Good morning Brothers and Sisters….
My name is Darren Wilder, my conversion story directly relates to both of these other stories you’ve just heard and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for these two amazing women, and one in particular. Elizabeth and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary next month. You may have noticed there is a slight age difference between Lizzy and I. I am the older one. I use to be kind of uncomfortable about it until I realized that she was still more mature than me. Elizabeth has an amazing spirit, she does so much for our family and I’m so blessed to have her as my wife and partner.
When I hear the word Convert, the first thought that enters my mind is, “oh he wasn’t born into the church”. The 2nd thought is Wow….what a strong person. Now, what do you call a person who was born into the church, falls away for an extended period of time, and then comes back? Do you still call them a convert?
Conversion…..Denotes changing one’s views, a conscious decision to give up one’s former ways and change to be in a conscious acceptance of the will of God (Acts 3;19). I think I fall into this definition. But there’s another aspect that comes into play with someone returning to church. The atonement, we hear of the great atonement often in our Sunday school classes. We hear of it from our church leaders, and in a talk recently by President Henry B Eyring I heard the message clearly. He said, “Exercise faith in Jesus Christ, have a broken heart, repent, and so be cleansed, changed, and strengthened through the Lord’s Atonement. By this gift of atonement we are able to be forgiven, to correct or overcome the consequences of sin.
Now my returning to the church was no easy task. You could even compare it to a tornado. A tornado takes just the right wind speed, air temperature, and baramoic pressure to form. All of these elements come together at just the right time to and condition to create a great force of nature. Like the tornado, it took just the right timing and conditions to open my mind and heart to the gospel that has been right in front of me my whole life.
The first element has to be timing…A few weeks ago the elders asked if I would go with them to visit an inactive family that lives near me. I was excited, my first opportunity at missionary work. The possibility that I could share my story with them and have a influence in there returning to the gospel, was very exhilarating for me. We knocked on the door and a polite lady answered. We weren’t invited in and shortly discovered why. A giant of a man came down the stairs and immediately asked, “who sent you”? I could tell this wasn’t going to end the way I had planned. After a brief introduction and a “Thank you, but no thank you” we were on our way back down the walkway. One of the elders turned to the other and said, “well, it just isn’t there time”. “no it isn’t”, the other said, “but the gospel will be there for them when it is there time.” I pondered on that comment that evening. How true, My Heavely Father has been waiting for me to come back. What a wonderful blessing, to know that the gospel is always there for us.
My conversion or activation, took place over an extended period of time and now, I know, that these happenings were not just an accident or by chance. They were what need to take place to create the right condition. My family and my Cousin’s family were looking to make a move, to get out of the city. By the suggestion of a friend we found Rancho Murieta. Shortly after that my sister’s husband Wayne gets a job in Folsom and transfers from Utah to Rancho Murieta. Coincidence….I don’t think so. We meet great friends in Ranch Murieta and guess what….there Mormon too. Our conversion team doesn’t stop there. The bishop hears of a new inactive member and comes over with the missionaries. Now with all this support around us you would think it would be easy to get back to church. But satin doesn’t give up so easily. It wasn’t until an incident that rocked my family that I would realize a change was needed. My son who is 5 was exposed to the dark side of the internet. Elizabeth and I were devastated. I remember getting down on my knees and with much humility and threw many tears I prayed for my son. I think almost everyone in the church has an experience in their life when “It” just happens. The light bulb in your head just goes on. Well my light bulb was about to shine. The next day my brother-in-law came over to give Gavin a blessing. Right there in our living room Wayne laid his hands on Gavin’s head and gave him a blessing that would not only change Gavin’s life but mine, my families, and who knows who else’s down the road. A feeling of peace came over me like I had never felt. Warmth filled my soul and I was reassured that Gavin would be okay. It was the first time that I had ever experienced the spirit. That Day Elizabeth and I decided we would be in church that next Sunday.
We were welcomed with smiling faces and a sense of fellowship that made me feel that this is where we belonged. That Sunday in priesthood what started out as a lesson on families turned into a discussion on how to keep our children safe from the internet. I couldn’t believe it. That day on our way home Lizzy and I discussed our lessons we had just heard. She had a similar experience in relief society. We both knew it wasn’t just by chance that these lessons directly related to what we were going through. But it didn’t stop there…The following week we had the same feeling. Like these lessons were being sent from heaven to help us cope with the tribulations in our lives. Our rides home each week were filled with discussion, joy, and a growing love for our heavenly Father.
Eventually the missionaries noticed us and asked if we would like to have the discussions. I think I was just as excited about the opportunity to learn from the missionaries as Lizzy was. After our first lesson, Elder Anderson asked lizzy if she wanted to be baptized her immediate response was YES!!! Not wasting any time, Elder Anderson turned to me and asked, “Brother Wilder will you baptize her”? I think my response was something like …..Ummmmmmm….ummmmm…I don’t know? I remember feeling like this was all happening so fast, but in actuality this had taken many years to come to this point. I also remember not feeling worthy of performing a baptism. It wasn’t until I fully understood the power of our saviors sacrifice and atonement that I felt worthy to perform such a great ordinance. The push of a certain bishop also helped. I’m so thankful that I was able to be such an important part of Elizabeth’s special day and I will cherish that memory. I look forward to visiting the temple with Elizabeth, baptizing my children, living the gospel, and teaching my children the gospel.
There are blessings that I’m sure I’ve missed out on by falling away from my heavenly father but, I’m just grateful to be back in his church, living the gospel, and getting to personally know him again.
I’d like to leave you with a scripture… D&C 112 verse 13) and after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them.
My father is in the audience today….I’d like to let him know how much I love him. That I’m happy he is here, but more so our heavenly father is happy you are here. Maybe another tornado starting to form?
I know this church is true. I love my family, I am grateful for the many blessings that I have received, including our whole conversion team. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
The Wilders
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Our Conversion Talk
Good Evening! Today was the day my husband, best friend and I shared our conversion stories at church. I was so nervous because for the last two weeks it has been so hard to write it. How do I get everything that has led me to becoming a member of the LDS church into 8 minutes? It has taking me my entire life to get to where I am today. So after a lot of thinking and praying I was able to start writing. So the night before my talk I finished. Talk about last minute! I know. Jen went first and she did amazing. Then it was my turn and I felt like I was up there for an eternity but it was more like 4 or 5 minutes. Then Darren spoke. Let me tell you. I had no idea he could write as well as he did. I have to ask him first but I am going to post it on my page if he lets me. After our talks we got a lot of responses and they were all so comforting to here. I am so thankful for the ward that we go to and so thankful for our Bishop, Missionaries, and my family. Below is my speech:
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Elizabeth Wilder. My husband Darren and I have two Children, Gavin who is 6 and Hadley who is 3.
When I was a child I went to a Catholic preschool and a Baptist grade school. From the beginning I was off to a very confusing start. My confusion lied on whether one religion was more “right” than the other. My mother, raised catholic, had left her religion shortly after she turned 18 and my father, Episcopalian, never went to church religiously. Despite my mom leaving the catholic religion, she always reminded us to pray and thank our heavenly father for our blessings.
The town I grew up in had a population of roughly 2500 people. In that town there was a church on every block. One Baptist, One Catholic, One Non Denominational, etc. I think I attended every one of those churches at one time or another on my journey to find the right church for me. As I got older I followed the Baptist church. The Baptist church was a church all of my friends went to, and as much as I enjoyed going with all my friends, socializing with them, that’s not what I was really there for. I always had that one big question over my head… HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH? With the mass confusion of not knowing where my place was, what church was the right church for me, etc., I fell away from organized religion altogether. I prayed by myself and kept it as so.
Four days after my high school graduation I moved to Sacramento to attend school and 8 days after that I met Darren. The topic of religion had never come up in the months since we started dating. He had brought up that his family was Mormon and so in my mind I just thought “ok one more religion I know nothing about”.
Darren and I decided to go to Mexico for a weekend getaway, and had to fly out of Oakland, so we stayed in Oakland for the night before flying to Mexico the following day, and I remember us being so bored in our hotel room, so we decided to explore Oakland if you can imagine that. We weren’t driving too long before we were lost. We were scared out of our minds and had been driving for over an hour, when out of nowhere I see this huge building, completely lit up, sitting on top of this hill. I asked Darren if he had ever seen it before and he said “Yes, that is the Oakland Temple, do you want to check it out?” and of course I wanted to, so we went to the visitors center. I remember a missionary coming up to us, handing me a card with a picture of Jesus Christ on the front of it. Behind her was a tall statue of the Jesus. When I looked up at that statue a feeling of emotion came over my body, something I’d never experienced before. I felt the spirit so strong that night. I knew this was something I needed to investigate further.
When we had gotten back from our trip Darren took me to his Grandfathers ward in West Sacramento. Mind you, this was the first time I had stepped foot in an LDS Church. It was also the first time I was greeted with open arms from everyone around me. I was able to listen to peoples testimonies that day as it fell on the first Sunday. I was so inspired by their stories and so touched I found myself sitting there crying. I prayed to the Lord and asked for his help to guide me to where I needed to be. Little did I know that the Lord was already working on that and had been since the moment I met my Husband. He had other plans up his sleeve for me.
For years Darren and I would go with our Grandparents or with his Mother when she was in town, but it was never on a regular basis, more on default that we went. That all changed when an unthinkable incident occurred with my son this last year. He was exposed to some horrible things on the internet. I would like to quote Elder Jeffrey R. Holland from General Conference this year. He stated, “Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for Temple work, could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever.”
HE TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH
I was mortified and all we wanted to do was erase his mind from what he had seen, shelter and protect him from such filth. We called our Brother-in-law and he came over to give Gavin a blessing. It wasn’t until that night, that I realized how lucky we are to have the Taylor family so close by. Through the blessing that he gave to my son, I realized that I wanted that same gift for my husband so that Darren would someday be able to perform blessings as well. That following Sunday, Darren and I took our family to church. The Bishop greeted us, Sister Khuns, the missionaries, the Ezells, Taylors and so many more. I knew then that I was going to be okay. That my family would be okay.
I would like to read a scripture from Isaiah Chapter 54 verse 13.
“ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
From what I have learned from the gospel and from what I have felt. I know that as we do those things that the lord asks us to do, no matter what trials and troubles we face I know that the Lord will give us peace in our hearts. I knew that from the moment I started going to church with my family. I sat in my chair that Sunday and felt a huge weight lift off of my shoulders and the holy spirit feel my family and home, I felt cleansed.
In June, when we started going back to church, the missionaries asked if they could come to our home and teach the lessons to me. I of course was ecstatic because although I have heard the first lesson several times, I knew this time was different. I knew I was ready and so did our heavenly father. So after the first lesson was taught, the missionaries asked if I wanted to be baptized two weeks from that night. I felt shock and scared and all of these emotions. Was I ready? I wasn’t sure. They asked me to pray about it and so I did. I prayed and pondered most of that night. I thought, “ Well how can I be baptized if I haven’t read the entire book of Mormon?” But you know what? I didn’t have to read the entire book to believe in what I was being taught. I knew in my heart that the word was true, I knew that I deserved to be baptized. And so I did. I was baptized July 10th and confirmed on my Husbands Birthday.
We have been so blessed by each and every one of you here. You all have welcomed my family and I with open arms. You brought us to your homes. You do not know the affect you have all had on our family. We are so grateful. I have not only acquired the gospel and the Holy Spirit but I have also received wonderful new friends and Family. Thank you and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Elizabeth Wilder. My husband Darren and I have two Children, Gavin who is 6 and Hadley who is 3.
When I was a child I went to a Catholic preschool and a Baptist grade school. From the beginning I was off to a very confusing start. My confusion lied on whether one religion was more “right” than the other. My mother, raised catholic, had left her religion shortly after she turned 18 and my father, Episcopalian, never went to church religiously. Despite my mom leaving the catholic religion, she always reminded us to pray and thank our heavenly father for our blessings.
The town I grew up in had a population of roughly 2500 people. In that town there was a church on every block. One Baptist, One Catholic, One Non Denominational, etc. I think I attended every one of those churches at one time or another on my journey to find the right church for me. As I got older I followed the Baptist church. The Baptist church was a church all of my friends went to, and as much as I enjoyed going with all my friends, socializing with them, that’s not what I was really there for. I always had that one big question over my head… HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH? With the mass confusion of not knowing where my place was, what church was the right church for me, etc., I fell away from organized religion altogether. I prayed by myself and kept it as so.
Four days after my high school graduation I moved to Sacramento to attend school and 8 days after that I met Darren. The topic of religion had never come up in the months since we started dating. He had brought up that his family was Mormon and so in my mind I just thought “ok one more religion I know nothing about”.
Darren and I decided to go to Mexico for a weekend getaway, and had to fly out of Oakland, so we stayed in Oakland for the night before flying to Mexico the following day, and I remember us being so bored in our hotel room, so we decided to explore Oakland if you can imagine that. We weren’t driving too long before we were lost. We were scared out of our minds and had been driving for over an hour, when out of nowhere I see this huge building, completely lit up, sitting on top of this hill. I asked Darren if he had ever seen it before and he said “Yes, that is the Oakland Temple, do you want to check it out?” and of course I wanted to, so we went to the visitors center. I remember a missionary coming up to us, handing me a card with a picture of Jesus Christ on the front of it. Behind her was a tall statue of the Jesus. When I looked up at that statue a feeling of emotion came over my body, something I’d never experienced before. I felt the spirit so strong that night. I knew this was something I needed to investigate further.
When we had gotten back from our trip Darren took me to his Grandfathers ward in West Sacramento. Mind you, this was the first time I had stepped foot in an LDS Church. It was also the first time I was greeted with open arms from everyone around me. I was able to listen to peoples testimonies that day as it fell on the first Sunday. I was so inspired by their stories and so touched I found myself sitting there crying. I prayed to the Lord and asked for his help to guide me to where I needed to be. Little did I know that the Lord was already working on that and had been since the moment I met my Husband. He had other plans up his sleeve for me.
For years Darren and I would go with our Grandparents or with his Mother when she was in town, but it was never on a regular basis, more on default that we went. That all changed when an unthinkable incident occurred with my son this last year. He was exposed to some horrible things on the internet. I would like to quote Elder Jeffrey R. Holland from General Conference this year. He stated, “Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for Temple work, could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever.”
HE TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH
I was mortified and all we wanted to do was erase his mind from what he had seen, shelter and protect him from such filth. We called our Brother-in-law and he came over to give Gavin a blessing. It wasn’t until that night, that I realized how lucky we are to have the Taylor family so close by. Through the blessing that he gave to my son, I realized that I wanted that same gift for my husband so that Darren would someday be able to perform blessings as well. That following Sunday, Darren and I took our family to church. The Bishop greeted us, Sister Khuns, the missionaries, the Ezells, Taylors and so many more. I knew then that I was going to be okay. That my family would be okay.
I would like to read a scripture from Isaiah Chapter 54 verse 13.
“ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
From what I have learned from the gospel and from what I have felt. I know that as we do those things that the lord asks us to do, no matter what trials and troubles we face I know that the Lord will give us peace in our hearts. I knew that from the moment I started going to church with my family. I sat in my chair that Sunday and felt a huge weight lift off of my shoulders and the holy spirit feel my family and home, I felt cleansed.
In June, when we started going back to church, the missionaries asked if they could come to our home and teach the lessons to me. I of course was ecstatic because although I have heard the first lesson several times, I knew this time was different. I knew I was ready and so did our heavenly father. So after the first lesson was taught, the missionaries asked if I wanted to be baptized two weeks from that night. I felt shock and scared and all of these emotions. Was I ready? I wasn’t sure. They asked me to pray about it and so I did. I prayed and pondered most of that night. I thought, “ Well how can I be baptized if I haven’t read the entire book of Mormon?” But you know what? I didn’t have to read the entire book to believe in what I was being taught. I knew in my heart that the word was true, I knew that I deserved to be baptized. And so I did. I was baptized July 10th and confirmed on my Husbands Birthday.
We have been so blessed by each and every one of you here. You all have welcomed my family and I with open arms. You brought us to your homes. You do not know the affect you have all had on our family. We are so grateful. I have not only acquired the gospel and the Holy Spirit but I have also received wonderful new friends and Family. Thank you and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)