Love Goes Both Ways
God loves Shinnah, and Shinnah loves God.
Shinnah B. from Nairobi, Kenya, knows that Heavenly Father loves her. But she didn’t really know it until a couple of years ago, when she first heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from her aunt.
“The missionaries taught me things I didn’t know. They taught me that Heavenly Father loves me, and how to pray,” Shinnah says. After she was baptized, a few experiences helped her better understand God’s love for her. Now she strives to show her love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Illustrations by Book of Lai
God’s Love for Shinnah
Help in School
Shinnah was struggling in school. One day she talked to her Young Women president about it. “She told me that I should turn to Heavenly Father, because He would help me,” Shinnah says. And He did help her! After Shinnah prayed, she felt promptings from the Spirit about things she could change. “After that, I started seeing my performance improve.”
Knowing Her Divine Identity
Shinnah really likes the first line of the Young Women theme: “I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.” She says, “You don’t have to feel alone, because Heavenly Father is by your side.”
Strength in Her Calling
“When I joined the Church, I didn’t have confidence to talk to people,” Shinnah says. “When I was given a calling to serve as a Young Women class president, I was so surprised. I had never been a leader before. I had to practice how to talk in front of other people and how to share my testimony. Then one day my bishop called me to his office. He told me that I am so loved and that Heavenly Father will strengthen me in everything I do.”
Shinnah’s Love for God
Going to Church
Shinnah and her younger brother, Acram, ride the bus and then walk to church by themselves every week. Sometimes it’s hard waking up early, but they know it’s what Heavenly Father would want them to do. “When I was baptized, I made a decision to keep the Sabbath day holy,” Shinnah says.
Choosing the Right
Shinnah strives to follow the Savior. “Before I joined the Church, I didn’t know who I was,” she says. “I was invited by friends to go to parties, and they were bad situations to be in. But now I choose not to go.”
Serving Others
“I want to help people who need my help,” Shinnah says. “I can help them when they are feeling alone or going through hard times. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means that I should keep His commandments, follow His example, and be an example to others.”
The Blessing of the Gospel
Shinnah lives her life the way she does because of her love for Heavenly Father. “God wants me to be like that,” she says. “I’ve learned who I am. I’m grateful that one day I can return to the presence of Heavenly Father. Joining the Church has really changed my life.”