Destination Faith - a Conversion Story

"I'm not cynical. I'm a realist."

The conversation was 19 years ago, but I won't forget it. At the time, I believed myself. Faith seemed too hard, no matter how much I wanted it. The world was a terrible place and getting worse every day. Why should I believe in anything?

I didn't expect him to dare me to attend his church, but he did. I accepted his dare, and the next morning found myself attending his church. My life changed because of that simple dare, but the story didn't start there.

My parents were not religious, but I attended just about every Vacation Bible School my town offered. I accompanied friends to their various services and attended three years of Catholic school where I terrorized the nuns with my questions.

I didn't mean to upset the nuns. My curious pre-teen self didn't see the harm in questions like: "Why don't we have a prophet?" "Why can't people who never hear about Jesus saved?"

Leaving Catholic school, I entered the halls of a public high school and found myself drawn to the crowd of Mormons in my school. Others found them odd, but I felt a kinship to them because their actions and behaviours reminded me a lot of myself. Serious, studious, polite their idea of partying involved board games and non-racy movies.

First they invited me to the occasional youth activity night. That extended to social gatherings, and finally the dare to attend church. The next thing I knew, I attended Sunday services and youth night regularly. I met with the missionaries. I attended conferences, watched movies, and read the scriptures.

I did everything, but officially join the church.

Not for lack of wanting, my parents said no. They didn't understand my desire, they feared I merely wanted to follow the crowd. So I waited, honoring their wishes until I turned 18.

Three days after my birthday, I entered the waters of baptism. I promised to never drink alcohol, coffee, or smoke. I chose to be a part of something no one in my family could understand.

I found a joy I cannot describe, and while I"m cautious, I'm not the cynical person I was when first dared to attend church.

My name is Jacalyn Stanley. I'm a writer, a photographer, a mother, a wife, and after a dare, I'm now a Mormon.