I was baptized as an infant in the Episcopal Church and was raised in that church while also attending the Methodist church with my maternal grandmother. Both churches were quite formal and traditional. Beginning when I was about 8 years old, I did not wish to attend Sunday school with the children during worship service (which is not like our primary, BTW) but opted to stay in the chapel and hear the sermon instead. I noticed something rather amazing in that the sermon was very difficult for me to understand but in the middle of the meeting, the choir would always sing and in that moment when they began to sing beautiful hymns of praise to our Savior, a feeling would fill the room that I could not describe but I knew that I did not want it to go away. It was as if the Spirit of the Holy Ghost was there and tapped me on the head to say, “remember this”. The same feeling came over me whenever I heard Elvis Presley singing How Great Thou Art and at Christmas time when my grandmother got out all of her record albums of Christmas music. As the music played, it was as if the Spirit of the Holy Ghost was there and tapped me on the head to say “remember this”.
Most of my friends at this time were Catholic. They were good people and had a lot of direction in life. I suggested to my mom that maybe we should become Catholic. She suggested that I was out of my mind and somehow the subject was dropped. Meanwhile, my mom and dad got divorced and mom went to work as a secretary for a Jewish doctor. By the time I was 9 years old, she married my stepfather and by that time we were all good friends with the doctor’s family and were therefore invited to his sons’ Bar Mitzvahs. This was a really interesting cultural experience. I thought it was really cool until mom and stepdad actually considered converting. With that I respectfully declined to have any part of the idea. I announced that I did not love their food and more importantly, I knew that Jesus was the Savior because now his music made me feel and besides that, Gramie, the Methodist would have a stroke.
Shortly after this time, I found myself one evening sitting in a folding chair eating a spaghetti dinner in a large smoke filled parlor of a ramshackle Victorian style house in a bad part of Chula Vista California. The upstairs of the house was occupied by down and out alcoholics who were there to shape up so they could go back to their families or whatever. The spaghetti dinner was a fund raiser put on by them. Soon all of the paper plates were collected and tables removed to make way for the AA meeting. I was not a 12 year old alcoholic, it was a family meeting.
I sat there as everyone eagerly awaited the words of the popular circuit speaker. I can’t remember the words of the speaker because they started with reciting the 12 Steps. They talked about admitting that they were powerless over their addiction and that their lives had become unmanageable. Wow. And, they came to believe that a power greater than themselves could restore them to sanity. Really?? And expressed a willingness to turn their lives and will over to the care of God as they understand him. Woah. Huh??? My mind froze. I didn’t hear another thing. Here were some new religious concepts that I had never heard before. You can have a personal relationship with God? You can pray informally? What does it mean “God as we understand him?”
I asked that of my parents on the way home and they explained the meaning of non-denominational meetings and not offending people of various religions. I asked, in my 12 yo way which church taught about the real God. They said “all of them do”. I said “huh?” I said “So, when you die and see God, what is he like” They said whatever you believe him to be. I said you mean the Catholics are going to die and see a catholic god and the Jews are going to see a Jewish god etc etc and the atheists are going to stay in the ground and my parents said “pretty much”. Next thing I know, they signed me up for a meeting with our Priest. I asked him about the nature of God and what we were going to do in heaven for ever and ever and he told me it was not for us to know and next thing I know I was sent to the church’s catechism type classes which I did not enjoy. I did learn the Nicene Creed. Other than that, I learned to not ask too many questions. You can actually irritate people if they don’t have the answers.
I came to the personal conclusion that if there was a God and he did in fact create all things and therefore had all power, then he is who he is and not who I or anyone else says he is. It is, therefore, our responsibility to find his truth. That is when I began to pray in my own words to find his truth. I was afraid of becoming an adult without direction. In High School I was exposed to more religions which didn’t ring true. Many of my peers had become involved in drugs and all kinds of bad behavior and I was scared straight. I felt very lonely and confused. At this time my stepdad sold a chunk of the farm to a large family where they built a home. I never really had a conversation with Mr. Christensen so I was surprised to learn that he asked my stepfather if I could go to his church’s youth group. I was also surprised that I accepted. Somehow, it seems, Bro Christensen was inspired. The Holy Ghost must have tapped him on the head and told him to ask that scrawny 15 yo farm girl to go to mutual. I’m wondering if he was befuddled. The next week, I went with him and walked into a building dedicated by the Holy Priesthood. I was totally overwhelmed. I did not know that I had always been freezing to death until I felt such warmth as if, as I have said before, a blanket was placed around me and the Holy Ghost reached out and tapped me on the head and said “welcome home”. I went to early morning Seminary the next day. I asked them who their priest was and they pointed out several of them. They didn’t look like much. Nevertheless, I kept going back.
The Christensens invited the fulltime missionaries to teach our family. They started with the Joseph Smith story which was difficult for me. I was 15 now and could totally understand how a 14 year old could want some answers about religion but not the part about god putting him in charge. Then they got to the plan of Salvation. On the flip chart Elder Stone turned to the page that said “Where did we come from, why are we here and where are we going” My mouth fell open. No religious leader I know of however educated, ordained, old or powerful had dared to touch those questions and here this 20yo from Calgary Alberta is going to explain the mysteries of the universe that all mankind wants to know and do it right here in my living room. He did a wonderful job and a powerful spirit was present.
After I was baptized, our YW group went to Utah to attend General Conference. I still had not a complete understanding of all the gospel principles. I loved the church and the people and everything that I heard but I did not know for asurity that the priesthood was restored and these prophets were just like those in the scriptures. We went to the tabernacle on temple square and sat on a bench on the upper level. I thought we were cozy when an usher added more people to our bench…several times. My shoulders were squished up to my ears when the organ began to play We Thank Thee oh God for a Prophet. Immediately, I found myself raised to a standing position. I looked down below to see a short man with a baldish head making his way slowly up the isle and I began to cry involuntarily as I received a witness that this was the prophet. I knew then that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that I did not need to ever question whether or not this church is lead by a living prophet. This is God’s church.
~ Laura Munson ~
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I loved this line, “I did not know that I had always been freezing to death until I felt such warmth as if, as I have said before, a blanket was placed around me and the Holy Ghost reached out and tapped me on the head and said “welcome home”.” Great story. Thank you for sharing.
I loved this line, “I did not know that I had always been freezing to death until I felt such warmth as if, as I have said before, a blanket was placed around me and the Holy Ghost reached out and tapped me on the head and said “welcome home”.” Great story. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so touched by your search for truth and never giving up. Thank you for sharing your amazing testimony!
This is such an excellent conversion story. It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks fo sharing!r
This is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read! So grateful you found us my sister Laura 🙂 welcome home 🙂
Isn’t it interesting to look back and see all those “taps” on the head and recognize how you were watched over even then? Loved reading about your conversion!
Thank you for all of your kind words and many thanks to MMM for this fun and inspiring blog! This was an excerpt from notes I had used to give a sacrament meeting talk. I forgot to edit them…oops. Anyway, I have been a member for 37 wonderful years. I have an awesome family including kids and grandkids who are blessed with gospel because of those who took the time to teach and reach out to an ordinary teenager. My parents did join the church and have been well nurtured by their ward family for which I am grateful. Thanks again!
Love your story. You’ve had an amazing journey. Here is my hug for you.((( 0 )))
You have such a strong spirit. Thanks for strengthening my testimony of the Savior’s love and guiding hand in our lives.
Awesome story. These are the best stories. I went back and read last years blog and comments…the best! We have recently started in our stake having new members share their conversion stories at stake conference…what a spirit is brings. And, does help long time members, converts or BIC, remember our own conversion. Like I said. The best!
A big old hug from me to you Laura. I loved how you stated several times that the Holy Ghost tapped you on the head. He’s done that to me to on occasion too. I really appreciate your testimony of Prophets and your conversion story. I’m wondering if your parents also got baptized?
I’ve known you for 35 years and how have I not heard this story before?! Very well written Laura, love you tons! So glad the Gospel brought us together, now let’s do lunch.
Thank you Laura. I had the same problem with ordinary men in business suits being prophets until I shook hands with Bruce R. McConkie at stake conference a week before I was baptized. I wasn’t exactly sure who he was but it was like taking hold of an electric fence. Only friendlier.
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Wonderful story of your search. I felt a great warmth as I read it. Thanks
What a powerful testimony and beautifully written. Thank you for sharing!
Can I give you a cyber hug? Thanks for sharing your story and for bringing the spirit into my home today!
I guess I’ll have to make room on the computer desk for a box of kleenex after all, at least for this week. Beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful, powerful story and witness.
What an uplifting story! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your story, Laura! May the Lord continue to bless you. *great big hug*
Yes, Thank you.
AWESOME!
Beautiful! I’m with Lisa – love your analogy of not knowing you were freezing until you got warm. I giggled at the priests who “didn’t look like much”. Thank you for starting my day with such a spiritual boost.
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Thank you for strengthening my testimony today. Saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t quite seem like enough, but I’m afraid it’ll have to do.
Heather
Thank you for sharing your amazing journey..
Wonderful, I appreciate that you said you didn’t have a testimony just yet of a living prophet, but you did have enough of a witness to be baptized. It reminded me of Elder Hollands talk when he said, “stand on the ground you have already won.” Thank you Laura {hugs}
Thank you Laura {hugs}
That was beautiful! Thanks for sharing. A great big hug to you!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing 🙂
This brought tears to my eyes! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your story.
I loved how you said you didn’t realize you were freezing cold until you felt the warmth of the Spirit/Gospel. I especially loved when you first went to the youth activity, seminary and church and how it felt like the Spirit was saying, “Welcome Home.”
Tears are flowing.
-Lisa
I loved those parts too! Wonderful story… thank you for sharing!
Me too! And the part about the priests not looking like much 🙂 Love this–thank you!