Julie Joins the Church

Growing up, my mom (Julie) had very little religious background.  As a young girl she believed in God, but did not claim a specific religion as her own. 

As she got older, she was determined to have good values and good morals.  She lived an honorable life all through High School.  As High School Graduation came, Julie and her friends took a trip to Hawaii, and toured the Hawaii Temple.  She filled out a referral card at the end of the tour.  The card asked basic information, and then asked if the visitor would like to have the missionaries come to their home.  Julie saw this card, but didn't know what to check.  So she left it blank.

A few weeks later, two LDS missionaries knocked on her door.  They held her referral card from the temple.  The box was checked "YES".  My mother was confused and explained to the Elders that she did not check that box.  She closed the door.  She later told us that when she closed that door, she knew she had done something wrong.

After graduating from the College of Nursing at the Universtity of Arizona, she got a job working in the Los Angelos Hospital.  On one of her first days, the staff nurse was showing my mom around the hospital.  There was a display of pictures of all the doctors working on her floor.  She saw a picture of a doctor named Mark Valentine and thought, "He's cute!"

They ran into each other at work, chatted, and eventually, Mark asked Julie on a date.  He was a classy man, and took her to the symphony.  This impressed Julie, and she agreed to a second date.  They continued to date, and because Julie was so cool (and anyone who knows her knows legitimately how awesome and fun she is), Mark became more and more interested in her. 

Mark was also very interested in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He had grown up in a religious family.  His parents and all four siblings were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He had served a full time mission in El Salvador. 

One day, Mark asked Julie, "What do you know about the Church I go to?"  Julie had a friend who had been a mormon, and had some preconceived notions about their beliefs. 

She answered, "I don't like that you worship Joseph Smith."  She then told Mark about how important she felt it was to only worship God.  Mark smiled at Julie and explained that mormons worship only God the Father and Jesus Christ.  He explained Joseph Smith's role as a prophet, but assured her that we did not worship any man.  He gave her a book about the life of the man named Joseph Smith.  Julie read it.

While she was reading the book, she felt a desire to learn more.  She believed that there must be more to this man.  He never denied what he saw, and even died because of it.  She picked up the phone and called the number for the Los Angelos Temple Visitors Center.  An elderly man picked up on the other line.  My mom said, "I think I need to learn more about your church.  Is there someone I can talk to?"

Before too long, Julie was actively reading the Book of Mormon, and knew it was true.  She knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  She knew that she was a daughter of God.  So what did she do?

Put on a white jumpsuit and got baptized!!

The following year, Mark and Julie were sealed for time AND ETERNITY in the Los Angelos Temple. 

And I'm lucky enough to have them as parents. 

I am so grateful for my Dad's willingness to share the gospel with my mom.  I will talk more about HIS story in another post.  But since it is mothers day, this goes out to my mama!

I'm blessed to have a mother that loves the Lord as much as she loves her children.  She has always put the Savior first, and taught us to do the same.  My sister followed the example of my mother and was sealed to her sweetheart in a Temple of God.

I miss you mom.  Happy Mothers Day!