Flashback Friday: My Faith, Part III

For Part I, go here.

For Part II, go here.

*Addendum to Part II*

I talked with my mom over the weekend and I asked her if I got my facts straight about our conversion story so far. She added that before we sold our house and moved to Redlands, Jamie (my sister) wanted to be baptized. My mom told her she couldn't until she was 18 because "Don't you know, they don't even let their women work!" When we were hunting for a new place to live, we narrowed down the search to two choices. I forgot about that. When we came to the house in Redlands, we both just felt right about it. Unfortunately, my sister didn't want to go to the school in that district and ended up moving to Arizona to live with our dad. I wonder how things would be now if my sister had stayed with us.

__________________________

To say that we loved the missionaries would be an understatement. After my mom was baptized, it seemed like the missionaries were always over at our house. After all, their work wasn't finished, they still had me to work on. I asked them once, if they had some hidden agenda. Like, did they get a free toaster for every baptism they completed? I just didn't get why they were so bent on converting us!

I remember one dinner when we had two sets of missionaries over. My mom made a fantastic roast dinner and one of the Elders asked Elder Labrum to pass the juice to him. Elder Labrum literally passed it to him. My mom loved Elder Labrum. She told him that she once read a book about Mormonism that described the temple ceremony in detail and that it really freaked her out. He said, "Mary, if the temple was so bad, then why do we work so hard to keep going back?" Elder Labrum's brother was killed by a drunk driver in a car accident while he was on his mission. He had a clear understanding of God's plan for us. I wanted to believe so badly that families really could be together forever.

I had a crush on Elder Labrum. There, I said it. Remember, I was 19 at the time. Here was this handsome guy that was so good. I didn't know guys like that existed. He was transferred before I was baptized. And no, I didn't decide to be baptized because of him, but he was a factor. We had a very brief escapade after his mission. I later found out he had an escapade with another girl from his mission. He is happily married to a sweet girl from Utah and they now have 3 kids. Elder Labrum (Brad) and his wife have attended my mom's sealing, Andrew's baby blessing, and my grandparent's baptism. We love him and his family to pieces.

My first day at BYU, Brad & Jenie came up to see us

________________________________

Somewhere between May 28th and July 13th, I broke up with my boyfriend Jeff. I don't remember how or why it happened. I just remember the crying. The last time I remember seeing him was when I came home from BYU for Christmas break. He picked me up (with 12 red roses in hand) and took me to a hockey game. A couple of weeks earlier, I had my first and second dates with Randy. We had a very nice date, but it was crystal clear to me that we both were on very different paths.
________________________________

I started going with my mom to church after she was baptized. Tanya was a member in the ward. We went to the same junior high and high school so I knew who she was. We even had a class together in college, but we were never friends. Remember when President Hinckley said that new members need a friend? She was that friend. She invited me to a Young Single Adult dance. Have you ever been to one of these dances? I was mortified. In a church gym, there was a disco ball, a DJ, and 18-29 year olds from all walks of life. I never felt so dorky in my life. A far cry from the clubs I usually frequented. But Tanya was very smart. She brought along two of her very studly friends, Jake & Bryan:

At the Los Angeles Temple

They sang "A Child's Prayer" (in parts) on the way to the dance. They were cute, and smart, and cool. And they were good. After I was baptized, Tanya and I went to dances almost every Friday night, Institute every Thursday, and to Firesides on Sundays. The Church was our lifeline. She was so much fun to hang out with and a great example to me. We had such an awesome group of friends; I miss each and every one of them. Those were good times, weren't they Tanya?

We taught a Sunbeam class together

She now has a 3 year old and 1 year old twins (and a cute husband)

Another family that befriended my mom and I were Barratt and Marci. Barratt was a resident in opthalmology at the time and Marci stayed home with their little girl. They were such a cute family and I don't think I've ever met nicer people in my life. I was over at their house all the time to hang out with Marci. She was such a good friend to me. She was the one that helped me find roommates and an apartment at BYU. I moved in to her cousin Mindy's apartment. Mindy later became one of my best friends. (Do you feel another Flashback Friday coming on?)

September 2007

Mindy & Tanya were bridesmaids at my wedding

Another friend that touched my life was Rena. We worked as administrative assistants for a furniture company and she was a Latter-day Saint. You see, I was surrounded!! We listened to Dr. Laura together and she answered all of my silly questions. We took a trip up to Utah to see Temple Square for the first time (my first time at least).

__________________________

My mom's new found happiness, awesome missionaries, ward members, and friends helped me to decide to receive the missionary discussions for myself. I wrestled with the idea of being baptized, I lost a few nights' sleep; but in the end, I knew this was a good thing. My mom and I were gently gathered in by such amazing people. It felt safe and peaceful. I didn't have a lightning bolt moment. I didn't even really have a testimony. I just decided to try it. If I didn't like it, I'd back out.

Well, I liked it.

I was baptized July 13, 1997. I transferred to BYU in December 1998. I met my husband December 1999 and the rest is history. Several years later, my grandparents and sister were baptized. What a blessed and happy life I have because of this Church.

For more information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, go here.