I Believe
Choosing to Believe When the World Would Say Otherwise
When I saw my friends and family leaving religion behind, I wasn’t sure where to turn.
My life has turned out completely different from how I thought it would.
I grew up in a Catholic home and attended a Catholic school for years. I always anticipated that I would be part of the Catholic faith throughout my lifetime, and I am grateful for the principles it taught me.
But when I entered my early twenties, I started to struggle with my faith. I wanted to have a faith-filled life, but I had questions I couldn’t find answers to. I also saw my siblings and friends stepping away from religion.
I wondered if I should just leave my faith behind like a lot of the world around me.
Learning about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
Growing up, my family and I would take the same trip every summer to see live music shows. During this trip, we spent time with a lot of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lived there and were part of these shows.
They were always so kind to me and so genuine. Their friendliness and welcoming nature really made them stand out as the type of people I wanted to be around. My family and I returned to this same vacation spot every year, and I got to know these friends better. We also kept in touch on social media.
One night, when I was struggling with my faith and wondering if living a spiritual life was possible for me, my Latter-day Saint friends came to mind. I suddenly felt that I needed to reach out to their missionaries.
And I did!
As I met with and learned from the missionaries, everything about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ seemed to add to the truths I had been taught growing up, and soon I was set to be baptized. I felt so confident about this decision, but the more I thought about it, the more uncertain I felt.
At first, I was so afraid to share my experiences of learning about the Church with my family. In fact, I hid my newfound faith from them for a while, unsure of when I should mention my new spiritual experiences. It was also hard because my siblings and my mom had stopped going to church, and the only one in my family who was still practicing Catholicism was my dad.
I didn’t want to crush him by telling him I was also leaving the faith he had raised me in.
Despite my fear, I trusted that I was making the right decision to be baptized, because I had felt so much peace when I prayed about it. This experience reminded me of a scripture I have always loved: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
As I continued to believe in this truth and rely on my Heavenly Father and Savior, I knew I could trust Them and have the courage to move forward on this path.
I told my family about my decision to join the Church, and although they were a little skeptical and the news was hard for them, on the day of my baptism, I was pleasantly surprised when my parents showed up to show their support for me.
It really was a miracle.
Living in Faith
Even today, my life is full of answered and unanswered questions. I’m the Relief Society president in my young single adult ward, which comes with brand-new responsibilities. I am looking for an eternal companion, still learning about the gospel, and navigating being the only member of the Church in my family. I’m trying to figure out my future, and sometimes, it all feels so overwhelming.
Lately though, as I rely on my faith, I’m realizing that Heavenly Father really does know us better than we know ourselves. He knows the righteous desires of my heart, He knows my struggles and strengths, and He knows my future, which I know will be bright if I keep moving forward on the covenant path.
I love what President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.”
I believe his words are true. Despite our fears and overwhelm, we really can trust that our Creator, who loves us more than we can comprehend, has our best interests at heart. He will never steer us wrong.
Trusting the Lord
There are people across the globe who are stepping away from their relationship with Heavenly Father and religion altogether, and some do their best to convince us to leave our faith behind too. I felt that pressure before I joined the Church and still feel it at times, being the only member in my family and one of the few young adult members in my area.
But as I deepen my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and cling to my covenants, nothing the world offers me compares to the joy and hope I have when I choose to trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
As Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “I promise you that as you trust in the Lord, the blessings of heaven will follow.”
And I feel those blessings. The gospel keeps me grounded and focused on what matters most. Through that trust, I know that we are valued, we are loved, our light is needed, and choosing faith is worth it. All we need to do is hold on to our Savior, Jesus Christ.