Today, as the students left, I sat with a teacher I have become fond of, and enjoyed working with. She and I were talking about life. I expressed deep hurt, and sorrow. She asked what Church I belonged to.
A little bit of back story:
At the beginning of the year, during a grade level meeting, she had asked if anyone in the room was Mormon. At that time, I was not yet rebaptized, and I was in a very ackward place. I felt because forgiveness in the form of rebaptism had not yet been offered to me by the Lord, that I was not a member, and not a great representative of the Savior or His Church. I kept quiet, and have kept to myself a lot on the topic of religion.
Prior to this, we have had spiritual talks. She is engaged and is going thru classes to enable her to marry within her Church. She has shared with me what each class has been about. We have talked alot about repentance and forgiveness in relationships.
As she asked today, I perked up and I said, "Get ready for this! I am Mormon, however, at the beginning of the year, I was not in good standing with the Church." I began to share my entire story, she asked how the process happens. I was able to testify to her that God does direct the affairs of the Church. I told her I had been rebaptized on January 29, 2013 and I had wanted to come bouncing into the school and tell her! However, I was still a bit timid!
The conversation turned from my rebaptism and repentance process to Joseph Smith. She asked about him and the tree he talked to! I was able to tell her about the First Vision and clear up the misunderstanding of a talking tree. It was so nice to be able to use the First Discussion from my mission again!
We talked about how we believe that the priesthood was lost and that it was restored, as was Christ's Church thru Joseph Smith the Prophet. And how our Prophet is the senior Apostle, that the Lord selects who the next prophet will be, in comparison to electing a pope.
She asked about missions, I told her I had served one in Detroit Michigan.
We talked about how there is so much similar in many churches. How the Jewish religion has some similarities to the Catholic religion. I shared the experience I had at a Catholic mass while I lived in Las Vegas and that some of the worship service was similar.
At the conclusion, I invited her to attend church. She said she would like to check it out sometime! That is the first time I have spoken to someone about the Church since my mission in a missonary mode.
Upon leaving, I received a text message later that night asking me a few more questions. I was able to testify of the atonement and how the Savior has already paid for our sins. That we are just accountable to go about doing what is right, and seeking forgiveness. It was a wonderful experience! We spoke for about 30 minutes total, it is 30 minutes that reignited my testimony and my desire to do missionary service!!
A little bit of back story:
At the beginning of the year, during a grade level meeting, she had asked if anyone in the room was Mormon. At that time, I was not yet rebaptized, and I was in a very ackward place. I felt because forgiveness in the form of rebaptism had not yet been offered to me by the Lord, that I was not a member, and not a great representative of the Savior or His Church. I kept quiet, and have kept to myself a lot on the topic of religion.
Prior to this, we have had spiritual talks. She is engaged and is going thru classes to enable her to marry within her Church. She has shared with me what each class has been about. We have talked alot about repentance and forgiveness in relationships.
As she asked today, I perked up and I said, "Get ready for this! I am Mormon, however, at the beginning of the year, I was not in good standing with the Church." I began to share my entire story, she asked how the process happens. I was able to testify to her that God does direct the affairs of the Church. I told her I had been rebaptized on January 29, 2013 and I had wanted to come bouncing into the school and tell her! However, I was still a bit timid!
The conversation turned from my rebaptism and repentance process to Joseph Smith. She asked about him and the tree he talked to! I was able to tell her about the First Vision and clear up the misunderstanding of a talking tree. It was so nice to be able to use the First Discussion from my mission again!
We talked about how we believe that the priesthood was lost and that it was restored, as was Christ's Church thru Joseph Smith the Prophet. And how our Prophet is the senior Apostle, that the Lord selects who the next prophet will be, in comparison to electing a pope.
She asked about missions, I told her I had served one in Detroit Michigan.
We talked about how there is so much similar in many churches. How the Jewish religion has some similarities to the Catholic religion. I shared the experience I had at a Catholic mass while I lived in Las Vegas and that some of the worship service was similar.
At the conclusion, I invited her to attend church. She said she would like to check it out sometime! That is the first time I have spoken to someone about the Church since my mission in a missonary mode.
Upon leaving, I received a text message later that night asking me a few more questions. I was able to testify of the atonement and how the Savior has already paid for our sins. That we are just accountable to go about doing what is right, and seeking forgiveness. It was a wonderful experience! We spoke for about 30 minutes total, it is 30 minutes that reignited my testimony and my desire to do missionary service!!
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