A Conversion Story

A long, long, long time ago ... I'm talking almost ten years, something rather huge happened in my life. I wouldn't mention it but it was such a life altering event that I think I'd be rather remiss not to explain ... you see if this hadn't happened I'd never have met any of my wonderful friends or Paul either for that matter, if this hadn't happened I have no idea what my life would be like now ... what happened? My Conversion did! A complete conversion from the religion I previously had been raised and baptised into (Jehovah's Witness) to my belief in and baptism as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (you know those guys with the name badges, ten wives and that all important Book Of Mormon?! Turns out the wife thing isn't true but the other two are still identifying marks!).

I don't like to talk about myself too much (although lets face it this is my blog and the clossest thing I have to 'Sharonmoans.com' so why not!) but my conversion to the LDS Church is kindof relevant to the next little section of photos ... you see you DON'T see an awful lot of MY family on this blog ... the reason for that is ofcourse my Conversion. My family never really came to grips with it, I think they still hope (a decade down the track!) that I'll come to my senses and give it up but the truth is that what I believe is true. You see I (here I go talking about me again!) believe that there is an awful lot of TRUTH out there. I think all religion, all moral codes, all governments and all people believe one or many things that really are TRUE. I think that those true things are what makes everything so confusing. If there wasn't anything true about a religion or belief system no one would ever fight for it, but there's a lot of war and family division over religion so stands to reason both sides are fighting for something that is true. There is only one way for something to be completely true though in every facet and that is for it to be given by revelation (stands to reason that God must know!) and that's why I believe that a boy called Joseph Smith really did pray to God one fine morning in a quiet grove of trees and recieve revelation from him that led to the full restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't think that means other faiths aren't right I know they are I just think we should always be searching for as many true things as we can.

What on earth has that to do with this blog. Well in a few weeks times it'll be the tenth anniversary of my baptism as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and despite the passing of much time (and the hint of even a few wrinkles on my brow - shock, horror!!) still my family have not really accepted me or my decision to give up my membership in their faith to join another Christian denomination. Out of my family members though it's my Mum who I've had the most contact with. Out of the handful of times I've seen her in the last ten years the most recent (well due to the tardy behindness of my blogging 'most recent' still pretty much means a whole year ago!) was while I was down in Tas visiting my Nan (who probably wisely has nothing to do with the whole 'religious' tangle!). While we were staying there my Mum popped up to say hi and ended up spending quite a bit of time with me, Jo and Bell ... so here follow some pics of our fun together and I continue to hope that one day (when it is enough for us to know that we do share mutual beliefs) my blog will hold more pictures like these ...