My Journey has been a long one and it is still continuing. I have had my Heavenly Father in my life since the beginning but not in the same way he is with me now. I was born into a Catholic household. Baptized as an infant I grew up going to Catholic schools and learning about our Father in Heaven. Although I knew I had a Father even greater than my own, which is hard to believe sometimes, I was taught i did not deserve him and to fear him. The Father I learned about did not show mercy and love but instead just always punished us. I didn't get it then and when I would ask questions I was told to pipe down and focus on the lesson. I had a few trials growing up that led me down a path going further and further away from my Father in Heaven. It had been years since I prayed and years since I wanted to go to church. It want until this point that I uttered a small prayer. "Lord please save me". A month or so later I met a boy. There was something different about him that made me feel good about myself. When with him I felt a peace of sorts. The kind of feeling I had felt way back when before I had started on the path dictated by the adversary. He was the answer to my prayed sent to save me. After many long conversations about the church I agreed to attend with him. That day I knew that I had stumbled upon something great. That week I turned my life around and started to adhere to the standards of the church, I jumped into reading the Book of Mormon and stuck too it. Immediately my world changed. I became happy again despite the rejection from almost all my family and friends for my sudden lifestyle change. A smile replaced my frown and gratitude had overtaken resentment. My questions had been answered in my studies and I learned that the peace I felt was the spirit. I learned not to fear God but to love him with my whole heart because he really does love us. I learned about his plan for us on Earth and his plan for us in the eternities. I knew that the only thing holding me back form being baptized and showing my dedication to him were my parents. They were proud of the new person I became after adhering to the standards of the church but were still uneasy. I wasn't allowed to have the missionaries over so I met with them in secret at a friends house and after church. After all the lessons were complete I knew I had to work harder on getting permission from my parents. After many debates and tears they finally said yes. On may 9th I was baptized by that young man who answered my prayers. I became the first member on the church in my family. Since then they have been very supportive. I hope that one day they will open up their hearts just as I did and gain a testimony of their own. I have never been happier than ever to have the church in my life. My testimony grows each day. That young man is now on a mission of his own and is serving the Lord just as he was asked to do. I know that this church is true and that if you are humble enough to accept it then you will be blessed just as I have been. Now no matter what the adversary throws at me, I know that I can fight it off with the sword of truth.
"The good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold..."
(Alma 5:60)
