I have always been raised up in a Christ-like centred home. Daily family prayer and attending church was always a part of me- it was mandatory in our home. I guess I was never introduced or I had never known anything else but Christ. I had always been told of my Father who was in heaven and His son, Jesus Christ, who had died for my sins. So throughout my childhood this is what I was made to believe. I believed it to be true because I was never given any other opportunity to believe in anything else.
As a child I never disputed this. So when my family (my mother, sister and three brothers`) got baptised I also wanted this joy for myself. I knew it was one of the principles of the church and I also wanted to be a part of this. A year later (28 February 1998) I also got baptised. It was the greatest feelings ever. I remember being scared to share my testimony but I did it. This never meant much to besides the fact I knew it was a commandment and my mom had done it. One thing I knew for sure was that she would never leave me astray and if she was I guess then I was prepared to be led astray. At this point in my life I was living on what is well know to be 'borrowed light'. I was living on the testimony of others, my mother and all of those who were around me.
I would look forward to the first Sundays as I would go and bear that testimony of the things I had ‘believed’ to be true. As I got a bit older I started to ‘know’ that these things are true. I guess as the years went by from believing to knowing it was ‘my mother’s personal growth’. Each time she grew I felt growth in me. Until I was in Matric- grade 12 (2008). I had realised I have been living under what we call ‘borrowed-light’. My testimony and everything was borrowed. I had a desire to be re-baptised, re-confirmed to the church. I felt like I was only just an investigator. After I had realised this I had a desire to have a testimony of my own; the testimony of the church, the Book of Mormon, the Plan of Salvation...
I did not have an amazing experience, get knocked by a car experience to make me believe that there is a living God. I guess it was the light of Christ and the basics that there is a supreme being, something higher and above us all. I remember how our principal would always highlight that; “we should never be afraid to stand alone” and later onwards on attempts to convert my friend, Elder Vance (now known as Ryan) and I wrote her a note on the pamphlet ‘For the Strength of Youth’ which at the end ended like this ‘Never lower your standards to meet the standards of the world’. I felt as much as this was not directly directed at me; it was my time to stand alone as a witness of God. It was the time I took my seat on my royal throne as a daughter of a Heavenly King and be true to my divine nature. This was the time I was to become active about the gospel and not passive.
This I guess was the point where my true conversion came. And I am still progressing powerfully even though Satan still tries to tempt me. I shall not be moved as in that year (2008) I learnt how to be steadfast and immovable...
