I am a member of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints more commonly known as Mormons. I got baptized when I was 9 years old, my grandma Trinidad Espinoza always put effort on taking me to church. I liked it a lot, the activities, the primary, everything was beautiful and I decided that getting baptize was the best desicion I could ever make. Sadly, I don't remember the day I got baptized, I was just 9 years old and after my baptism and my confirmation, I stopped going to church. Yeah I know so sad, but that happened. When I was 10, my mom took me to a Christian Church, it was really good, I liked it as well, but we stopped going because they never taught us doctrine, most of the time we were singing, I'm not saying that Christians never teach doctrine but in the church I was going, they never did. After that, my mom took me to a Baptist Church, I liked it a lot, the doctrine is so good and the people were so wonderful, I was so happy there, but when I turn 13, something in my heart and in my mind started telling me that I wasn't in the right place, that I needed something else, I never understood that feeling until I came to United States. I was 14 when that happened, and I told my mom that since we didn't know where a Baptist Church was, we could go with the Mormons :) I thought she was gonna say NO! but, she accepted and my uncle took us to a LDS church he knew long time ago. We started going, and I wish I could say the exact feelings I had when I was there. I felt so happy, like never before, I felt like I wanted to live there, like I could never leave that place because I felt so much peace in my heart, and I didn't know why I was feeling that way. I forgot to mention that the ward we were attending at that time was Van Nuys 5th (Spanish Speaking). After that, we had to move to North Hollywood, so I started going to North Hollywood 5th Spanish Ward, I felt really sad at the beginning because I was so in love with Van Nuys and it was really hard to leave my friends, and the brethern who were always so kind and helpful. So, started going to North Hollywood 5th, I remember that I sat next to the Sister Missionaries :) they were so kind to me, and made me feel that they were so happy because I was there :) Bishop Peñaloza was super kind and started telling me his jokes :) (he's always like that) :) Sadly, I stopped going to North Hollywood 5th, I went back to Van Nuys 5th, I was being disobedient and i didn't want to go to my ward (lol) until the missionaries came to my house and told me: Karla, you need to start going to your ward! I didn't like it, but I try to be obedient, and I started going again :) Everything was fine, I was friends with the sister missionaries :) they were always an inspiration to me, when I saw them I felt like I wanted to be like them because they were so nice and pure, always helping others, and when they shared their testimonies I felt happiness in my heart. One day, I went to church with my beautiful friend Gloria Solis...I remember that day, she had blond hair, everyone thought she was a white girl trying to learn spanish or something ha ha ha :) She liked church too, and kept going with me until one day we met a guy, I don't want to put his name on here but I am thankful I met him, because even though he tried his very best to horrified me with lies about the church, his attitude helped me to wake up and say: Karla! Where are you? Are you in the right path, or everything is a lie? He started telling stuff to Gloria about the church, saying things like Oh well, God talked to me and told me to advice you about those people who are visiting your family (the missionaries) you know that Joseph Smith was a stealer with Oliver Cowdery, Smith invented the Book of Mormon, and well he said so many things, and ofcourse Gloria got really scared, so was I when she told me, then he called me and told me the same things, but I didn't believe a thing, until one day I found him on the street, and seriously he did a good job, because after that I called the missionaries (the elders) I told them, Elders, I'm not going to church anymore, I don't want to know anything about churches anymore, I'm tired of that! I don't believe in any church anymore. Elder Harris was so sad when I told him that. He said: Karla, I can't believe you are telling me this, but let me tell you something, I won't try to convince you about coming back to church, that is your desicion and you are the one who are gonna lose blessings, not me! The only thing I can tell you is not to believe the man who talked to you, and don't believe in the thing we're teaching you, but ask God, He's the only one who would never lie to you, go and kneel down and ask with a sincere heart, with real intent and having faith in Jesus Christ and ask him about the book of Mormon, about Joseph Smith and ofcourse about the church, and I promise you that If you do that, you will receive an answer, and you'll know with all of your heart what you should do. I thought about it, because in the time I was in church I never asked if I was in the right path, I was there because I felt good, but I never had a testimony. So I did what Elder Harris told me to do....I pray :)
Yes! I prayed, and I felt so good :) but I couldn't recognize an answer, until I went to Seminary :)
My Bishop Peñaloza was there again, he was my teacher and like I said before, I wish I could express with exact words the feelings I had when I was there, I received my answer :) I felt the Spirit so strong, so powerful that I didn't have a doubt that I was in the right place :) I cried, I smiled, I was so happy, I felt so much peace in my heart, all I could think about was to be like Jesus Christ, I just wanted to be a better person and change all the bad things I had in my life, I felt like that everyday I was going to Seminary, every moment I was in church, every moment the missionaries came over to visit my family, until one day I felt the same way in school, I was always feeling the Spirtit so strong that I realized that I was in the true place, the true church and I was thankful that I was there :) I also felt with all my heart the desire to go on a mission, I was just 15 years old and I remember myself praying to not fall in love with anyone so I could go on a mission :) I think that's why I don't have a boyfriend lol :) Well, I think this is the end. The last thing I want to say is that I still feel the same about the church, I am thankful I'm part of this wonderful gospel, it has blessed my life and my family. We aren't perfect, but we keep on trying. I know that my Heavenly Father loves us, Jesus Christ is our Savior, He's our Redeemer, "I know that my Redeemer lives" and I wish I could be a better person, because I know that sometimes I could be better, but I don't even try. I love my family, and I hope someday I can serve a mission :) I hope I can be a good missionary and with a sincere heart bring people to the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.
I also know for that If we ask with a sincere heart, God will always answer our prayers, because we are His children and He loves us, and He wants us to be in the right path. In the name of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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