A Conversion Story (Part XVI)
(Coming in late? Start from the beginning!)
By now, Keith’s and my parents had each figured out that we were planning to become “Mormons,” which sent them running to their respective ministers—who, by a strange coincidence, were the same person. (Both our families were less active in the same church, but since neither of us was there regularly, our acquaintance was in no way connected to our membership therein.)
Like many Protestant sects, the primary draw to my parents’ church is the pastor who heads it. At the time, this was Pastor Andy, a truly amazing man of God whom I continue to greatly respect. Andy was an old friend of my grandfather’s, so my parents particularly trusted him. It was therefore particularly shocking to them when, upon telling him that their son was about to become a “Mormon,” he responded with something to the effect of: “That’s wonderful! It’s great to hear he’s finally accepting Christ as Savior!” (Keith’s parents, as I understand it, received much the same response.)
My parents continued to protest, but Andy assured them that the “Mormons” were not a cult. In fact, he’d grown up in Palmyra, New York, so a lot of his childhood friends were Latter-day Saints. He assured them that if I ever wanted to leave the Church, I’d have no problem doing so. He even offered to meet with me and talk about, if it would allay their fears a bit. They accepted, and the date was set for the following Saturday, August 17.
When Saturday came, my parents drove me over to the church to meet with Pastor Andy. I don’t remember much of our conversation—which lasted about 45 minutes—but I do remember him telling me what he’d already told my parents: “Jeff, I’m not worried about you becoming a ‘Mormon,’ because I know if you ever want to get out of it, you’ll have no problem.” I smiled and nodded, genuinely grateful for his openness, yet thinking it pretty ironic that my pastor and friend would think it uneventful for me to renege on a covenant with the Savior.
Tune in next time for Part XVII!
“[M]eddle not with any man for his religion … permit every man to enjoy his religion unmolested” (President Joseph Smith, Jr., Times and Seasons, 15 Aug 1844).
By now, Keith’s and my parents had each figured out that we were planning to become “Mormons,” which sent them running to their respective ministers—who, by a strange coincidence, were the same person. (Both our families were less active in the same church, but since neither of us was there regularly, our acquaintance was in no way connected to our membership therein.)
Like many Protestant sects, the primary draw to my parents’ church is the pastor who heads it. At the time, this was Pastor Andy, a truly amazing man of God whom I continue to greatly respect. Andy was an old friend of my grandfather’s, so my parents particularly trusted him. It was therefore particularly shocking to them when, upon telling him that their son was about to become a “Mormon,” he responded with something to the effect of: “That’s wonderful! It’s great to hear he’s finally accepting Christ as Savior!” (Keith’s parents, as I understand it, received much the same response.)
My parents continued to protest, but Andy assured them that the “Mormons” were not a cult. In fact, he’d grown up in Palmyra, New York, so a lot of his childhood friends were Latter-day Saints. He assured them that if I ever wanted to leave the Church, I’d have no problem doing so. He even offered to meet with me and talk about, if it would allay their fears a bit. They accepted, and the date was set for the following Saturday, August 17.
When Saturday came, my parents drove me over to the church to meet with Pastor Andy. I don’t remember much of our conversation—which lasted about 45 minutes—but I do remember him telling me what he’d already told my parents: “Jeff, I’m not worried about you becoming a ‘Mormon,’ because I know if you ever want to get out of it, you’ll have no problem.” I smiled and nodded, genuinely grateful for his openness, yet thinking it pretty ironic that my pastor and friend would think it uneventful for me to renege on a covenant with the Savior.
Tune in next time for Part XVII!
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