Everyone has been sharing this girls blog and saying how amazing it
is.. and I couldn't agree more. She is cute, and she has a cool story!
This is a girl named Al Fox and a clip of her conversion.
Straight from "Tattooed Mormon" blogspot.com
Let
me share with you a story that I tell during my firesides that everyone
gasps out of shock to. An experience that happened to me- due to my
appearance- that when I say it everyone reacts the way I did when it
happened. Although, truth be told, if it wasn't me telling the story to
them, it could of very well been any of them that did the same thing as
this man did.
This happened 3 years ago; my very first day in
Utah. After the long, uncomfortable and terrifying trek across the
country by myself to a new place where I didn't know a single person. I
moved, against my will, because I knew that's what Heavenly Father
wanted me to do. I moved regardless of how hard it was & regardless
of the fact I had no idea why I needed to be here. And I was scared. Not
just because it was new, but because of the warnings I received from so
many people. 'Al, don't move to Utah. No one will like you. Al, if you
move to Utah, you will NOT fit in." That was really hard to hear and I
tried my hardest to ignore those remarks.
So here I am, my
very first day across the country in my new home, and what am I suppose
to do now? I haven't the slightest idea. Heavenly Father didn't tell me
that much yet, haha. I ended up at Cafe Rio- we don't have those back
home- and you have to know I have a thing for tacos. So, you have
to visualize this, you know how the line kind of snakes around, so you
are in a big group of people while waiting? Well, I was right in the
middle of it. And I was holding a church book in my hands. It was more
of a grasp/hug to this book; it was a biography on one of the prophets.
And while I was waiting in line I felt very tense. I could feel stares
in every direction; it felt like lasers. I stood there stiff trying to
ignore it but I couldn't. I could physically feel the stares from
everyone. Finally, the guy next to me tapped my on the arm and
said, "You know...it's pretty ironic you look the way you do holding
that book."
My heart broke. Stomach knotted. Eyes teary.
It
took a bit for me to react. So many emotions ran through me, and I had
to decide which one I was going to express to him. What I so badly
wanted to do was to turn to him, and yell. Yell & cry to him, "Do
you know what I just went through?! Do you know how hard this is! Do you
know who- and what- I had to give up to be here, and I don't even know
why!"
How badly I wanted to walk around everywhere with my
scriptures so that the 'lasers' would stop. And they didn't. I so badly
wanted people to see me for who I've become. I literally craved more
than anything for people to just know that I was trying. That's it. That
I was trying. And they couldn't, and it hurt me so badly that it became
physically exhausting.
How easy it would have been to yell at
him. How easy it would have been to get mad. To get offended. How easy
it would have been to not just take it out on him, or the people of the
city as a whole. But furthermore, how easy it would have been to be
upset & confused towards Heavenly Father for leading me to such a
place with so many lack of answers, answers that would have been very
comforting during those experiences that so frequently occurred. How
hard it was at this time to have just been baptized, still with such a
small sliver of knowledge of the gospel & feel that. To not have
any boys talk to me because they are looking for temple worthy girls.
Because they are looking for someone I do not exactly portray, that
they didn't even talk to me.
Yeah- how easy it would have been to feel & react that way.
But I fought it. I decided otherwise.
I
turned to this man in Café Rio. Introduced myself. Shook his hand. I
smiled so big and simply said, “I just got baptized, this is my first
day here!” I said it with happiness. I said it with pride. With
confidence.
How different things would have gone if I didn't do that.
I
had to make a decision. And it’s a decision I have to make every day.
One you have to make every day. Several times a day. And what that is,
to choose to get mad. Choose to get offended. Bothered. Confused.
Or….not.
The decision to keep going. The decision to be happy
and follow the spirit & counsel given….or not. Chose to have faith.
Choose to trust. Or not. What it came down to- and what it always will
come down to- is choose God. Or not.
And I already chose who I wanted to follow, didn't I?
That is what happens when you get baptized.
To
keep in mind, always, that everyone is at different spots in life.
Everyone needs to learn different things, different ways. And to know,
that I could maybe be the one to help them learn. That you could be. To
not get mad and prove them right, but to be me and prove otherwise. It’s
a question I often thought of following my baptism & my family’s
disapproval, and that is, “How do you teach someone that doesn't want to
listen?’ ‘How do you teach someone that you may never get to speak with
or meet?’ And after much thought & prayer, I came up with an
answer. An answer that inspired this blog to be started in the first
place. An answer that inspire me to make Youtube videos. And answer that triggered my ‘March Madness’ traveling all over speaking for
the past 2 years. And that is, by example. Teach by example. And what
happiness that has brought! How many incredible people I have met
because of that decision. How many incredible experiences! How many
blessings.
When those times arise where you have to make that
same decision I did, think to yourself, ‘is this worth giving up my
eternal salvation?’ Is that comment your ward member said to you worth
giving up your eternal happiness? Is that look someone just gave you
worth giving up the profound, indescribable blessings Heavenly Father
has to give to you? Is it worth stopping yourself from returning to live
with Him again? Is it worth your exaltation?
To all those
that feel that they do not fit in, I tell you with confidence, that
you’re wrong. To all those who are afraid to return because of past
mistakes, I say, Come! To all those who sit there offended and holding
yourselves back, I ask, is it still worth it?
This gospel is
for you. These blessings & promises are for you. You belong a part
of this. This- what we’re a part of- is real. What you do does make a
difference. His ways- His promises- are worth it. And how grateful I am
that I decided to keep going. How grateful I am that I made the decision
to trust. The decision to have faith. How grateful I am for the
decision to choose God. I do not have words adequate enough to express
my gratitude I have for how I feel. For who I have become. For what my
life is today. It would not be have I not made those decisions.
Choose. Choose Daily. Choose God.
^How
amazing is that! This last paragraph is my favorite! The gospel is for
you, its for everyone. So many people have bad rumors or feelings
towards Mormons but they don't even know anything about the church. Take
the chance, it could change your life. I have a happy life, all those
rumors I've been told have never came true. I promise you won't be
disappointed if you truly take the chance and try!
Choose. Choose Daily. Choose God.
Choose. Choose Daily. Choose God.
If you want to read more of her posts. She is on my blog list, right here on my profile!
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