Digital Only: Young Adults
3 Principles That Helped Me Return to Christ
Service, charity, and patience are the keys to many hearts and souls that seem beyond our reach.
When I was 15, I had an interaction at church that left me feeling hurt. I never wanted to go back after that day. My early faith and hope crumbled as I slowly lost my focus on my divine identity. I felt a lot of doubt and couldn’t find any answers.
So, I tried to find meaning outside of the gospel. I fell further away as many of my loved ones watched with concern. My parents tried to help in every way. Many friends included me in activities. But I had not had “a mighty change wrought in [my] heart” (Alma 5:12). But, over time, as people in my life shared Christlike love and provided good examples, I learned the meaning of God’s plan for me.
If you have a loved one who is struggling with their faith, you might be wondering how you can help them. In my case, my loved ones acted as the Lord’s servants. It was their love and devotion that brought me back to the gospel.
And you can do the same for someone you love.
Here are three principles my loved ones practiced that helped me see Heavenly Father’s love for me:
1. Service
“For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also” (Moroni 7:5).
My bishop, a great friend and example to me, continually invited me to minister with him even when I was no longer attending Church. He was such an important person to me that I couldn’t refuse his invitations. We had countless wonderful experiences serving those whom we visited, and he always offered to share gospel insights with them so that I would not be uncomfortable.
He served me while also inviting me to serve others, and that made a huge difference in coming back to Christ.
2. Charity
“And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil … [Charity] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (Moroni 7:45).
My father is a great example to me of charity. He has always shown me charity, regardless of my beliefs or choices. During a very dark time in my life, I spoke to my father, and he met me with the “pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). He listened to my concerns without judgment and gave me simple and invaluable advice.
One of the most powerful things you can do for your loved ones is to show them Christlike love, no matter what their choices are.
3. Patience
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4).
I returned to the Church after ten years of not attending, and my mother went above and beyond with Christlike patience. She never pushed me or grew frustrated toward me. She loved me, remembered my worth, and knew that the Spirit and Heavenly Father were influencing me.
We can’t rush the Lord’s work or force another person’s agency. Instead, we can stay close to the Spirit to know when it is time to invite or serve those we love.
When others chose to serve, love, and be patient with me, I was blessed with opportunities and relationships that wouldn’t have been possible without their help. It is the Savior’s light, especially when it is exemplified in our actions, that guides others back to the joy of His gospel. My humble witness is that God loves all of us no matter where we are in life or what we have done, but He can bless us even more when we come unto Him. I’m so grateful for the gospel, and I testify that it was truly through the Christlike examples of those in my life that I was able to return.