsels, our prayers, our love.

These experiences change people’s lives, even if it’s half way around the world or as close as Portland Oregon.

~ Deanna Ross

Trina B

SHORT STORY : One Cub Scout asks another to attend scouts at church with him. People are converted who later serve missions in Montreal, Peru, Italy, Brazil (3), Texas, and Indiana. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gets a general manager. I get an eternal companion and four children.

LONG STORY : When I was in my early teens and living in La Habra California, my younger brother was a Cub Scout, attending the school’s pack. He had a best friend there. One day this friend told him that he would not be a part of that pack any more as his mom wanted him to attend the “church pack” (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons) instead.

My brother came home and asked if he could attend the church pack with his friend. He started attending and then, shortly before he turned twelve, he came home and said “The other guys get the priesthood when they turn twelve, but I don’t ‘cuz I’m not a member, so I want to join the Church.” My parents wanted to investigate what he wanted to join, and had the missionaries come and teach the lessons to the whole family. My brother joined shortly thereafter and served a mission in Montreal in time.

I did not join then, but was convinced to sign up for early-morning seminary for my second year of high school. After attending seminary all year, I gained a testimony and told my parents that I wanted to join the Church also. So, once again, the whole family took the lessons and I was baptized.

The following year my sister went through the same process. The whole family took the lessons again and joined the Church. My parents never joined, but have been very supportive. My mother died fifteen years ago. My Dad attends Church almost every Sunday with us and is considered a part of the ward, although he is adamant about not joining. Who knows why.

But that is only part of the story.

When I was a senior in high school we moved to Santa Barbara, California. The following year I went to BYU. When I came home on my first break my brother was in the backyard studying with a very beautiful young girl. I asked my mother who she was. Apparently, my brother met her in his math class. The two struck up a friendship and he told her about the Church. She and her family were taking the missionary lessons at our house.

Karen joined the Church shortly thereafter (her parents were not interested.)

My brother dated Karen for a while, but the two decided that they were just friends. Karen started dating a non-member from high school, told him about the Church, he took the lessons and joined the Church. Scott is now the general manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and served a very successful mission to Italy. His two oldest children served missions in Brazil, and his youngest child is waiting for his call.

A few years later, while attending Santa Barbara City College, Karen, again in math class, was attracted to a young man who was attracted to her. Craig tried to talk to her after class, but she had to run off to Institute. He got curious, wanted to know what Institute was, started attending, gained a testimony, joined the Church, and served a mission in Peru. He came home and married Karen and had four beautiful children. Two of the children have served missions (Texas and Brazil) and one has been called to serve in Indiana.

Unfortunately, Karen fell away from the Church after about fifteen years and divorced Craig, leaving him with the four children. After a few years, he started dating again. After a few “false starts” he asked me out and we were sealed in the LA Temple on August 5, 1998. When I said “I do” I instantly became the mother of four wonderful children including the elder I took to Provo in February to Missionary Training Center to prepare for serving in the Indiana mission.

One Cub Scout invites another to Church resulting in missionaries sent to four countries and various states. Eternal families are formed AND the Choir gets a manager.

Thanks for letting me tell my story.

~ Maggie Steward

• Elder Matthew Steward – Indiana Indianapolis 2-08 thru 2-10
• Sister Kristine Steward – Texas Houston (Spanish speaking,) wife of Kevin Cook, and mother of Stellan Cook, prospective missionary in 2025
• Sister Stephanie Steward – Brazil Brasilia – marrying in the LA temple July 19, 2008

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. (1 Nephi 1:20)

Trina B

“Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.”

He assured us parents that as our missionary was leaving our arms, he was entering the arms of the Savior. There is no better place to be.

Trina B

Mi familia no asistió a ninguna de servicios de la iglesia crecía. Recuerdo que fui a una las diferentes iglesias pocos, siempre en busca de algo, pero realmente no encontrar nada que me gustaba o que me ha tocado. Yo vivía en un fuera de la zona del camino, en el estado de Washington y tenía pocos amigos de mi edad. Cuando tenía unos 14 años de edad, dos jóvenes se mudó a mi barrio y nos hicimos amigos. Su familia era mormona, pero los chicos no estaban muy emocionados acerca de la iglesia. Creo que fue porque su familia se fue.

De todos modos, yo estaba en casa y una pareja de misioneros llegó a mi puerta. Era 1980 y yo tenía 16 años. Yo estaba impresionado por su mensaje, pero no tuvo tiempo para visitar con ellos. Jugaba al fútbol, baloncesto y pista y estaba muy ocupado. Les dije que venir a verme en la primavera después del fútbol, antes de la pista en marcha. Una chica que me gustaba en ese momento acababa de unirse a la iglesia un año antes y estaba tratando de que su familia se convirtió. Fui a su casa un día para encontrar a los misioneros que la enseñanza de una discusión. He escuchado y no pensar mucho en él en ese momento. Yo sólo estaba tratando de impresionar a la chica.

Mis amigos, los dos jóvenes que se habían mudado a mi barrio, me invitó a una actividad de la iglesia unas semanas más tarde. Me dijeron que iban a Hawai. Me sorprendió al principio y luego me explicaron que no eran realmente va a Hawai, pero no tenían una actividad donde los jóvenes que iban a pretender ir a Hawai y luego comer comida hawaiana y escuchar música, etc pensé que sonaba divertido, así que fui con ellos a la actividad.

Los miembros habían establecido el área de desbordamiento de la capilla como un avión. Ellos tenían tarjetas de embarque, azafatas, y los ruidos de avión. Me senté allí tratando de averiguar lo que estaba pasando cuando escuché los ruidos del fallo del motor y las luces se apagó y sigue. Pronto las luces se apagaron y todo quedó en silencio. Una persona con una linterna apareció y afirmó que era Satanás. Luego procedió a decirnos lo que sucedería si no seguimos los mandamientos. A continuación, procedió de la abundancia en una habitación oscura que representa el reino telestial.

Se nos dieron instrucciones a continuación, en cuanto a lo que sucedería a los de este reino y lo que sería. Entramos en otra habitación que representa el reino terrenal. Una vez más, se nos dio la instrucción. Esta habitación era más ligero que la sala anterior. Luego fueron escoltados a la capilla donde había una Madre Celestial y el Padre Celestial se sienta en la parte delantera. El hermano y la hermana de representación de nuestro Padre Celestial y la Madre nos habló acerca del reino celestial y lo que sería.

Cuando terminaron, los jóvenes en la sala comenzó a ponerse de pie y dar sus testimonios. Recuerdo haber pensado que esto era tan bueno que la gente de esta iglesia su juventud amó tanto que lo hicieron para que les enseñara a hacer lo correcto. Yo también recuerdo haber pensado que si alguno de mis amigos se puso de pie, que iba a ponerse de pie. Yo no entendía entonces, pero sí sé ahora, que el espíritu estaba allí testimonio para mí de la veracidad de esta iglesia.

Mis amigos nunca se puso de pie en la reunión, así que nunca se puso en pie, pero aún recuerdo lo fuerte que el espíritu estaba en esa reunión. Después de la reunión, el papá de mis amigos me preguntó si le gustaba la actividad. Le dije que lo hice. Luego se hizo la pregunta de oro. “¿Quieres
saber más? “Por supuesto le dije que sí y que semana he tenido un golpe en la puerta de los ancianos. Fui bautizado unas semanas más tarde, en abril de 1981.

Desde entonces, el Señor ha bendecido a mí ya mi familia. Estoy muy agradecido por esa experiencia y por el espíritu que acredite que me de la veracidad del Evangelio. “

Trina B

If you haven’t visited this website for awhile, be sure to swing by soon and take another peek. It is extremely easy to navigate and has tons of great information to share with your non-member friends. Anyone can request a visit from missionaries anywhere in the world. Visitors on the site can also request a free Bible or Book of Mormon, as well as click on a link that allows them to read the scriptures online.

If your computer has a Flash player you can watch several video clips on various gospel subjects, as well as hear testimonies from members of the Church. What a great resource this web site is for us to use as members of the Church! When you share a Pass-Along Card with a non-member they will be directed to this web site. It’s so easy! I keep a bunch of those cards in my car and purse, so I’ll be able to share the gospel at any time in a split second. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Twelve Apostles encouraged all members to “carry a packet of these attractive pass-along cards and give them to persons, even casual acquaintances.” (”Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 9.)

I love the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 24:12 which says “And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night.” With a simple click of a mouse the gospel can be shared!

Trina B

Howard W. Hunter once said “I believe it is safe to say that Passover is without equal in the Jewish calendar of celebrations. The Passover in the Old Testament and Easter in the New Testament testify of the great gift God has given and of the sacrifice that was involved in its bestowal. Both of these great religious commemorations declaire that death would ‘pass over’ us and could have no permanent power upon us, and that the grave would have no victory.” (Christ, Our Passover,” Ensign, May 1985, 17)

The first Passover dinner I attended was at BYU, sponsored by the religion department. I was so impressed and wanted to learn everything I could about this beautiful Jewish celebration. Over the years I have attended Passover dinners with an Institute class, community center, and my local Jewish synagogue. Now I have a next door neighbor who is Jewish and I’m so excited to be able to share this tradition with our families. What a terrific day to open the door of understanding and begin a religious discussion that embraces the old and lovingly introduces the new. There is much we can learn from one another, especially when approached with kindness and understanding.

If you’d like to recreate the Passover dinner for Family Home Evening, there are some terrific web sites to help get you started. The experience can enrich your own understanding of the scriptures and gratitude for what the Lord has done for all of his children.

www.crivoice.org/seder.html
www.crosswalk.com/parenting/11570532/
www.byub.org/newtestament/episode.asp?id=30 – The Last Supper
www.byub.org/newtestament/episode.asp?id=29- Preparations for the Last Supper
www.wf-f.org/HolyThurs.html
www.markings.bc.ca/holidays/passover/index.html

Trina B

I DID know how to help find her and I thought I’d pass this information along should you ever be in a similar situation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, has a resource for locating members all over the world. It’s a process that allows for privacy and security. You can simply call the Member and Statistical Records Division at the church office building at 801-240-3500. Request a copy of the “Membership Contact Form” and you will receive it by mail. Remember snail mail? Currently there is no electronic version of this form.

Fill out two forms, which ask for information about the person’s name, age, birthplace, and other facts that might be helpful in locating the one you are trying to reach. You also have to write a brief statement about why you want to contact the person. Return both forms to the address provided at the top of the forms. One of those copies will be sent to the person you are trying to locate, who then can decide whether or not to contact you. If the Church can’t find the person you will be notified.

This service is especially helpful if you’re trying to find a woman who may have married and changed names. You can also write to this department, rather than call, at this address:

Member and Statistical Records Division
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT
84109 USA

It’s always fun to reconnect with old friends and I suspect that we’ll be spending a good amount of time in eternity just hugging and catching up with dear ones. At least I hope so!

Trina B

You can click anywhere on the map of the world and read about the missions in that area. Most of the mission “alumni” sites include photos, reunion information, statistics, updated news, and message boards. If you’ve served a mission, be sure to register in the alumni database so others can find you and you can receive important notices. Last year I spent countless hours trying to track down missionaries where I served so I could invite them to a special 20th anniversary reunion. Our mission president was from France and was coming to the United States for the first time and we didn’t want any of our old companions to miss it! That reunion was one of the greatest nights of my life…but I’ll tell you about that another time.

Another service I really love about this site is that it offers a glossary of terms where non-members can get accurate information about what a mission or the Missionary Training Center is. It’s a great site to point your non-member relatives and friends to when you or a loved one gets a mission call!

Finally, another cool feature this site offers is the “Mission of the Day.” Every morning a different mission is randomly selected and featured on the home page. Today, for example, is the Swiss mission. A friend of mine served there years ago, but it looks like the boundaries have changed since he was there. Looks like they have a new stake called the St. Gallen Stake too.

It’s so much fun to browse the pages and see what’s happening in the Church all over the world! It just makes my heart sing to see the growth of the Church on the earth and makes me feel like even my small efforts help build the kingdom. What an honor and a privilege to live in the dispensation of the fullness of times!

Trina B

My conversion has been a slow process, I believe. It began with the death of my biological father when I was 7 years old, followed by my paternal grandfather, my maternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother within a space of 2 years. Amidst the rosaries and the Hail Mary’s, the Masses, candles and the incense, I discovered that the essence/spirits of my loved ones was gone; they had gone to a better place, and what was left in that coffin was an empty shell.

From then I refused to pray to the saints as is customary in the Catholic church and instead directed my prayers to God directly and looked upon Jesus Christ as my Savior and mediator with God the Father. No one taught me this. I just intuitively knew it as a child. Amidst my grief, since my mother and paternal grandmother were devastated over their loss, I was left on my own to come to my own conclusions. I believe I was comforted by the Holy Ghost and I felt a deep love for Jesus Christ. I knew He loved me so deeply and that He died for me and no one else loved me as much as He did.

At the age of nine my mother and I left Mexico and came to live in Santa Ana, California where my mother met and married the most wonderful husband and father a person could ever ask for. I was blessed with two wonderful fathers; the first one gave me life and love, and the second one gave me unconditional love and the emotional stability I needed.

I attended private Catholic Schools and would have continued with private schooling, but I missed the entrance exams for the local Catholic High School and attended Westminster High School instead, where I was surrounded by Mormons without me knowing it.

In my senior year in High School, while thinking of my options after graduation, I decided I wanted to be a missionary nun and serve in a leper colony in Africa, not an unusual thought for a good Catholic girl. I had heard missionary nuns speak to the youth while growing up and I was fascinated by them and wanted to wear the black & white habit. I went to speak with my local priest about becoming a nun and his first words to me after I related what I wished to do were “You are much too pretty to be a nun in a leper colony.” He was a very wise old priest and I still remember him with fondness. His second words to me, for which I am very grateful were to “search other religions and see if Catholicism is true and come back and see me about becoming a missionary nun.” As a good Catholic I took his words of advice to heart and begin praying for guidance and for God to show me the way and let me know if becoming a missionary nun was what he wanted for me.

I begin attending and studying other religions such as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Church of God, and Jehovah Witnesses. I even looked at the Hara Krishna and checked into the occult. I joined the Christian club at school which met at lunch to study the Bible, but was not very welcomed since I was still very much Catholic.

In the meantime, my mom and I would go to the local laundry-mat to do our laundry and I was always intrigued by a little box that said “Christ in America” or something to that effect with a picture of Christ with the Nephites. It had little cards to call and ask for more information. I never did, but I did believe that Christ could have come to America, since I knew He was the Savior to all the world.

My best friend went to Utah on vacation and sent me a postcard of the Angel Moroni and said, “I thought you might like this since you are studying the Mormons right now, aren’t you?” When she came home I corrected her, since I was studying the Jehovah Witnesses at the time and came very close to joining them. I admired their zest and their courage to knock on doors and put up with all that rejection. I do still admire their zealousness and their conviction, a bit off the mark, but, at the time I was very interested in them.

This whole time I was on my knees praying to know the truth and lo and behold the Spanish speaking missionaries came knocking on my door. When I saw they were wearing suits and ties I was very intrigued, since, I had seen the Angel Moroni on a post card I had assumed all Mormons wore long tunics like the Arabs did. Not only were they wearing suits & ties, but they were young, cute and “white anglos” speaking fluent Spanish, definitely out of the ordinary. So, I let them in the door. Hispanics have a creed we live by, “mi casa es su casa” which means “my house is your house” and so, my mom offered them refreshments and made them feel welcomed. They of course proceeded to teach us the discussions. My dad and I were very interested. I think my mom was just looking for eligible young men for me so that I would not become a nun.

In the 70’s they had cute flannel board figure/stories and when they taught the priesthood authority I knew it was true. When they mentioned the Book of Mormon and gave us a synopsis of it, I knew it was true without even reading it. Angel Moroni coming to New York, the First Vision, all true as far as I was concerned. I had known it deep down in my soul since I was a little girl.

My dad also knew it was true and something he had been searching for as well. As a child he had gone to various other religions, but a member of none. When he married my mom he had converted to Catholicism because we were Catholic, but, when he heard the discussions, he also knew in his soul that it was true. My dad and I were baptized as soon as we were able to and my mother was baptized a few months later due to her being injured in an automobile accident.

Needless to say, I never did go back to my wise old priest who told me to search for the truth, but, to this day, I know that there are people of God in every religion, and even though they may not know, they help the gospel grow, like my wise old priest helped me to discover the truth. I pray and hope that my daughter runs into those people of God like my wise old priest helped me. I am thrilled that my daughter is going to be one of those sweet loving missionaries that brought the gospel to my family and me. I feel in a way, like my daughter is repaying the Lord my debt by serving a full-time mission. I am very grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed my daughter with this opportunity to serve in Italy.

Trina B

My conversion story starts about 4 years ago. My daughter, Sister Crystal Champion, was investigating this church as well as one other, while singing at the Catholic church in town. One day she told me that she had decided to get baptized and asked me to attend the baptism. I was very supportive of her decision to join although I had not heard of any of the beliefs. Crystal took a strong interest in the Sister missionaries serving in the ward. We had them over for lunch and dinners and she drove them to appointments. We live in Upstate New York.

One day Crystal told me that she had decided to move to Logan, Utah with one of the returned missionaries who encouraged her to move there. To say the least, I was very sad but also knew that it was best for her to continue in her faith. After all she was the first to join the church in our family. Before she left for Utah she did have the sisters and elders here talk to me about the plan of salvation. Although I have a very strong faith in God, I was not ready to really accept the truth. Deep down I was scared what my family and friends would say if they knew I converted to be a Mormon.

Crystal moved to Utah in July 2004. As we said good bye, I could see the excitement in her eyes and the faith she had that everything was going to be okay. I guess that is something youth can do better than adults. Here she was with limited funds, no job and moving half way across the country! She found employment rather quickly and never once asked for money, although I did send her some once in a while. She absolutely loved Utah and had several opportunities to visit Temple Square. With each visit she would ask them to call me, which they did, and Elders were at my door to teach me. I just wasn’t ready to accept the truth. I could see the changes that were taking place in my daughter’s life but still was reluctant to accept the reasons.

Each time Crystal came home to visit she would spend time with the sister missionaries. She would ask me to go to church with her, which I did, but still I was not ready to be baptized. The elders continued to teach me and spend lots of time in my home. In 2006 Crystal felt that Heavenly Father wanted her to go on a mission so she began the process of completing the paperwork. She was home for a visit for Thanksgiving last year and was hopeful that she would get her call while home. (She planned it that way and asked that her call be sent to our address.) Needless to say, it did not arrive before she left. She so much wanted us to be with her when she opened the letter.

Shortly after she arrived home, she received her letter. She was at work and her roommate brought it up to her! She immediately called me because she wanted me “to be there” when she opened it. I happened to be driving home so I told her to call me back, which she did, just as I was pulling into my drive way! She read the letter and told me she was going to the Alabama Birmingham mission and she would report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on March 14, 2007. Her excitement was unbelievable! And of course I cried – she was coming to the East Coast (although I knew I couldn’t visit her while she was on her mission).

I made plans to visit her in Utah for 10 days prior to her going to the MTC. We stayed with a friend and were treated especially nice. I had the opportunity/privilege of “spoiling” her before she went on her mission. I attended the church service where she gave her going away talk. There were several members that came up to me and said how nice it was that I came to be with Crystal before she went on her mission. Somehow they knew I was not a member.

The night we went to the stake to have her setting apart is a night I will never forget. The Spirit was so real to me. I knew that this is what Heavenly Father wanted for my daughter. I was being selfish thinking how could I survive without her for 18 months! After my conversion I was soon reminded that she was just on loan from Heavenly Father. Her father’s friend also gave her a blessing and I cried like a baby. I started to think what a special person she was to be able to serve the Lord and how proud I was to be her mom.

We went to the MTC that Wednesday morning and it was the strangest feeling. I was crying but couldn’t help but see the excitement on her face! I left there with such a warm feeling. Although I was sad I knew that Heavenly Father would take care of her. She is truly an amazing child who has faith that would move a mountain! Life was not always easy for her but she moved past that and had something very special in her life.

I returned home the following day both happy and sad. While in Utah at Temple Square I had purchased a quad (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants bound together in the same book) and said to myself “Linda, you are going to read the Book of Mormon and understand and find the truth.” The elders once again started to teach me. I was on fire and couldn’t read the Book of Mormon fast enough.

I had to work on some Word of Wisdom issues and the elders called me every night to check on my progress. I was finally ready to get baptized! And yes, I was baptized on Crystal’s 23rd birthday – June 23, 2007!

Since that time our family has received many blessings. People have asked if I did it for Crystal and my answer is no, I did it because of Crystal. Her faith in Heavenly Father and the spirit I felt while in Utah made me feel that there really is something to this. I am continuing to learn so much and am truly a happier person because of my choice. I have been able to understand why Crystal is on a mission. Not only is she learning to be obedient to Heavenly Father, so am I. Her emails mean so much more to me now when I can see her testimony of the truth of this church grow stronger. I can’t wait to give her a great big hug and kiss and to see her face when she sees me finally as a member of the Church.

I know that this Church is the restored gospel and that Heavenly Father lives and as does my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and I am so thankful that I have joined the church. The Book of Mormon is true.

Sister Linda Champion

Trina B