I Was a Mormon: Priscilla


He Saved Me

 

I was born into a family of generational Mormons.  My parents met at a church dance when they were only 15 years old and married at age 22.  My ancestors from both parents were from Utah and our genealogy goes back to pioneers with Brigham Young.

 

Although my parents didn’t attend church much as I grew up I would go with my Grandmother or would get a ride with someone in the ward.  I loved going to church.  I would see all the families together and I desired to have the same for myself someday.

 

Life didn’t turn out the ideal LDS way.  I didn’t meet that wonderful LDS Return Missionary who would honor me and marry me in the Temple.  I eventually married a man who converted to the church, and a couple of years later we married in the Los Angeles Temple when we became “worthy”.

 

I had always wanted that large LDS family with lots of children, but we were unable to have children of our own, so we adopted 2 children through the LDS Church.  At this point in my life I was very happy and content.  I was grateful to the Church. We had wonderful friends in our ward who we did lots of things with.  We seemed to have it all: family, friends, and fellowship.  There was one thing that was bothering me though.  Whenever we were expected to go to the temple, I dreaded it.  I really struggled with the rituals and would ask God, “Is this really from you?”

 

Then things in my life started to fall apart.  Our children had health problems, and my husband started getting involved in get rich quick schemes, losing most of our money.  He then stopped coming home at night and I started looking outside of the marriage for validation.  As things seemed to spiral out of control, I became depressed and suicidal.  After a couple of failed attempts to end my life I was admitted to a New Life Hospital.

 

While in my hospital room, someone came to me and led me in the prayer of salvation.  During that prayer I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come into my life.  As I did, the Spirit filled me with a peace and I somehow knew that Jesus was a different Jesus than the Jesus I was taught in the Mormon Church.  In the Mormon Church we were taught that Jesus is our older brother, but the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Jesus is God and He loved me unconditionally, and saved me…”unworthy” me.  In the days to come I learned about having a relationship with Christ which seemed so strange to me.  As a Mormon I was taught to listen and obey the leaders of the church as though they were the only ones who had access to the “Heavenly Father.”  Now I am so grateful to know Jesus, up close and personal. I know that I can come to Him directly to guide me and show me the way. “He is the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  I enjoy each day reading the one and only true word of God, the Bible.

 

During my stay in the hospital, I was also told about “Saddleback Church”.  This was in 1989 when the church was much smaller and not many had heard of Pastor Rick Warren.  I attended Saddleback Church's Divorce Recovery while I was going through my own divorce and learned sound biblical teachings that helped and encouraged me through the hardest time in my life.  Although it wasn’t easy to walk away from my Mormon roots, there is no greater joy than to know the true Jesus and His true gospel, and the truth has set me free.

 


I Was a Mormon: Priscilla

 

In Him,

 

Priscilla
[email protected]


Add Comment