Julie's Conversion

This is the firsthand account of the conversion process of Julie to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's difficult to describe the experience of working with Julie. It is a memory that I treasure. I feel like we were led to meet each other for a very important purpose, at a critical time.

Kalispell, MT. L/R Elder Lanham, Bonnie, Julie,  Elder Henriksen, Bishop Klingensmith

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I grew up in what would now be called a dysfunctional family. When my mother took legal action to separate from my abusive father, we (mother, brother and I) were suddenly treated as outcasts by the people in our church at the time. This attitude soon carried over to school as well. Thus I learned early on, that religions preaching the doctrine of tolerance etc. did not necessarily have members willing to practice that doctrine. As a result, my childhood was not a happy one. As a young adult, I had concluded that religion is like a pair of shoes--that you have to find one that fits if you are going to keep walking in them. And so I began a journey of looking for a church that fit--i.e. one whose doctrine was not only aligned with what my heart told me was "the way things should be" but was also one whose members were more inclined to practice what was preached in their daily lives.

Turnin' the Other Cheek

Now, in this post, I'll try to be humorous but hopefully not degrading or offensive. I hope that you can feel some of what I felt in this situation.
A few weeks ago, Elder Sargent and I went over to a lady who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but who is not active in her faith. Her name is Sister Bird. She's been making good progress in coming back. But when we walked in, we were met by her father and step mother, who introduced themselves by sort of snorting, looking away, and saying, "We used to have the missionaries over, but my wife scared them all away."

The step mom looked up and gave us the stinkeye.
It was one of those times on a mission you never forget.

Kenny's Conversion

This is the firsthand account of the conversion of Kenny, a young man who I met and worked with in Kalispell, Montana. He hopes to serve a mission someday soon! See http://johnstonkenny.blogspot.com/.

L/R Elder Lanham, Elder Miner, Richard, Kenny, and Wendy Johnston

"Last February, I was texting my friend Kyla Allred to see how things are going and what she's up to today. She was saying, "I'm at church right now. Oh boy you are missing out big time Kenny." Then she said, "You should come next Sunday?" She was just being sarcastic but what she was not expecting was a text saying, "Sure. Why not, it might be fun."

So all that week I was getting texts and calls from Kyla saying you should wear this, this and this and be at the church at this time and do not be late. So Sunday comes along and I get ready to go to church. I actually get their 5 minutes early. I walk in and I do not know what to do. I can not find Kyla. She was a little late to Sacrament meeting so I sit in the very back so no one would see me. Then Kyla walks in and sees me and we go sit right up front where I did not want to sit. But oh well.

What About the Bigger Ones?

"Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can’t forgive himself?"

I've wondered about these questions before. I've talked to many individuals who have wondered as well. "Is there really, honestly hope for me?"

We may be able to accept that Christ performed miracles of physical healing when He was on the earth. We may be able to accept that He can forgive honest mistakes and flaws in people. Maybe we can hope that He would be able to overlook our smaller faults.

But what about the bigger ones?

None are Forbidden

Often, when we mess up, we feel inadequate. We may feel that Heavenly Father no longer wants to talk with us, because we don't feel worthy. In this negative frame of mind, it can become easy to spiral downward, and do worse and worse.
But our Heavenly Father just wants us to change. He won't condemn the sincere efforts of His children to become better.
Jesus Christ suffered immensely for us. He suffered so that we can have mercy when we repent and have faith in Him. He didn't go through all that so that He could then abandon us when we sin.
His hand is always outstretched.
It makes no difference where we have been. We can choose today to change our direction. And, in time, we will find that we have entered into His rest.

I know that this is true, because I have made many mistakes.