Guest Post by Mikayla: A Conversion Story

Hey guys, so I don't remember if I mentioned this, but a while back I had a reader contact me wanting to talk about the church. She had been attending church for like 6 months, but due to the lack of a ride and her job she had to quit going. She had questions about some things, like the Word of Wisdom, but she was pretty sure the church was mostly true. We sent emails back and forth a lot, and eventually added each other on Facebook and exchanged phone numbers. She just got baptized last Saturday the 13th, and I am SO happy for her. I asked her to write a guest post, and here it is :)

<3 Marie-Rose

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I’m Mikayla. I am 18 years old. I love photography and going out with friends. I have a lot of tattoos and piercings. And last summer I watched every episode of Orange is the New Black. So it may surprise you that on September 13th I joined the LDS church. 

Matthew 28:19-20 says “Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” I feel like this verse is really important.

Missionary work is so important. Without all of the incredible missionaries I would not be where I am today. I haven’t always been the easiest investigator. I have argued a lot. Cried during several lessons. Canceled at the last minute. But I am so grateful for the patience and understanding of the missionaries that have taught me. Without the missionaries I would never have joined the church. I would still be in a bad place and I would be a completely different person.

By meeting with the missionaries and coming to church I have seen such a difference in my life. I thought that my life was never going to get any better. Then I made the decision to get baptized. I honestly can’t tell you why I chose to be baptized. I had known the church was true for the two years I had been investigating beforehand. But I can tell you this: My decision to be baptized was seriously the best one I could have made. I have been even happier in the week following my baptism than I have been in a while. My family might not know about my baptism. And I may not be able to do temple work for them since my family has made it clear they don’t want to be converted to the church. But I am ok with that. I know that I made the right choice in being baptized.

D&C 121:7 says “My Son peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment”. I know that no matter what is happening in our life God will always be there for us. If our family doesn't agree with out beliefs or we loose something or someone we really love it can seem like a big deal. But by praying and reading the scriptures and continuing on we will be taken care of. Trials can seem really long. But when we have eternity they really aren’t that long.

I know this church is true. I know that missionary work is so important and that without it so many people would not be baptized. I know that baptism brings so much happiness. And I know that God helps us through hard times even when they seem like their going to last a lifetime. And I say all this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. (: