A Conversion Story: Epilogue, Part II
(Coming in late? Start from the beginning!)
When I started at Indiana University in Fall Semester 1992, there was not yet a Young Single Adult branch at the school. However, our numbers were such that the local Institute of Religion was always bustling, and with the subsequent assignation of all local YSAs to the Bloomington 2nd Ward, our about 50 active members were a very strong, tight-knit group.
Keith, on the other hand, had a less faith-promoting experience at Ricks. While one would naturally assume a religious school to be a positive environment, quite the opposite is often true: less-committed individuals will often attend at their parents’ behest, and since Church activity remains part of the culture, there are plenty of bad examples among even fully active Church members. As it happened, Keith wound up randomly assigned to an apartment with three less-than-exemplary roommates, which took quite a toll on his faith.
Undeterred, Keith pressed on and attempted to serve a full-time mission. Due to medical reasons, however, he was excluded from full-time service. His depression increased, his testimony decreased, and his grades suffered to the point of dropping out. He moved back home and, a few months later, met with our home-ward bishop and stake president in a last-ditch attempt to override the previous decision. His paperwork was submitted directly to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who confirmed the initial ruling: he received an honorable release from service from Elder David B. Haight, along with an invitation to serve a stake mission. He passed on the opportunity, stopped going to Church, and quickly reverted to his previous eating habits. Shortly thereafter, he fell away completely, swearing off me and everyone he knew, in the process.
My experience was somewhat better than Keith’s. I made some great friends at IU, and in January 1995, I was set apart as a full-time missionary assigned to la Misión de España—Málaga. And then, about halfway through my nine weeks training at the Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center, our class was presented with a statistic designed to illustrate the importance of the Book of Mormon in true conversion.
The statistic was measured as best as could be expected, using continued activity in the Church as a matrix. Among converts to the Church who were still active after one year, the average individual had read 154 pages of the Book of Mormon before being baptized. Among converts who were no longer active, however, the average was a mere 17 pages. As I sat in that meeting, I opened the Book of Mormon to page 154 and was amazed by what I saw. Then I opened to page 17, and my amazement was redoubled. As mentioned a few days ago, when the missionaries first arrived at my home, I had just finished the third chapter of the Book of Mosiah—page 154—and thereafter returned to the beginning, to read with Keith. Keith’s pre-baptismal reading, however, was limited to the portion we read, down the shore—the first nine chapters of the First Book of Nephi, ending on page 17.
I still miss Keith’s friendship more than I can really express, though repeated requests for contact have gone unheeded. My Savior, however, has never failed me. Having now celebrated my 20th anniversary as a member of His Church, I can’t help but thank Him for all He has done for me. So many people say they don’t know where they’d be if not for x, y, or z, but that’s not me. When Anna found me, I was on a very specific path, and I have a pretty good idea of where it would have led me. Thanks to her and my Savior, I was able to find a new (and much better) path, and I look forward to the next 20 years of my life.
Thanks for reading! :-)
When I started at Indiana University in Fall Semester 1992, there was not yet a Young Single Adult branch at the school. However, our numbers were such that the local Institute of Religion was always bustling, and with the subsequent assignation of all local YSAs to the Bloomington 2nd Ward, our about 50 active members were a very strong, tight-knit group.
Keith, on the other hand, had a less faith-promoting experience at Ricks. While one would naturally assume a religious school to be a positive environment, quite the opposite is often true: less-committed individuals will often attend at their parents’ behest, and since Church activity remains part of the culture, there are plenty of bad examples among even fully active Church members. As it happened, Keith wound up randomly assigned to an apartment with three less-than-exemplary roommates, which took quite a toll on his faith.
Undeterred, Keith pressed on and attempted to serve a full-time mission. Due to medical reasons, however, he was excluded from full-time service. His depression increased, his testimony decreased, and his grades suffered to the point of dropping out. He moved back home and, a few months later, met with our home-ward bishop and stake president in a last-ditch attempt to override the previous decision. His paperwork was submitted directly to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who confirmed the initial ruling: he received an honorable release from service from Elder David B. Haight, along with an invitation to serve a stake mission. He passed on the opportunity, stopped going to Church, and quickly reverted to his previous eating habits. Shortly thereafter, he fell away completely, swearing off me and everyone he knew, in the process.
My experience was somewhat better than Keith’s. I made some great friends at IU, and in January 1995, I was set apart as a full-time missionary assigned to la Misión de España—Málaga. And then, about halfway through my nine weeks training at the Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center, our class was presented with a statistic designed to illustrate the importance of the Book of Mormon in true conversion.
The statistic was measured as best as could be expected, using continued activity in the Church as a matrix. Among converts to the Church who were still active after one year, the average individual had read 154 pages of the Book of Mormon before being baptized. Among converts who were no longer active, however, the average was a mere 17 pages. As I sat in that meeting, I opened the Book of Mormon to page 154 and was amazed by what I saw. Then I opened to page 17, and my amazement was redoubled. As mentioned a few days ago, when the missionaries first arrived at my home, I had just finished the third chapter of the Book of Mosiah—page 154—and thereafter returned to the beginning, to read with Keith. Keith’s pre-baptismal reading, however, was limited to the portion we read, down the shore—the first nine chapters of the First Book of Nephi, ending on page 17.
I still miss Keith’s friendship more than I can really express, though repeated requests for contact have gone unheeded. My Savior, however, has never failed me. Having now celebrated my 20th anniversary as a member of His Church, I can’t help but thank Him for all He has done for me. So many people say they don’t know where they’d be if not for x, y, or z, but that’s not me. When Anna found me, I was on a very specific path, and I have a pretty good idea of where it would have led me. Thanks to her and my Savior, I was able to find a new (and much better) path, and I look forward to the next 20 years of my life.
Thanks for reading! :-)
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