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My Conversion Story
I have had my ups and downs (haven't we all?!) but can always say that
I know the Book of Mormon is true and have done so since it was put in my hands by two American missionaries who surely cannot know how they turned my life around by teaching me the Gospel.
Back in the 70s I was a fan of the Osmonds. I had a penpal in Nottingham (further north of England) who was also a fan and eventually joined the Church. She sent me a Book of Mormon which I didn't even look at and just put on the bookshelf thinking "how nice of her".
Years later, the Gospel entered my life again. My parents were good people, but not interested in religion - but my mother walked up to a member of the Church and said "my daughter's very interested in religion, would you tell her more about yours?" The Church member promptly invited me over (via my mother). I was a shy 17-year-old and so I said to my mother "how could you do that? I can't possibly go to some strange woman's house!!!" and didn't go.
Then the lady (Sister Mathias) turned up at my back door with her young daughter and invited me round for dinner later that week - well, I couldn't be rude and say no, could I? so I went. She had 1 husband, 5 children, 2 lambs, 4 piglets - and 2 elders. I had my first discussion that very night.
I knew as soon as the elders put the Book of Mormon into my hands that it was true. The discussions followed night after night, and I realised that I had found the truth - it felt so right. I understood about baptism, but was too shy to ask if I could be baptised! I only spoke once during all the discussions - that was to ask what 'predicated' meant, as I had not met the word before. When I went to church (in an old village hall) I twisted my hands in my lap and looked at them - not at anybody else. I stuck to Sister Mathias like glue. I was taken to a conference/meeting/fireside (I was too shy to ask what) and met Elder Brockbank (I thought he was nice). The elders asked me after about 3 weeks if I would consider baptism - what a relief! I thought they'd never ask!
My baptism was in a regular font in a regular stake centre, but I don't think I would have thought it odd if it had been in the sea. That was in 1977, and I am so grateful that I was almost instantly called to play the piano in Sacrament Meeting and to teach in Primary - at least I knew how to play and could legitimately look down at my hands :o), and Primary taught me more basic Gospel principles and to have confidence in myself.
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