Howdy. "Conversion" story imminent...

[CR1270]

Hey guys. Ive been here alot but decided to join the forum because I read alot here and the general attitude is positive and I can discuss with other LDS.

To be as succinct as possible, my dad is a member and my mom is not. My parents were married, had Me and my brother, then got divorced and my mother had custody untill I was 18 (I still am 18 but I recently moved out). My dad always taught my brother and I about scripture and the doctrine even when we were little. When I was 13 I was speaking with my dad on the phone and he said, "we need to start working toward getting you and your brother baptized". I agreed although I had no testimony at the time. It simply seemed right and a logical step for me to take. My bro and I would go to my dads on the weekends and stay with our mom week days. So we started having the missionary discussions at my dads place on the weekends. I got all the way through them and was preparing to set a date for baptism. All this time the discussions had been kept from my mom. She had become an avid mormon hater because of the divorce with my imperfect father and anything associated with him was inherently wrong from her perspective. Well, we came to find out you need permission from the parent with custody to get baptized and about the same time the bishop told us that, my mom found out we had been taking the discussions and had gotten up in arms about it. So it hindered our efforts for the time being. I said to myself, fine, if I cant get baptized now Ill do it when Im 18 and can make my own choices legally. So I got a BofM and studied it. To be honest, throughout my high school years, I learned and studied from the BofM but had no contact with members besides my dad because I didnt attend my local ward on account of my mother. I studied in secret for years and converted my girlfriend secretly before my mother even knew I had full fledged pursued becoming mormon.

During high school my girlfriend was having issues with her local christian church that her parents dragged her to. She didnt enjoy it and whenever she asked her dad questions about the mainstream christian gospel he simply told her thats the way it is. She was frusterated and told me she was considering simply not being christian at all because it was just a mess for her. After school one day I sat down with her outside and told her I have gone to a different church at times and basically told her about the LDS church I was familiar with. She was immediately interested (partly because I was her boyfriend and partly because it was a second chance to be christian). She got a BofM andstarted reading. We had Mormon friends in our class so we asked to start going to church with them. She told me recently as we were discussing the past that she wanted to make sure that she wanted to be a part of the church on her own initiative and not just because I wanted to be and wanted her to be. Eventually she was taking the missionary lessons at our LDS friends house and decided to get baptized (this happened when I was 17 and she was 18 [shes a year older than me]). Then 3 months later I had a discussion with my mom and she allowed me to get the baptism papers signed when I was still 17. I distinctly remember saying 3 mini prayers during this discussion lol. Anywho, my dad baptized me and gave me the aaronic priesthood and ordained me to the office of a priest. It is such an honor to know that the Lord and Heavenly Father have been merciful enough to us to allow us to hold the priesthood and power that he has. I love them so much.

Now I am currently preparing to serve a mission and recieve the Melchizedek priesthood and office of Elder.

Oh and by the way, I put the word conversion in quotations in the thread subject because although I am technically a "convert" I have never felt like it. I feel Ive always known and been part of the Lords church and people even if I wasnt a member yet.

I guess to end my first post Id like to bear my testimony to those reading that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he loves us. He is completely aware of all of our individual situations and struggles and loves us more compassionately than it is possible to understand in this life. He is The only begotten son of our Father in Heaven and the Holy Ghost is a witness of them. I love all of them so much. I am thankful for their second chances, understanding and mercy. I am thankful I have been so favored of the Lord and have been so blessed notwithstanding my many infirmities and weaknesses. I love being able to bear my testimony publicly to all of you because I feel the Spirit doing so and know that it is recorded in heaven. I have a witness that Joseph smith has restored the fullness of the gospel in latter day times and that the Book of Mormon is proof of that and is a true testament. I testify of the Lords mercy and foresight and wisdom to bring it forward in these times and for mankind. I testify of the truthfulness of these things and of the Lords love for us and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

[Robert Sinclair]

♡ thank you for your testament of what you have come to know and understand thus far. My friendly advice to you as an older brother would be to feast upon the words of Jesus Christ until you memorize them all into your heart and mind and soul.

Do a personal book report on all the things he said to do, and all the ways he said to be like, and all the things he said that you should know. You can start with Matthew Mark Luke John and 3rd Nephi and the D&C. And from there go on to seek through the entire "One Stick" given unto Ephraim and invited guests, until you can see clearly as to how to treat the poor among us, and be confounded no more on how to treat the poor:)♡

[Obrien]

+1 with bro Sinclair.

welcome aboard

[BroJones]

Welcome CR1270! thanks very much for your sincerely expressed testimony.
It seems the Lord is still working miracles in our lives!