Former Presbyterian Church Members
Faithfully Waiting To Be Baptized
By Brooke Wesley
My name is Brooke and I am what I like to refer to as
a “Mormon Seca” (dry Mormon). I grew up with a strong belief in God;
I prayed, I went to Sunday school, I taught Sunday school; I was a
Presbyterian.
One day, I stopped and wondered, “Why do I pray so hard for things
that don’t happen?” “How do I know anyone is really up there?” “How
can God let the world live in this state of utter chaos?” After
those thoughts, I stopped praying, going to church, and believing in
God all together.
During Spring Break of my junior year, I went to Space Camp like so
many times before. I was lucky enough to have a Mormon Return
Missionary as a counselor named Roderick.
Roderick later told me that he could tell that I was confused and
that he felt compelled to talk to me. After I left camp, Roderick
and I kept in touch by e-mail, and he started to talk to me about
the church.
I wanted to see for myself what it was like. I found the nearest LDS
church to me, and on the Sunday of the April 2005 General
Conference, I drove to the Buffalo Grove Stake Center, and slipped
into the back of the chapel where I took extensive notes.
Roderick had told me to go introduce myself to the missionaries, but
I was too afraid. Luckily, a Sister whom I later came to know as
Sister Breillatt, noticed me and asked who I was. I told her that I
was interested in learning about the church. She asked if I would
like to meet the missionaries, and I did.
After the morning session, Elder Badal, Elder Draper, Sister
Breillatt, her son, Andre, and I piled into an empty classroom, and
I had my first lesson.
I didn’t realize it then, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt the
Spirit so strong. I loved that first lesson, and am so grateful the
missionaries were willing to skip lunch to teach me and answer my
questions.
From then on, I kept meeting with the Elders and going to church on
Sundays. About three weeks into my investigation, a girl my age was
baptized. That was the day I decided that I too wanted to be
baptized.
When I ran the idea past my parents, my mom looked so worried, and
my dad looked on the verge of tears. They said that I could keep
meeting with the missionaries and going to church, but it was too
early to be baptized.
Today, almost eight months after my first lesson, I am still not
baptized. I have to wait until my 18th birthday; August 22, 2006 (8
months and 25 days from the night I wrote this letter).
I go to church every Sunday, take part in the occasional Family Home
Evening, and apart from these last few weeks, attend seminary on a
pretty regular basis.
I have a testimony that builds with each day. Because I am so close
to my baptism, Satan is having a field day. It is getting harder and
harder to keep the Faith, but with the help of the Elders, and the
members of my ward, I have managed so far. I have watched four
baptisms, and I know that I’ll make it someday.
I know that this church is true; I know that Joseph Smith was a
prophet and that he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that by
reading the Book of Mormon before the new year, I will be blessed. I
have a testimony.
I have a favor to ask of all who read this. Please pray for all
those people in the world who have the truth and want to be
baptized, and also for all those people who are searching for the
truth.
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