I grew up in a family where my mother was Baptist and my father’s family was Methodist. My dad was never very religious. His father was, and pushed him with it. So my dad — being the independent spirit he is — tended to go in the opposite direction of pressured expectations.

My great aunts (my dad’s maternal aunts), joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1960′s. They began talking to my parents about it. My mom was Southern Baptist and wasn’t all that interested in changing. But my dad saw some value in the morals and principles taught by the Church. He wanted us kids to be raised with it because he felt it would give us a strong anchor of values. He listened to the missionaries that came, yet he didn’t want to change. He liked golfing on Sundays and didn’t care to spend that day in church, but he encouraged my mother to listen. My two great aunts were pivotal in my mother’s conversion. They took her to Relief Society (the women’s meeting) for some time.

I was 4-years-old when my mother prayed about the restored gospel, received her own testimony, and joined the Church. My two older sisters joined at the same time. My dad continued to be supportive but did not join until about 20 years later when my younger brother served a 2-year mission to Japan. In the meantime, my mother was ever-faithful — always attending church and serving in many capacities.

So I grew up in the Church, but my parents sent me to private fundamental Baptist schools. I had the privilege of spending 9 years in these schools. Everyday there was “chapel.” We memorized Bible verses and had Bible classes. I had some phenomenal teachers who I still consider fondly as pivotal in my life. As a result, I got this very good cross-foundation in what Protestants believe and what Latter-day Saints believe — and where the similarities are. This background has enabled me to reach out and teach people of various faiths — building on common ground. There’s this level of truth that we all share. Then through the restored gospel, we have this “extra” layer of principles, truths and blessings that enhance our connection to the Spirit, increase our peace, and provide answers to life’s tough questions. I think this is why so many of us find people coming to us for spiritual guidance.

As I’ve tried my best to share as much truth as I can with those who will listen, I’ve found people to be very receptive to timeless and true principles. Much of what I teach is strongly rooted in my LDS background but it doesn’t conflict with Biblical principles, because frankly, Latter-day Saints follow Biblical principles completely and quite literally. A lot of people avoid entire passages and books of the Bible because they don’t understand them or don’t know what to do with them. Latter-day Saints look at everything that’s there and take the Bible quite literally.

As for my own personal testimony of the restored gospel, it came over time and in phases. It started when I was 14 and began to daily study the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. I prayed and asked about the truth of the Book of Mormon and whether Joseph Smith was a prophet. I received my answer. I still remember kneeling in my bedroom at my parents’ home and gaining that peace and witness that these things are true.

As I grew up and got married, my testimony continued to grow slowly but surely by living principles and seeing positive results. But I think many of us as Latter-day Saints tend to go stale if we don’t actively “feast upon the words of Christ”* and share what we have with others. I believe for a time to a great degree I was “going through the motions.” Then, in 1999, I became friends with a lady online who was not a member of our faith. In time, she became interested in the Church. She asked a million questions, dug deep, prayed, and received her own testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Over the course of about 18 months we talked heavily about the Church, and I started to see the amazing blessings we enjoy through her eyes. It changed her life and mine. My faith in my Savior and in my Heavenly Father made quantum leaps forward. My priorities rearranged, and building up the Kingdom of God came first. Helping others find this deeper connection with Jesus Christ became my greatest joy.

That pivotal season of my life set me on a trajectory that led me where I am today. Through the encouragement of this friend, I started SheLovesGod.com. I wrote my first inspirational book, “10 Steps to Fulfilling Your Divine Destiny” and others that followed. I am eternally grateful for my friend who was the catalyst for bringing a level of joy and true understanding that I never thought possible. What amazing blessings our Savior has to offer! They were all right there with me, but I never saw them until I saw them through her eyes. I’m grateful that the Lord has given me so many opportunities to learn, grow and share my testimony of Jesus Christ with others. There is no greater joy!

What about you? What’s your conversion story?

* “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Nephi 31: 20, Book of Mormon)