🌊 I Got BAPTIZED • My Bizarre LDS Conversion Story

This past Saturday began a new chapter of this spiritual journey. I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Conversion was NOT something that was on my Bingo card when I started the second round of 52in52 two years ago. I was content as a Protestant. That's what I knew, that's what I was familiar with.

Still, I wasn't a fan of ANY form of church membership. Been there before. No thanks.

The LDS Church presented something deeper - in conviction, example, and belief. What was this? And it was the same way with other Restoration churches who subscribed to the Book of Mormon.

What was going on?

I've been so used to seeing HAMMERS and NAILS. Pharisees would hammer Jesus with questions. The authority hammered Jesus to the cross. And to this day, there's too many Christians who use the Bible to hammer their neighbor.

Why was that different within Restoration churches?

Over the last two years, I've had 11 different LDS missionaries participate in a lesson, along with talking with various members, hundreds of messages, thousands of comments. Whereas most churches are stretched thin and rely on emails, LDS consistent follow-up was key. After a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lot of study, I got my answer in a prayer. A witness of the Holy Ghost type of moment. Peace was something that I would find.

But there was still something holding me back that was hard to admit.

Fear.

I was baptized in my childhood church when I was 21 days old. I figured I was good, though knowing it wasn't my own decision. I had to take a leap of faith. Sink or swim... or better yet... walk. That's the beauty of Peter walking on the water. He had the faith to follow Jesus's words to do it, then needed Jesus's arm to pull him up.

I made the decision, but still had some fear that morning. Somehow, the spirit responded yet again.

Cardinals have appeared at such strange times throughout this journey - most recently the cardinal in a mural inside the Manti Utah Temple. Saturday morning, while taking a walk to get out the jitters, not one, not two, but FIVE cardinals appeared.

Sometimes, God likes to get creative to catch our attention.

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⛪ 52 Churches in 52 Weeks is a weekly spiritual series that worships at different churches throughout the United States. The project aims to exemplify love, understanding, and bridge the gap between different Christ-focused religious affiliations. If you'd like to see what happens next, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and hit NOTIFICATIONS.

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▶️ Timestamps:
0:00 Prayer Walk
0:38 Thoughts Before Baptism
5:26 Five Cardinals
8:33 Sights Inside
9:25 Post-Baptism Thoughts
17:45 Baptism Experience
22:52 Highs and Lows
25:23 What's the Cost?
27:47 Lost in Sensationalized Evangelical World
36:25 Tree Symbolism
40:15 "Coincidence is a Small Miracle"

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🎵 Music:
Gabriel Lewis - Morning Rains

Arlene Buffington - The Sea So Great, My Boat So Small (Songs of Zion)
Played by Kathleen Jenkins

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#52in52 #52churchesin52weeks #latterdaysaints #latterdaysaint #lds #bookofmormon #mormonism #conversion #conversionstory

[churchesinweeks]

EDIT 4/25: The OUTPOURING of genuine, heartfelt support has been incredibly humbling. I was told after the baptism that LDS provides an instant family, and that turned out to be so true on a much wider, global scale. Thank you everyone.

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Very raw in this one. Let me know your thoughts in this new chapter, would be glad to hear.

One thing I didn't address is the future of the channel. I do hope to visit various churches in the future while diving into LDS, though will need to be very strategic and wouldn't plan to be 52 consecutive weeks. Travel, expenses, and time would be too much. I'll address further in the future.

[barbarabilbrey-tillman]

I have been investigating LDS FOR 4 months. My Baptism is April 27! Found what was missing in my Faith Journey!

[annc]

I started reading the Book of Mormon with a glass of wine in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. I went from atheist to Baptism in 3 weeks. That was 48 years ago and I never regretted it for one second. It was the best decision of my life. I'll be praying for you. Stay strong and keep your covenants. Satan will never give up on you - but neither will our Savior!

[sunlight-sky]

I was a pretty cold hearted might is right atheist but ended up joining the LDS, I was baptized on Good Friday, 2024.

[agilbert]

I just got Baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 4/20/2024 on my 36th birthday. My physical birth and my spiritual rebirth are now the same day 36 years apart. I also went to the Manti open house it was absolutely gorgeous.

[lambornD]

I am shocked and delighted at how positive this comments section is.

[DavidDeFord]

In 1971, my now wife and I hitchhiked all over the US searching out the truth. We prayed together to be led to it. We read the Bible together and visited several churches.
We found what you found—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We were baptized and then married two days later—52 years ago. We love our life.
We pray you’ll find the same peace in Christ that we enjoy.

[Mike]

Because of you I am also investigating the LDS faith. I went to the Manti Temple open house and it was amazing. Now I am scheduled to see the Taylorsville AND Layton temples next week. I am going to talk to the missionary girls

[jonathangatto]

I joined the church at 25 years old. I am 38 now. I have a wife and 2 kids sealed in the temple! It all happened because I was searching like you! I went to different churches (never the LDS church) and synagogues. My mother who passed away came to me in a dream and said, Follow them and 2 missionaries were in my dream. Later in the week, I had a flat tire while hitting a pothole a block from the tire shop. As I pulled into a used tire shop, I saw the 2 missionaries. I said teach me what you have because my mother told me to follow it. I was baptized 3 weeks later!

[nonjones]

"Honey! David from 52 Churches got baptized!" I shouted to my husband in his office! We have been following your videos for a year. We have been praying for you. We are lifelong members, and we both served as missionaries and still love seeing people come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that God is still speaking to us. Two of our children are serving missions right now and we have told them about your journey. They will be so excited to hear! Congratulations!

[joeyfowler]

I’m a former Evangelical & converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2 years ago!! I know it’s one of the best decisions we could ever make!

[rer]

It’s been absolutely a privilege to be invited along your conversion journey!

[joahnadavid]

I am in the bathroom when my husband shouted "The 52 churches in 52 days got baptized". Then we watched your conversion story together. We are a young couple and needed your testimony. Thank you so much. ❤

[kevinmoreau]

God bless you my friend. My wife was Catholic when she investigated the church. I was already a member and never pushed her into joining. After talking to the missionaries, she was reading the book of Mormon, and had prayed several times to know if it was true, and nothing had come, she asked me why I said just keep reading and keep praying, the Lord wants to know if you are your sincere, one night I woke up and she wasn’t in bed. It was about 4 AM. I walked out into the living room and she had the Book of Mormon in her hands with tears streaming down her face, I said, honey, are you OK? She looked up to me and said “I got it, I got it” she said as she was reading the end of second Nephi, The spirit came over her so strong, and she was filled with such great peace, that she could not withhold her tears, she said “I now know for myself that the Book of Mormon is true“ She has been a solid member of the church for 25 years now, and tells me all the time after coming back from a temple session that it was the greatest thing that had ever done in her life, and is so grateful for the Holy Ghost telling her on that early morning, that the book of Mormon was true. She had been in three other churches, and had found the most peace to that point in the Catholic Church, but as she entered the waters of baptism, again with tears streaming down her face, she told me that she had finally received a fullness of the Gospel. God bless you my friend, don’t listen to the naysayers, most just left the church because they didn’t want to live the commandments, so they turn against it. I can’t wait to see your video after you go through the temple, (of your feelings about it) As I’ve watched you through this entire journey, I had a feeling in my heart that this would be the conclusion. To all others that have followed this good man, and are not LDS. I encourage you to call the church or go the the official LDS website and get a free copy of the Book of Mormon, it will change your life, if you read it with an open heart, truly believing that God will manifest the truth of it unto you, as is promised in the Book of Mormon, you will be as glad as the rest of us that you did. God bless you all.

[zHollow]

I’ve been investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for almost three months now, and I just started meeting with some wonderful missionaries. Some of my family doesn’t like the church, some of my Protestant friends have been urging me not to become a members (there’s nothing wrong with being Protestant- their concern comes from a place of love), and of course I’ve seen people online who don’t like the church, but I can confidently say I am 100% committed. I intend to be baptized myself as soon as possible. Thank you so much for sharing your story, David. It’s so inspiring to watch your journey, and I’m so grateful that you’ve allowed us all to be part of it.

[PascalDupont]

I loved how Pres Hinkley asked good people to come and see. “Bring what you have and let us add to it.”

[thomasjenkins]

I am a 65-year-old man and have been in and out of churches my whole life and in 2017 I was baptized in the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, and it has changed my life spiritually physically, and mentally, I’ve never felt better and blessed so much in my life.🙏🙏🏽Thank you so much for your conversion story. I’m so glad I took the time to listen to it.

[randallrobinson]

I was baptized at age 28 into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The key was that after three years of investigation, after I had looked for answers to my questions about life after death without looking for a church, I finally prayed in earnest. I had an experience I’d not had before. I received personal revelation from the Holy Ghost. The unmistakable communication was that the church and all things pertaining to it were true. I then resolved to repent and do all the things I needed to do to be a Latter-day Saint. Now I’m 72, almost 73. I have remained an active member and have done a good deal of temple work in behalf of my family dead. You have done the right thing.

[Ms.AisforAwesome]

I was converted to this wonderful church and baptized 8 years ago. It has profoundly changed and improved my life. I have an everlasting joy and comfort that I wouldn't trade for anything. Welcome!

[gerbilgeneproject]

Best decision i ever made going from protestant to LDS. My father disowned me and a sister told me it would have been easier if i had died. I FEEL YOU. Trust me, God will give you back more than you lost. He is so good and loves you so much 🧡 believe in his promises. I'm excited for you to experience the temple. It's like no other my friend. Hang in there!