Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by

 the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. 

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. 

Catch the trade winds in your sails. 

Explore. Dream. Discover.

- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Thinking about my life, I already agree with this quote. I've been blessed to have been able to explore, see new places, and meet new people.  I do not want to fear what I do not know but rather take chances and be a little crazy. I want to keep up this adventurous life I've lived; even if it does kind of scare me sometimes. 

My conversion story

Hello, all!

So, I know I'm not the most consistent blogger... I hardly write on this thing, 1. because I forget, and 2. because I wonder how many people will actually end up reading it anyway.  But today, I feel to post something that is very important to me, and that is my conversion story. As most of you probably know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am a Mormon. Maybe some of you know that I was not always a member of this church. I was baptized when I was 17, about 6 years ago. A good family friend recently asked me to share the story of my conversion to the church with their family. Their daughter is on a mission for the Church in Japan, and she requested the stories of some friends so she could share them with the people she is teaching.

After sending this email off, I felt the desire to post it on here. I feel extremely grateful to have found the Church and to have had such great blessings. I would love if my story could help or touch one of you. So, here it is.   :)

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As a young girl, I often went to the Catholic church with my mom. I liked going, because I wanted to get to know God better, but I always seemed to feel confused rather than uplifted after I left church. I felt like something was missing. Years passed and I continued going, but never seemed to have the relationship with God that I desired. Finally, when I was 15, I had the idea that maybe the reason I wasn't feeling that closeness I was looking for was because I was at the wrong church. So, with permission from my mom, I decided to attend other churches. 

For a year or so I went to various churches to see if I could find what I was searching for. I ended up finding a good Christian church which helped me to grow and learn a lot. I studied the Bible and went to great youth group and church camp activities. I really enjoyed the people at this church and did feel my testimony growing. After about a year, however, I began to feel like I wasn't progressing anymore. I felt like there were more things for me to learn but that I wasn't learning it at church. I started to wonder if maybe I was the problem; if I was doing something wrong which was preventing me from having the relationship with Heavenly Father that I wanted. At this point, I was almost 17 and about to start my senior year of high school. I had a friend, Elaine, whom I had known since I was about 13. We had always been very open and talked about everything from boys to school to family to religion. I shared my concerns with her and she listened with an open heart. She then invited me to attend church with her and her family to see how I felt there. Elaine's family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had heard about the LDS or the Mormons before; Elaine had shared some of her beliefs with me, and I had a couple other friends as well as a boyfriend that were members of the church. I knew them all to be very good, genuine people who were faith-filled and happy. But I didn't know very much about the church and was glad to go to church and learn more. 

From the first day I went to the LDS Church, I felt such peace and happiness! There I found answers to questions I had had for years. I found happy, wholesome families and people who were not perfect but were trying to be their best. I went to church for a few weeks and then started learning more from the missionaries. After a couple times meeting with them they invited me to be baptized. I had not initially planned to do so, but when they asked me I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. It was the next step to continue following my Savior and being closer to him. On November 17, 2007 I was  baptized and my life has been blessed beyond measure ever since. I have finally been able to feel that closeness with my Heavenly Father that I was searching for for so long. I had the opportunity to serve a mission and share this message with others. I have met so many incredible people and have learned so much in the Church of Jesus Christ that has helped me to become a better and happier person! I am incredibly grateful for the church and for the beautiful life I have. I am SO HAPPY and I want everyone to have the same opportunities that I have been given!

I know my Heavenly Father lives, and that He loves me. I know he has a son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and for the sins of all the world. He has given us His gospel, so we may know how to live to become more like Him, to be truly happy, and to one day return to His presence. I know these things are true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Well, there it is! I truly love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and am so grateful for the purpose and direction and joy it gives me in life. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please don't hesitate to ask me or go to mormon.org or lds.org.  Love you!  :)