Alonzo L Gaskill - Converted: True Conversion Stories from 15 Religions

2017 Alonzo L. Gaskill

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether by graphic, visual, electronic, film, microfilm, tape recording, or any other means, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

This is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions and views expressed herein belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of Cedar Fort, Inc. Permission for the use of sources, graphics, and photos is also solely the responsibility of the author.

ISBN 13: 978-1-4621-2767-2

Published by CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.,

2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663

Distributed by Cedar Fort, Inc., www.cedarfort.com

Cover design by Shawnda T. Craig

Cover design 2017 by Cedar Fort, Inc.

Edited and typeset by Rebecca Bird

In appreciation of all those
who openly and faithfully live their religion;
And in honor of all who embrace the truth,
regardless of the personal costs.

Other Books by Alonzo L. Gaskill

Know Your Religions Volume 1:

A Comparative Look at Mormonism and Catholicism

Sacred Symbols:

Finding Meaning in Rites, Rituals, and Ordinances

The Lost Language of Symbolism: An Essential Guide for

Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols of the Gospel

The Truth about Eden:

Understanding the Fall and our Temple Experience

Love at Home:

Insights from the Lives of Latter-day Prophets

The Lost Teachings of Jesus

on the Sacred Place of Women

Miracles of the New Testament:

A Guide to the Symbolic Messages

Odds Are, Youre Going to Be Exalted:

Evidence that the Plan of Salvation Works!

Remember:

Sacred Truths We Must Never Forget

Miracles of the Book of Mormon:

A Guide to the Symbolic Messages

Temple Reflections:

Insights into the House of the Lord

Contents

Introduction

I n July 2016, Cedar Fort approached me about compiling a book of conversion stories of people who are former practitioners of other religions but have found the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. For a number of reasonsincluding the fact that I, myself, am a convert to the Churchthe project sounded intriguing to me, so I agreed to be the editor of the volume.

In many ways, this compilation is eclectic, as each of the conversion stories shared herein is unique. Some of the authors were formerly members of other Christian churches but gained a testimony of the further light and knowledge found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others who shared their stories and witnesses in this volume have converted from non-Christian traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism. Each person joined the Church for various reasonsand each was converted through very different means; nevertheless, each story testifies to the joy that has come through embracing the restored gospel. All have found that their lives have been significantly changed and bettered because of Christ and the Restoration of His gospel in the latter days.

In His parable of the treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44), Jesus taught, The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he... selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. As the parable suggests, the gospel is priceless. Those truly converted to it are willing to give anythingrequired in order to have it. While many of the stories in this volume attest to the tremendous blessings that have come through joining the Church, they also testify to the reality that conversion can require great sacrifice too. I am in awe of the tens of thousands of converts who, over the decades, have forfeited family and fortune in order to embrace Jesus and His restored gospel. The clarion call of the convert is often one of sacrifice. In their book The Mormon Experience, Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton note:

Mormon family life [particularly in the early years of the Restoration] often included experiences not easily disregardedactual life as opposed to beliefs. For one thing, there was the original conversion to Mormonism, which often meant the schism of families. In the sense that it was virtually impossible to bring all of ones extended family into the new faith, some kind of religious separation was inevitable. The tears and heartache that followed such division, especially when it occurred in the immediate family, are incalculable.

Many of the stories in this book exemplify this kind of sacrifice. Unquestionably, God sends compensating blessings to those who give all in order to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ; and, for that, we offer our sincere praise! But conversion often requires great change and, thus, also requires tremendous faith. Your own experience may evidence that. Certainly many of the experiences shared in this volume do.

Unquestionably, God sends compensating blessings to those who give all in order to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Of course, becoming a member of the Churchwhether through a convert baptism, or by baptism when eight years oldis merely the gate (see 2 Nephi 31:17). There is a long path that leads from that initial salvific ordinance to the celestial kingdom. Converts need to remember this and give themselves time to grow and become perfected in Christ (see Moroni 10:32). Similarly, those who have been lifelong members need to remember that our convert brothers and sisters need time to grow into their newfound faith. Elder Bruce R. McConkie counseled, Staunch and stable members of the Church should be tolerant and charitable toward persons newly coming out of the darkness of the world into the light of the gospel.

In other words, when someone is investigating the Church, or has recently converted, those who have been in the Church many years need to be patient with the new convert or investigator as he or she learns the doctrines, incorporates the new lifestyle, and lets go of any erroneous perspectives from the past. When we do not exhibit such patience, we run the risk of pushing away recent converts. As a singular example, I knew of a woman whowith her husbandhad converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Methodism. The sister dressed modestly, but, in that first year of membership in the Church, often wore skirts that were above her knee. One day a well-meaning sister pulled her aside and said, Your skirts are too short. Choosing to not take offense, the recent convert quipped, Oh, youll have to excuse me. My husband and I are now LDS, but my skirts are all still Methodist!

My husband and I are now LDS, but my skirts are all still Methodist!

Fortunately, this exchange did not push the recent convert away from the Churchbut it could have. We should love, nurture, and accept those who are investigating the Church and those who have recently converted to it. Indeed, we should love, nurture, and accept all members because we dont know where theyre at in their relationship with the Lord. We should have patience with less-active members, supporting them as they try to find their faith. We should give all members time to become what the Lord wants them to bejust as we would want the Lord to give