We often throw a phrase around in our Church that a large part of our population can identify with: “born and raised.” You’ve heard it dozens of times and probably have even said it a few times during your testimony. So many of us have had the opportunity to be under the sound of the Gospel since birth or a very young age. Our parents, our grandparents, our aunts and uncles — someone brought us to church each week, and it’s all we’ve ever known.

But what about those Saints who had the opposite experience? What about those who met our precious pearl years later? Perhaps they were introduced by their girlfriend, their classmate, a flier hanging in the local library. Are their conversion stories any less great because they met The Church of Jesus Christ later in life?

Absolutely not.

Christ never put qualifications on believing in Him other than having a humble heart and contrite spirit. He asked that we be of an age that we can understand the commitment we are making and that we promise to serve Him the rest of our days. There is no mention of being “born and raised” to follow in His footsteps.

And so, in this series, we’ll hear from several brothers and sisters across the country about their experience and what drew them in. Their conversion stories may surprise you. Was it a powerful sermon that pricked their hearts? Perhaps. But that certainly wasn’t the only thing.

Some of these Saints grew up with the Lord in their home — many even attended schools that taught the ways of God. Some had parents who were happy that their children found their own path of faith; others struggled to understand their departure from what they had taught. Some of these Saints were touched by the smallest of actions: a welcome, a tear-filled prayer, a meal after a Sunday service.

May this series make each of us — those who grew up knowing the Gospel as quickly as they knew their own name to those who grew up finding the Truth later in life — reflect on the open arms Christ extends to all. He doesn’t ask where you were; He asks where you want to go.

Stay tuned for the first story in this series, which will appear on Oct. 25. 

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.