Conversion Stories!

My lovely wife Tiffy and I have started a new website... Again! www.ldsconvertstories.com
This site is for people to share their conversion stories and to help others feel the spirit. We are going to have some links to lds.org, mormon.org and will have some place you can go to get a book or audio from one of the GA's or anything else inspiring to help people through their hard times or find their testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ. Now some people probably think that I have become a religious nut! Well to a point I have I guess but these changes in my life have helped me become a very happy person. I'm always excited for things to come! Ever since my conversion I have wanted to help other people. It's been something that makes me happy and I love that feeling!

Something that I don't share much is my conversion story. I don't say it much because... well I'm not sure why. This blog has made me open up and throw everything on the table. I want to be an open book and not feel like I need to hide anything.

I was 17 years old, I was out of High School and making some good money for one of that age. I got into a fight with my parents. Nothing unusual for me at the time. I hated them and was bitter about everything. I hated how they forced me to go to church, how everyone cried in fast and testimony meeting at church, how everyone loved Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It all seemed superficial to me and I didn't care nor did I want any part of it. I fought my whole teenage life not only with my parents. I remember telling them that I didn't think the Book of Mormon was true and I didn't think Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. This went on for years.

I moved out of my parents home when I was 17. Out of the window of my room I went as to not let my parents know that I was moving out(we only had a 800 sq ft home or so at the time so it wasn't easy to get things past them). I moved in with my buddy Don. Don(Who turned around, is an amazing guy and now is a great example of what a good person means) was in the same position spiritually as I was and it seemed like the right move to for me. We also worked together. At this point I had freedom! The world was mine. I could do anything I wanted and I didn't care! Well one night after our party ended and friends left I sat in my room. I thought about all of the things I had. I thought about my car outside, my brand new X-box and TV/ new Home Theater System, my couch and my comfy bed. All of the "R" movies I could handle(I was under the impression that if it wasn't "R" that it wasn't good). I sat on my couch that night and realized that each one of these things brought a temporal happiness. I hadn't talked with anyone from my family in months due to lack of trying and simply just shut them out. At that point and moment on that couch with my sadness I remember my parents telling me growing up that if I ever wanted true happiness to read the Book of Mormon and pray. Now growing up I thought that this was crazy. That book is 500+ pages, double column, small print and in Old English. I was thinking HELL NO! I humbled myself and surprisingly I had one in my room stashed away. I was in tears thinking about my life and where I had ended up. I came to the resolve to read something. I thumbed through the pages and started to read. I don't remember how long I read for or even where I read but I got on my knees and next to the couch prayed to my Father in Heaven. I asked him if the Book of Mormon was actually true, if there was in fact a Prophet again on the earth, if Joseph Smith was a true prophet, if families could really be together forever and not just till death. As I prayed I got a tremendous feeling of love come over me. A feeling of comfort. a feeling of peace and knowledge of the reality of my Savior Jesus Christ. This is a feeling that I have never had at this point in my life before. I knew that God loved me enough to call a prophet on the earth as he has before like Moses and Abraham. That families can truly be "Together Forever" and be eternal. I knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon was TRUE! I cried myself to sleep that night in guilt and gratitude. The next morning I contacted my parents. My Mom was very happy to see me and hear from me and my Dad was like yeah right boy. I have been through enough with you and I'll believe it when I see it. I went back to church on my own accord and was 18 years old at this point. I got myself ready to go on a mission and served 2 years for my savior. I helped people overcome drug addiction, domestic violence and helped people understand the reality  or a better way of life. I have done a 180 since then and am so grateful for it because that led me to my wonderful wife Tiffy and all of the blessings that we now have today(1 week a new baby girl!). This would have never happened and she wouldn't be my wife if I was living the way I was then. Becoming an optimist has given me hope and a better life as Tomorrow Always Comes!