Conversion and testimony

Well its one year as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. March 8th 2014 is a date that marks a new journey in my families life. It all started with my wife walking home from work on January 8th,  2014 when she heard a couple of young women laughing, it turns out one had just rescued the other from stepping in a pile of horse poop. They greeted my wife with open loving arms, they were just a sweet pair of missionaries from the church and their mission was to bring the gospel to whomever would listen. They chatted for a bit and prayed there on the side of "Church" road, set up an appointment and parted ways. I remember the text my wife sent me at work, I met some missionaries and they are coming over tomorrow. I thought to myself OK, I texted her weird. They are Mormon, she said, weird I said. So it went back and forth like that for a bit. She met with them that next day and a couple more times after, I still had not met them. They decided to set up an appointment for when I would be home, I was really not so sure about this. I had told my wife forget it I don't want to meet them, I don't need to meet them, come on let's face it they are Mormons its weird. I was still resorted to not meet them, I had actually tried to pick up some extra work for the meeting night so I wouldn't make it home on time. It was very strange the day leading up to meeting them, I didn't know them, I hadn't met them I didn't know what they would say to me and honestly I really didn't care. As the day progressed I just could not help feeling strongly that I had to keep this appointment, that what they would say would be well worth my time, that I really needed to listen to and trust them. I kind of knew at that time that there was something going on, what was it why was I feeling this way. Well as I wrote in one of my previous blogs on The Holy Ghost it was most certainly him, witnessing to me the truth that they would speak. Well the time came and they knocked on the door, I can't say it was loud and confident but more quiet and timid. Did they know I hadn't wanted to meet them and were nervous to meet me now. Well when we opened the door I just knew something good was going to happen, these two bright young ladies standing on my porch. It really felt like I knew them already and they were just stopping by to visit. In my heart I knew that I loved them already, I knew, even though I didn't know, that I would join the Church. My feelings of, I didn't need church or God, I was in control were all of a sudden dashed and I felt strangely at peace. It was really one of those times in your life where you just know that there was another presence and that had come through the door with them. I really love that the spirit followed them through my door and had entered into my heart. The thing that really struck me is their confidence, I found it amazing that they didn't just believe what they were saying, they knew what they said to be true and they spoke with such emotion that testified to the truth.
     Well we were baptized exactly two months after my wife first met the missionaries on Church road, my daughter was baptized one month later than the rest of us but I have another thought on why she waited. I was at times so sure that these two young women were going to give up on us, we didn't make it easy at all but they persevered and completely won us over. I think back on some of the questions we had asked them and man what the heck were we thinking, I really don't know why they kept coming back, I was a bit of a quack, OK I'm exaggerating, I was a lot of a quack. Truthfully these two had to have had witness of the spirit that we would join the church because the love and compassion they showed my family was in itself a testimony of the true love of Christ.
    So really this past year has brought along a lot of bumps in the road, there were days when I thought that staying in this church would be impossible, how could I really live up to these standards. Temptations are always present and at times it is tough to not just think what could it hurt, one coffee or one pot cookie, i mean i can get back on track tomorrow, but over this last year I have resisted these temptations and won. I have had worthiness issues, how can I hold the priesthood, I am no one special but one thing that has helped me along is that my wife has faith in me even when I don't. As a family unit we have grown stronger but we have our struggles as most families do. Doing the things we should do becomes a challenge, family home evening, family prayers and scripture studies, these are all things we as a family need to do but fail at miserably. I want to do these things but my own short comings plant that seed of doubt in my mind that I can do it. I pray silently alone I do read scriptures, I try to understand them as best I can, I truly know that my conversion will take a lifetime and beyond. We have had a number of missionaries who have come into our lives Elders and Sisters alike and they all bring a strong spirit with them, they have all taught us so much and they have really become like great friends and family and it is so easy to love them all.
    I gained a testimony very quickly on the Book of Mormon and the truth in the words printed within. I remember the moment that I had powerful witness and it came while driving to work listening to it. It was like nothing I had experienced in my life before, I was so overwhelmed that driving seemed impossible and that I needed to not only hear, but also needed to read the words. I pulled off the road and found the scriptures to read them. I had a real moment with Heavenly Father that felt so real and He presented his son our savior Jesus Christ to me, he revealed through the scriptures that He was real and that Christ visited the Americas, He ministered to the peoples there and to the children. I especially felt strong emotion when I read about Christ ministering to the children, I just felt as though I was a little child and He was there, right there to minister to me specifically at that moment, like He placed his hand on mine and touched me, made me know that this moment had happened, gave me witness to the truth of Joseph Smiths visions and to the real truth of The Book of Mormon. This all really happened, it is so true, I had questions at first of that it could be real and how could there be no record of this happening, my doubt was extinguished after this moment. I bear witness that The Book of Mormon is truth, that it is a record of times past, that Jesus Christ died and overcame death, rose from the dead and revealed himself to his people in the Americas. I know that Joseph Smith was given these records and translated them for all the world to know, and to know that Jesus Christ lives and He loves us all. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much and He wants us to all return to him. I know that The Holy Ghost gives us knowledge and bears witness to Christ's perfect love and that He reveals to us what we need to know and gives us comfort in times of need. I know this to be true and this I say in the name of our loving savior Jesus Christ. Amen.