How the Gospel has Blessed my Life

I will begin with talking about how I came about joining the church. I figure that is a good place to start since that is one of the first questions I am asked when I tell people about my baptism.

Well, I met a boy on Facebook, (who out of respect, shall remain nameless). For now, we'll just call him "the boy." We sent messages back and forth, almost daily for a few months, until I moved out to Virginia and we finally met in person. Soon thereafter, there was a first date and then a second date and so on. Then I found myself going to church with him. After several weeks, I was meeting with missionaries and then finally after 8 months of going to church with "the boy," I was baptized. I know...in your head you're thinking "oh, that's so sweet" or "how romatantic!" Well, if that works for you, that's fine.

Now here's a funny story. I was born into a Lutheran family, to an alcoholic single mother and adopted into a well-to-do, Jewish family. My adoptive parents, who I will refer to as "Mother" and "Father," sent me to a Jewish Day School and Sunday School in the hopes that I would pick it up and carry it on. Obviously I didn't, but I do believe it was essential in my acceptance of the Gospel. Starting at a very young age, I decided on my own that I would abstain from drinking alcohol, using drugs, and sex before marriage. I also chose to dress modestly even if my friends weren't and remarkably enough, even with encouragement from my parents to be less conservative in my choice of attire. As the years went on, it became clear to my father that I would become a Mormon and he would always ask me "Are you going to become a Mormon?" I usually just ignored this question because I was not then nor would I ever become a Mormon. Little did I know. During my college years, the Mormon Missionaries would come around and try to invite people to read The Book of Mormon. I went to college in a small college town in South Dakota so it was obvious when the Mormon Missionaries were in town. Friends would call me up and say "Quick, it's time to get out of town, the Mormons are coming!" As I think back on it, it makes me laugh that we were so afraid of these crazy Mormons.

I've been blessed by my decision to join the church and it is those blessings that will keep me with the church forever. Because of the events surrounding my life, I have gone through a number of problems (depression, suicidal thoughts, cutting, etc). The Gospel has changed how I deal with these problems. When I get depressed, instead of it leading to thinking of suicide, I turn towards Heavenly Father and the Church. I believe that the things in my life happened for a reason and were necessary in order to strengthen me emotionally and spiritually. I also believe that Heavenly Father chose me to help others in a way that no one else can. That's what makes me special and gives me a reason for living. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that I can anything that comes my way and I'm very thankful for the blessings the Gospel has brought to my life.