My childhood consisted of moving a lot, because my dad was in the military. As a child, I didn't really appreciate leaving my friends every three to four years, but today I am extremely grateful for the experiences I gained during those years.
Here is a list/ time frame of where I lived.
1. Dallas, TX - I was born here. (2 years)
2. Kensington, MD - (4 years)
3. El Paso, TX - (1 year)
4. Kensington, MD - (3 years)
5. Augusta, GA - (6 Years)
6. Kensington, MD - (4 years)
7. Augusta, GA - (1 year)
While living in Augusta, Ga I met a really good friend named Larry. He was one of the kids I grew up playing baseball and football with in my subdivision. We went to the same middle school and rode the same bus to school each day. Well, after 6 years of living in Augusta, my dad got notified that he would be transferring back to a hospital in Kensington, MD and we would be moving. Just like every move, I anticipated I would keep in touch with Larry for a couple of years and then sooner or later our lives would get so busy that we'd be acquaintances on Facebook. I was wrong.
It's started out as expected, we kept in touch. I learned that he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my sophomore year while he was a junior in high school. I didn't know anything about the church. The only thing that I knew was I had two other friends at the time who were members. These other friends I knew for pretty much my whole high school career, but learned that they were members my senior year of high school. They never really talked to me about the church, except that they went to church at 5am Monday-Friday during the school year. I thought that was crazy, especially since I wasn't a part of any church and had never been religious, but I respected it.
My senior year of high school was the hardest year of my life. I didn't know why all these bad things were happening to me. I decided that I was finished with Maryland and I wanted to move back to Georgia. I just felt that was the right thing for me to do. I got in contact with Larry and I let him know that I was moving back to Georgia and asked if he could help me move into my new apartment. He agreed.
When I met up with Larry in Georgia I noticed that he had changed. He dressed and talked differently. He didn't curse anymore. He seemed even more interested in service. He had a light about him and it made me want to know where it came from. The first thing he talked to me about was his new religion. I remember we would have hour discussions about what he believed and the organization of the church. This was the first time in my life that I had ever been interested in religion. After a couple of discussions about his religion, he gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon. He told me to read it and to pray about it to see if it was true. The night I received the book, I immediately went up to my room and read part of it. I read the testimony of Joseph Smith. It was pretty hard to understand at the time, but I couldn't put it down. Larry eventually invited me to his home to meet the missionaries and take some lessons from them. I really enjoyed the lessons. The lessons would last about 40 minutes, and after, they would assign me something to read out of the Book of Mormon. I don't remember the day, but I remember reading a chapter that the missionaries had assigned, and as I prayed I felt something amazing in my heart. Everything the missionaries told me just made sense. A couple weeks after meeting with the missionaries, I told Larry that I wanted to be baptized.
I was baptized on August 25th, 2007 and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 26th, 2007. It's been 5 years and I can't explain how grateful I am for my friend Larry for sharing the wonderful gift of the gospel with me. It has indeed changed my life. During my mission, one of my companions said during a talk, "The person that brought me into the church and shared the gospel to me is my hero." I agree whole heartedly in this. As I have thought about this experience many times I have realized that my trials during my senior year of high school were given to me to prepare me to receive the gospel. If it weren't for those trials I might not have ever moved back to Georgia.
Since I joined the church I've had the privilege to:
1. Received my Endowments in the Atlanta Georgia Temple
2. Served a full time mission - Ogden, UT
3. Learned a new language - Spanish
4. Have been sealed in the temple to my beautiful wife Megan.
5. Have continued to be a missionary and teach my siblings and parents the gospel.
6. Have an eternal family.
I know with all of my heart that this church is true. That the Book of Mormon is another testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that our Heavenly Father cares for us and loves us so much that He will find us and give us the opportunity to come back to Him. We have a living prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson, who guides and leads this church. As we give heed to him and the apostles we will prosper and find happiness in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am eternally thankful and grateful for where I am today, because He found me.
