How the Light of Christ Changes Lives
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2).
As I looked down at the text message I had received, I was shocked. It was from one of my favorite family members, Ashley, the wife of one of my cousins.
The text read, “I’ve been meeting with the missionaries, and I’ve set my baptism date. If you’re able to, I would love for you to come.”
I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited for her to join the Church, but I was also a little confused. She and the rest of my cousin’s family had met with the missionaries before, and, while they liked them, they had never been interested in joining the Church.
Reading this text filled me with happiness. I knew the gospel would bless her life, and I was so excited to be able to share my love of the Savior with her.
Testimony of the Savior
Ever since her baptism, I have loved hearing Ashley’s testimony and talking to her about gospel truths. Seeing the joy in her life that comes from knowing Jesus Christ has strengthened my testimony and my love for the Savior.
So when I found out she would be giving a talk one Sunday about her conversion story, I was beyond excited to visit her ward and listen to her talk.
And what I heard was beautiful and made me cry. She said:
“I wasn’t raised in the Church. Both my parents said they believed in God, but it was never talked about, so when something traumatic happened to me at a young age, I had no idea where to turn or what to do. I was lost in the dark.
“The dark is where the adversary dwells, so before long I ran into him, which led me to become anorexic at the age of 11 and to start drinking at the age of 12. The darkness in my life continued to grow and led to multiple addictions and rock bottoms.
“Luckily, I was able to overcome my eating disorder and addictions after several years. But the drinking and the depression stayed. The adversary told me that my anxiety and depression were the price I had to pay for the mistakes I made. That I wasn’t worthy of being happy. Unfortunately, he is very convincing, so I believed him.
“Of course, I had happiness with my children and family, but the gigantic void was still there, as was my drinking.
“At the beginning of this year, I decided to finally get sober. This loosened the adversary’s grasp enough for me to start to feel that I was in desperate need of something more. So when a family member (who was serving as a ward missionary at the time), reached out to me and told me he had an overwhelming feeling from the Spirit that I should meet with the missionaries, I was surprisingly open to it.
“When I read the Book of Mormon, I wept. Finally, I found what I had been looking for my entire life. I found the elusive feeling I’d been chasing. I had dabbled in other religions and spiritual paths, and they all sounded good, but there had always been something missing.
“The Book of Mormon, along with attending church, showed me it was knowing about and communicating with my Heavenly Father, whose love and patience I am beyond grateful for, that I had been missing. I was able to repent, get baptized, and be washed clean. All the guilt I had felt for so long was finally gone.
“I’m now able to see that because of my experiences, I can help others lost in the darkness. I can be their canary in the coal mine showing them the safe way out, back into the light. God has taken my despair and is turning it into something extraordinarily beautiful.
“They say strong wind makes strong trees.1 I am grateful for the hurricanes I’ve been through and how solid and unwavering they have made me in my faith today. Even at times when the adversary held me so tightly in his grasp that I couldn’t see any way out, I know Heavenly Father was there.
“I know from the depths of my soul that this Church is true. And Jesus Christ is my new best friend.”
The Savior Really Can Save Everyone
Hearing Ashley talk about how much Jesus Christ means to her was so uplifting. I feel the same way about Jesus Christ, and I was so pleased and happy for her.
After the meeting, Ashley told me how it was awkward and hard for her to share her thoughts with so many people, most of whom were strangers to her still, but that she was happy she had done it.
I replied to her that it’s so important for members of the Church to hear messages like this. It’s important for us to know the depths of the Savior’s Atonement and to remember that Jesus really can save everyone who is willing to follow Him.
I am so grateful for a Savior who atoned for not only my sins but also the sins and mistakes of everyone I love. I am so grateful that Ashley chose to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am grateful for how she has shared her light and inspired me to come closer to my Savior.