It was a cold morning of early winter, the rain
was falling and the wind was blowing from the north, the whispering trees were
like living beings. Many of us were wearing big coats and wished we had stay at
home, others were sleepy and praying that the history teacher could not come to
class that day. However, it was a day like any other in which many students had
to do their homework to turn it in on time because at the end, what can be
worst than staying up late finishing your assignment if the teacher does not show
up the next day?.
I was feeling melancholic, maybe because of the
weather that was sadden that morning or perhaps because there was an empty spot
in my life. I never realized how much I needed to learn to pray correctly; I
used to pray quite often however, I was taught to pray scripted prayers.
As time passed, I noticed a very quiet and shy
boy, Daniel who was sitting next to me; he was completely lying on the desk and
appeared to be asleep. My friend Mon was a funny girl and wanted to wake Daniel
up in a mean way. I often hear that a person with good sense of humor have a
better sense of life. Nevertheless, to me that was not funny but disrespectful.
Mon ignored me and opted to wake Daniel up after pretending to cover him with a
school hoodie. After Daniel opened his eyes he kindly started a conversion with
us. Mon proceeded to ask him “Why are you so sleepy at school?” to what he told
us about an early class he takes every morning for some religion credits. I was
astonished so I said “And all this time I thought I had to wake up early to
come to school!..”
Daniel went on and on with a story that seemed
very interesting but that I thought I will never be able to accomplish. After
that day, I saw Daniel in a different way. It seemed that I had more respect
for him because I knew he was fulfilling a commandment, an extra responsibility
that I didn’t had to deal with. From that day, I became more comprehensive and
even more empathic because I knew he had a class to attend at 6:00 am.
Around that same time, I began questioning
myself about my religious beliefs and how much effort I was required to put on.
Then I realized that I was catholic, I had a religion but that I was not
working towards a specific purpose. As a result, seeking an eternal life was
not something encouraged by my church, or at least I never saw it that way. For
me, the path was somewhat easy to accomplish, in which repentance was seen as a
simple step where people had to repeat a couple of sentences or give some alms
to be forgiven.
Then I though of a well-known phrase “what
comes easy, won’t last, what lasts won’t come easy”, this quote motivated me to
open my mind and to be thirsty of new challenges.
At age 14, I started raising some questions
that I never had before. I noticed that my religion, at that time, did not
provide sufficient answers that could fulfill my doubts.
Soon after I became interested on the
motivation LDS people have to take morning classes. “Do these teachings make
members happier? What do they know that I missing? Could I indulge the desire
to take seminary classes?” my mind was full of questions that I did not have an
answer for. Consequently, I decided to ask Daniel about his church, he was
quite excited I could tell it was hard for Daniel to conceal his excitement
when I agreed to his invitation for Sunday. Daniel could not hide the state of
being emotionally aroused, his face was flushed with excitement and his hands
were trembled. Probably I didn’t realize how much this meant to him.
Sunday came and Daniel introduced me to the
missionaries, they seemed to be friendly and patient, their voice was calm and
meaningful. Soon after I felt adopted, I wasn’t thinking too much, until during
the first lesson they looked into my eyes, and I felt their words. An
incredible connection became stronger when they read the first scripture, which
I don’t happen to remember due to the internal dialog I had when these words
came to my mind: “You have a hope and a future, you don’t have to be afraid;
I’ve planned out everything, preparing you for this day”.
After this sweet experience I felt like the
missionaries provided answers to all my questions. Until then, my life had been
like a puzzle with a missing piece, which happened to be unfolding little by
little every time I was on my knees. The missionaries provided the seed that
will grow the missing puzzle piece. Just like Alma compared the word unto a
seed:
“Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted
in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not
cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord,
behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these
swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that
this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my
soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth
to be delicious to me”…
I found the needed seed when a few weeks later Mon
and me were baptized in the LDS church.
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