My Beginning

I was brought up in the church and I always enjoyed going!

But at the age of 14 I began to doubt the church. Everything seems so bizarre and crazy and I was not sure if I believed it or not.

In my mothers house though, there was no choice; you went to church, seminary, activites, conferences, no buts! So even though I had stopped believing in the gospel, I was still forced to go. My mother and my family were very strong members and I didn't tell anyone in my family I was doubting what I've been taught my whole life, I just went with it. Because I had seen my family's testimony and strength, it was time for me to get my own testimony and no longer rely on my mother. So I did what we have always been taught, you read your scriptures and you pray! This is what I did. Almost 2 years had past and I still struggled. It was as if I knew, but I didnt believe. I couldn't figure it out.

Summer 2004, EFY camp! "Stand in the Light" was the theme. Here is where it started for me! I was almost 16 so they let me be in the 16-17 range instead of the 14-15 range. For this I am very grateful! I loved my group! Our name was 'Fruitful Seasons'! Most of the people in my group already had their testimonies and it is partly because of them that I have one.

Here at EFY, you felt the spirit. Because I had been baptized, I had recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost and had felt it before and I recongnized it although it had been some time since I last felt it. The whole week, right from registration, during meals times, game night, classes, right till the end you felt it. You could almost see a bubble around the campus that we were at. It was game night. I felt the spirit so strongly, at game night! We were playing silly games and doing obstacle courses! Finally it hit me, there had to be something to this church! I paid extra close attention during classes the next few days and didn't just sit there like I had done in the past. I felt this excitment run thru my veins and joy entered my body! Now I was prepared to learn!

At testimony meeting, o my goodness!!!! I couldn't even tell you how many where in group, but as soon as it was said "The time is now yours" there was a line from the front of this very large university class room, all the way to the door! At this point of my life, this was where I felt the spirit the strongest! I felt as if I were to burst in any moment! In the first few minutes, male and female alike, tears ran down all our faces with all the emotion. Here I listened to some people that I met only 4 days prior and I grew to love them so much and admire them, speak of their hardships and how the gospel changed their lives, how it has affected their lives. I was not alone. This is one of the most beautiful experiences I've had in my whole life!

I left for EFY, not believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and after feeling the spirit with me for the whole week I was there, I came home, finally believing after 2 years of searching!

Now I had a testimony! This was my beginning!