Thursday, May 30, 2013

"The Church Saved My Life" by Vicki Rawls




Today, we have the pleasure of hearing from my good friend Vicki Rawls.  Vicki is a buddy, a sister, and a mentor to me.  Here is Vicki:

Growing up in Minnesota , I was raised Lutheran. I learned the books of the Bible through songs. I was an angel in the Christmas  play at our little country church. I would go into our grove and ask God things. I felt comforted and happy with the feelings I had . I did have very different thoughts then most of my family . I did not dare to discuss them with others.
When I was about 10 we moved to California. We bought a house very near the Lutheran church . My family would walk to church each Sunday and back home together.


When I got to a certain age there were confirmation classes. I asked many questions at that time. I struggled with, who I was, where did I come from, and what was my purpose.


In answer to my questions, my pastor would say, "We are not meant to know these things," or, "We don't need to know these things." 

Well I did need to know those things.  I began to question if there even was a God. 

I was confirmed a member of the Lutheran church.  How could I fail the test?  They gave us all the answers.  

I made some very bad choices in my early teens. Consequences occurred.
I was married at fifteen giving birth to a darling girl child three weeks after turning sixteen. 


I was lonely a lot of the time.  My husband was gone away in the military.   I still had so many questions. 

I bought into the idea that more than one child was wrong and not earth friendly, even a threat to mankind's very exsistence. 

When my daughter was about four years old and she would be next door playing I would hear a baby crying in my home. I would go to where the cry came from but there was no baby. This occurred many times in a few weeks time. I told my husband, I don't know why but I needed to have a baby. I couldn't shake that very heavy feeling. Our marriage was not good, things had happened that did not make me feel secure.  My self esteem was very low.

I was pregnant within a month or so. It felt very right. Another daughter was born and she was perfect as was my first.  When the girls were about  3 and 8 I filed for divorce. It was tough, but we eventually got back together .

A few weeks later "Elders" from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came knocking on our door.   Each time they did we would send them away with a wee bit of hope in their step. 


Finally my husband said next time we will let them in and that will be the end of it. He thought he could stifle them, because he knew the bible so well. Well they did come back and with them was a man dressed in regular clothes. We invited them in. 

During the lesson, I discovered this guy had taken my sister to her senior prom. They had only went out the once so it wasn't like they liked each other or anything , it just sort of made me feel more comfortable with him there.  

That night after they left I had that similar feeling of heaviness as when the "baby cried." I needed to hear more . We took all of the lessons, I threw out my smokes and booze and attended meetings. My questions were all answered. I know who I am , what my purpose is and where I am going.   Soon I was baptized into the Church.

I have never looked back. I have never doubted the truths I have been taught. 

In a real sense the Church saved my life.  The little girl who would pray in her grove had felt the Spirit again and knew it to be real and good. 

I love my Savior.  I always knew he was my brother.  I always knew he was my Savior. I also always knew He and Heavenly Father were two separate people.  Now all of this was confirmed to me.

I changed the way I think about things.  I am so grateful for the ward we were baptized into. There could not have been a better  bunch of brothers and sisters to help me feel excepted and needed. I have many eternal friends all over the world because of my membership in this church.  I will never be lonely again.




Thank you, Vicki!

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5 comments:

  1. Oh, Vicki, thank you for sharing this. It brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet experience and precious testimony. I love how you said the church saved your life. That's really what it comes down to--that's what the gospel is meant to do.

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  2. Beautiful! I got goose bumps reading it. I needed to hear this today. THANK-YOU!

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  3. This was such a heartfelt story and I was filled with the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost. Thanks for sharing this conversion story; its was the best.
    Blessings to you all!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your story. It brought tears and love for you and your precious family! You are correct, you will never be alone. Isn't the gospel a wonderful thing!

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  5. I am so grateful that you were who you were and willing to listen to the Spirit or I would not have been born! Even though I knew a bunch f that story already, it is so neat to read all the details and feel your testimony. You are a wonderful mommy!!Thanks for giving me everything you hath.

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