My 10th Year Anniversay

February 22nd marked my 10th year of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. The last 10 years of my life have been great and I feel like I have become a better person. 10 years ago I made a choice to get baptized. That single decision changed the outcome of my life. It created new paths for me to take that were never there before. I had friends that helped me all along the way and I continue to make wonderful in my life that I am so grateful for.

This is my friend Andrea and me on my baptism day. She drove me to seminary and gave me my first Book of Mormon.

These are the missionaries that taught me the discussions, Elder Bodenhoffer and Elder McIntire.

This is my family and the Elders, I was happy they came to my baptism.

I am amazed at how one decision can have such an impact on our lives. I remember the day I got baptized very well. It was a Sunday. we were at the Church building on 45th Street. The chapel was full of people, some I had never seen before and had no clue who they were. I wore a fancy white jumpsuit and sat on the front row. My friend gave a talk on being baptized, 2 of my friends sang a song, I went to the room that had the font. The water was warm as I stepped down into the font. I got in position and looked up at my best friends, one was crying like crazy and the other had a huge smile on her face.Elder Bodenhoffer said the prayer and down I went. I can still remember the feeling of coming out of the water. Clean, pure, perfect. I tried as hard as I could to stay perfect. I confess that it was about 2 weeks and I was not feeling so perfect anymore. After I was baptized, I changed and as I walked back into the chapel an overwhelming feeling of love swept over me. I saw all those people and there was just so much love in that room. We finished watching the Mediator and my friend spoke about the Holy Ghost. Then my Bishop said a few words and a closing prayer was said. I was given a few gifts which I still have. the next Sunday was Fast Sunday, March 1st. I was confirmed a member and given the gift of the Holy Ghost by Elder Huff. My parents came to church that Sunday and I wanted to bare my testimony so I did. I remember being scared and nervous because my parents were there and I had never bore my testimony to them. It went fine and when I was done my Stake President who was on the stand stood up and told my ward that I was a poster child for the Church. He said a few other things and then I finally got to go sit back down. It was a great experience for me.

These are some of my friends that came.

As I continue to strive to become better, I know that having the gospel in my life is my greatest tool. It teaches me everything I need to know. I love my Savior and am grateful for sacrifice that He made in my behalf giving me the opportunity to return to live with my Heavenly Father.