If you prefer to listen instead, a conversation covering much of the same narrative can be found here:
I first came to Jesus when I was close to 16 years old. I had been in a dark place for a couple years, dealing with feeling very alone and different, going through a faith crisis, rejecting my parents’ religion but believing in nothing. I had clinical depression, skin picking OCD, and some gut issues. I felt that I was in darkness and I wanted to try God again. I was open to learning, so I tried reading the Book of Mormon.
I got to the 11th chapter which is a vision of Jesus going forth, healing all manner of diseases, casting out evil spirits. When I read this, I immediately got on my knees and cried out to God: “I think I have an evil spirit. Will you please take this out of me?”
In the following weeks, there was a major turnaround for my physical health as well as my spiritual well being. I had opened up my heart to Christ and begun a trusting relationship with Him. I continued to read the Book of Mormon, and I really enjoyed it. I attended church again, with charity in my heart and a renewed hope.
I felt light in the Book of Mormon. This book became a rock for me in my life, ever since then.
I never received a major spiritual event witnessing the truth of the Book of Mormon, but it has been a source of peace and clarity, bringing me to Christ. This is what my “testimony” has been based on, these last 24 years.
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Around these years I also visited a couple other denominations with friends. It was interesting but nothing called to me. My best friend was Christian and shared some things like the Left Behind movie, which I really enjoy, and I learned a belief in the rapture. I read the New Testament some, and really latched on to some verses. But it was still just a minor influence—I was still hoping to “share the gospel” I had with this friend. And unfortunately I wasn’t reading the Bible much. I had a relationship with God and wanted to live my life according to His plan, but I wasn’t searching for doctrinal truths. I thought I could just go “back to church” and fall in line there.
I began to purchase Christian music as I purged some heavy albums that had been encouraging the darkness. My favorites were Jennifer Knapp, Rebecca St James, and the Supertones. I enjoyed hearing a different culture in their vernacular and approach to worship. I was blown away at some of the boldness in the Supertones songs (and in such an “irreverent” manner!) — I learned that loud, fast music can be full of powerful praise and ignite a desire to live a life focused on Jesus!
None of my family members cared for such music. So I kept it to myself. But this was definitely the beginning of feeling a pull to Christianity.
Read “My Story – part 2”
All I Possess 