Finding the Truth by Crystal Champion
I am certain now that I have found the truth that I have been seeking for, for the better part of my life.
I was not brought up in a very religious home and as a matter of fact rarely went to church for most of my childhood or teenage years. I know that my mother wanted church to be a part of our lives because she had been raised in a very religious home growing up and they always went to church. And, I do give my mother credit for trying to get us to church, but she also had a lot of excuses as to why we could never go. This was hard for me because ever since my young years at Vacation Bible School I have been able to understand the words that were written in the scriptures.
Although I never went to church with my family I did start to go to church regularly when I was about 17 years old. I went to church only because my friend and I sung in the choir and she dragged me into the first choir rehearsal and said I was going to love it. She was right and I started to investigate the Catholic Church after regularly attending every mass that the choir sang at. I thought that I should join because all the members in the choir thought that I should, seeing as I was there all the time and I seemed to enjoy myself. I went as far as asking a couple to be my godparents and really starting to talk to the deacon in charge of baptisms about all the customs and teachings of the Church. While talking to the deacon I had a strange feeling and I thought that this is not the church for me, but I did not want to tell anyone this because they were all pushing the fact that I should be baptized. I never was baptized and I am thankful for that, because I would have been very unhappy.
Before I began singing in the choir I had been going through some very tough things and I always remember telling people that what has happened to me happened to me because Heavenly Father knew that I could handle it and that I would be able to help others in dealing with it also. I had no idea why I knew that, but I knew and I was not afraid to tell it to those closest to me.
I encountered the Mormon Sister missionaries in early fall of 2003 by chance while I was babysitting for a family friend’s mother who was ill. I answered the knock at the door and I saw to young ladies standing before me and they asked me a question and I invited them in and we talked. Those two missionaries were Sister Andrea Bayles and Sister Brooke Bessilever. I only met with them a few times before one of them was sent home for medical reasons and the other one was sent to Horseheads. They stopped by to say goodbye and to tell me what was going on but I was not home at the time and the one Sister thought that she would only be gone for three weeks which was the next transfer.
I never got their message and I just assumed that they did not know how to respond to the incident that my father had put them through the second time they saw me. So, I went on with my studies and thought nothing of it. About 2-3 months later two new Sister missionaries showed up at my door after diligently trying to get me at home for a week or two. Sister Carly Felice and Sister Dawn Vanlandingham came to my house one evening and my mom told them that I would be home in about an hour. They decided to tract my entire street and finally found me. They always seemed to come to my house when I was at college or choir rehearsal or when I was doing something for the local Catholic Church. To be honest, I would have given up on me if I were them, but I am happy that they did not. Not only did they keep trying to contact me, they had the elders try to find me, but they were unable to find my house. About a week later Sister Vanlandingham was transferred and Sister Rebekah Nuttall replaced her. It was at that point where things started to change for me and where I found two friends for life.
The first time that I met Sister Felice I knew that I was meant to meet her and I also got this feeling the first time I met Sister Nuttall. I do not know where this feeling came from but I knew that I had found two of my closest friends and I knew that I was going to meet them because I recalled a dream from when I was about 5 and it was like reliving that dream when I saw them.
Now, I will tell you that it took the Sisters asking me from the first meeting until right before Christmas to get me to go to church. And I must say that the only reason that I went was because they called and told me that my ride was going to be there at 7:45 a.m. and that I was singing in the Christmas program. I must say that it was a good thing that they did this because I was not going to go because I felt guilty for not singing in the Catholic Choir that I was in and had not missed a single mass that they had sung in during the three years that I had been a part of it. I must say that getting me to go to Church was the thing that got me to really want to join because the members of the Liverpool Ward were and are so kind and loving and accepting. They let me sing in the choir even though I knew none of the songs and in-fact I had to learn the whole program in 45 minutes.
The next service that I was at the choir director asked if I would sing a special musical number with them in a small group and I said yes. Amazingly that was the Sunday before I was to be baptized. Now when the Sisters asked me to be baptized I said yes right away but I was very nervous and scared, because although I knew that all that they had taught me was true—and in fact I knew this from the beginning—I was afraid of the rejection that I was sure was going to happen when I took this major step, and I also think that I was uncomfortable with doing something that made me happy for a change.
But before I was interviewed to be baptized I felt that I needed to inform them of something and also get the view of the Church on something that had happened to me. I did not tell them myself, I had a friend—who was ironically the person I had asked to be my godmother—who was taking the discussions tell them for me because I did not know how to tell them that I had been raped multiple times. Now the question that I asked them was how the Church viewed the victim of rape: as a victim or that they deserved it. When they said that the Church did not blame the victim, it made the decision of being baptized much easier.
The final capper that my choice to be baptized was right was the kindness and compassion that they showed me the day that they found out and the love that they showed for me after they found out. That was all I needed to know that this was right where I needed to be among people who love no matter what. I also knew that I did not have to change who I really was because I already felt that I was accepted and that they would not judge me for the way that I am.
Now for my baptism! The day that I was baptized I went to the meeting house early to talk with the Sisters and help them set up. I was there with them for about an hour and then I went back home to eat and get prepared. The whole day I was not nervous at all, just excited and anxious; then I went back to the meeting house and got changed and had about 5-10 pictures taken by the Sister missionaries before I was baptized. As soon as I changed I began to get very nervous and I was unable to sit still for any length of time so I proceeded to walk around the room and the building until I was unable to sit. The Sisters did so much for me; they asked all the speakers and the gentleman who baptized me to do that. I was shocked that they would take all that time out of their busy schedules to set up basically the entire baptism.
Before I was baptized they both sang and that really just astounded me because I did not expect them to go the extra mile for this whole baptism thing. I am so grateful that they did because it made it that much more memorable for me because I have never had people offer to sing for me. I feel that Heavenly Father truly blessed me with the two missionaries that I needed to help find the truth and bring me to His Church. I know that the two missionaries that I was fortunate enough to have in my life were the ones that I needed to bring me into the light and out of the darkness that had begun to control me.
All the missionaries that have taught me are very dear to me and I know that all of them were meant to be in my life.
I also know that the brother who baptized me was the one who was supposed to because I have known him for about 5 years and although I did not know that he was LDS, when I found out and was asked if I wanted to be baptized I knew that I wanted him to be the one to perform the baptism. So, as Brother Chistman-McArty and I stepped into the baptismal font, which unfortunately was freezing because the hot water tank was not working, I was nervous and cold. I am a very shy person so the fact that about 20-30 people were looking at me did not ease my nerves and I wanted to get done so that the people were not all looking at me anymore. I was baptized and I came up and shook my head because the water was so cold and that got a laugh out of all of them, even the missionaries.
Ok, I must say that the next thing that I did was a tad, well, stupid, I walked out on the wrong side and then I had to walk back through the font to the appropriate side so that I could change. I took a bit longer than usual getting changed because I was told to take my time. I did and when I came back into the room I was warmly greeted and asked how I felt, to which I replied “cold.” I am so grateful for all the lovely people that spoke and sang at my baptism and I am thankful that the Sisters were so willing to put the whole thing together.
The Sunday following my baptism, which was on Thursday January 8, 2004, I was blessed enough to also witness a baby blessing and then sing a special number with a small group. I was asked to sing this before I was baptized and that was a little strange to me because typically churches don’t ask a non-member to sing in a special number. I thought that this was cool and so after I was confirmed by Bishop Alan Taylor and a host of other men I sang and I think that it was the best welcome that I could have had. I am so amazed that I did this without worrying about how my family would react.
I must say that I was so happy that my mother, two sisters, and next door neighbor attended the baptism and that my mother attended my confirmation. I truly did not expect them to because of the negative thoughts that they had about the Church, because of what people have said and the negative things that are on the internet. That whole week before my baptism and confirmation I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off of my shoulders and that the darkness that once held my mind and heart captive was brought into a great and glorious light. I can never repay the missionaries that have been such an integral part of my spiritual and emotional health because of the faith and love that they have for all people and the Gospel. I owe them my life in many respects and I am still in contact with all of them.
I would like to let all of you who read this who are not sure if the LDS (Mormon) Church is true that I know without any doubt in my mind or heart that it is. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father afforded me the opportunity to hear the restored gospel through His loving Mormon missionaries. I want to let all the missionaries who happen to read this know that they do make an impact on all of the people around them even if it seems that no one is noticing the truth that you hold. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet today. I know that the gospel is true and that the principles that are taught within can and will bring joy and happiness to your life just as they have to mine. I know that Heavenly Father only gives us what we can handle and all the pain that we have gone through He has suffered. I love this Church with all my heart and I know that it can help you as much as, if not more than, it has helped me.
I want to thank Heavenly Father, the Mormon missionaries, and all the lovely members of this Mormon Church who have taught me that doing what is right is always the right thing to do. And if doing the right causes those around you to hate and persecute you that Heavenly Father will always be there for you no matter what and that He knows and feels all of your pain and also the pain of all those on the earth. And knowing that has helped me to realize that those who no longer want to be kind to me because of what I believe are people that I should not be around at this time because they are not ready to hear or accept the truth. I am not saying to cut yourself off from them but to simply set an example and don’t try to force anything on them, just plant the seed and pray that they will be softened to the truth and happiness that you want to share with them.
I wish all of you the best of luck with the choice that you must make and hope that you turn to Heavenly Father for the guidance that will tell you all that you need to know. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
For More Information
WhyMormonism.com
Mormon Missionaries - BBC Religion and Ethics