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The Tuufuli family at the baptism of Susi and Azaliah© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.It’s always interesting when a person or family converts from one religion to another, or from having no religion to a life of faith.
With over 90,000 missionaries serving worldwide in more than 31,000 congregations, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a total membership of over 17 million members worldwide. Church members read scriptures and other religious texts in 188 published languages. These, and other growth statistics indicate a thriving global religion centred on faith in Jesus Christ.
The pathways that lead converts or returning members to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to worship and fellowship, are numerous.
Here are some observations from some who are closely involved in these experiences—mission leaders, missionaries, and converts or returning members themselves.
Paul J. Thomas, president of the Australia Melbourne Mission, says, “People are looking for peace and love through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. They are looking for and desiring to feel a sense of purpose—and to feel secure and safe in a world of changing values.”
He continues: “People desire to have a stronger connection with their extended family through family history. Whether they may be experiencing trauma or loneliness, they are looking for a sense of belonging—to be connected to other people in a community of love and support and healing—and to know that they are children of God and His eternal family.”
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Elder Tengu with President and Sister Thomas of the Australia Melbourne Mission© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Nadene Thomas, who leads the mission with her husband, shared one such experience. Two sister missionaries invited her to meet with Susi, because, like her own son, Susi’s son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
Sister Thomas said, "I believe Susi moved her feet closer to God because of the heavy burden that she was now feeling daily, keeping her son alive. Susi knew when I looked into her eyes that I understood the gravity of her new caregiver responsibility. Diabetes never sleeps. We FaceTimed Zack who was diagnosed at age three and has grown into a strong and healthy young man. As he spoke of his zest for life and talked of future goals, Susi felt hope for the future.”
Sister Thomas continued, “We opened the Book of Mormon and I shared some of my favourite scriptures that carried me through the hardest years of my life. We cried together, we laughed together, and we felt the spirit together. The words filled us because they are the Saviour’s words and we rejoiced that we are not alone.”
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Missionaries and Sister Thomas rejoice with Susi after her baptism© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Notwithstanding the very different ways that individuals or families become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are some common elements.
They take a look—at the Book of Mormon, at ChurchofJesusChrist.org or FamilySearch.org, at a sacrament meeting (worship service), at a sermon or session of General Conference, or at an episode of “Music and the Spoken Word” by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. In some way, they start to explore The Church of Jesus Christ, and the world of its members.
Perhaps they search “churches near me” on the Internet and find a local meetinghouse, respond to a social media ad about the Church, or, they simply listen, then have a conversation with a Church member or missionary.
Jahmin Tengu of New Zealand nearly took his own life. Wanting to know of the Lord’s love for him, he felt prompted to get on his knees.
He recalls, “As I began to pray, I felt the Spirit of the Lord comfort me. I asked the Lord to bring truth into my life.” A few weeks later, Jahmin met a returned missionary who yelled out to him and asked, “Would you like to meet the missionaries?”
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Elder Jahmin Tengu with other missionaries at mission conference© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This led to meeting the missionaries and receiving a copy of The Book of Mormon. “I had no desire to read it at all, but I had this feeling when I read it. I felt as if the Spirit was saying, ‘I have given you what you asked for, I have answered your prayers.’”
Now, a missionary himself, Elder Tengu says, “I can truly testify that The Book of Mormon saved my life… It is the word of God and is soley focused on bringing people closer to Jesus Christ.”
Teenage siblings, Latoya and Cruzze Sanderson, recently found comfort and answers to their questions as they met with missionaries and attended sacrament meetings and youth classes and activities.
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The Esera family of Melbourne welcomed Cruzze and Latoya Sanderson into their home and hearts © 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Cruzze says, “Who I am now compared to where I was is a huge blessing from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. [At my baptism], after I came out of the water, I felt refreshed, like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.”
Ultimately, for Latter-day Saints, conversion is a spiritual and very personal process involving the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.
In the Pacific Area Focus 2024 video, Elder Peter F. Meurs, Pacific Area President says, “We look to the Saviour Jesus Christ as the perfect example of inviting and welcoming all to come unto Him. Leaders and members work together to help friends, new converts, and returning members know they ‘are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.’”
Learn more about why so many people are joining or returning to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at ComeUntoChrist.org, or visit a worship service this Sunday. Find one here.