Why join?

As Church History missionaries we interview people who are pioneering members of the Church in their country. We interview members who quit, are participating in, or graduated from BYU Pathway. We also do covenant path interviews for newly baptized members, or for members who have recently attended the temple for the first time. At times, we are asked to interview key leaders, such as Mission Leaders and District Presidents.

As you can imagine these interviews are wonderful faith-affirming experiences!

A week ago we met a young couple from Iran. Living in the Turkish-occupied side of Cyprus this couple found the gospel of Jesus Christ and were baptized last November. He was baptized two weeks before her because she wanted him to be the one to baptize her. It was so sweet!

We asked many questions designed to illuminate all the reasons why they decided to be baptized. In his case, he loved the logic of the organization of the church and the priesthood. Reading everything he could find on the church library website, he prayed and felt the spirit testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Her approach was very different. As a post-graduate student, and a full-time English teacher for 54 pupils, she didn’t have the time to study more scriptures than the missionaries assigned. She enjoyed the lessons and accepted the invitation to attend church. At church she observed the people. They were friendly, welcoming and non-judgmental – very different from the hard-line muslim community she grew up with in Iran. She felt safe, and could only describe it in one word – LOVE. It was the LOVE she felt from members that convinced her of the goodness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I attended the branch she joined. Most of the women are from Africa and they greet everyone with smiles and hugs. They good-naturedly try their hand at conducting the music, playing the piano, and singing. The men are eager to greet each other and visit. Their love and joy for simply being together is palpable.

I am from a more reserved culture but I still tried to fit in and greet everyone! It was wonderful to be included in such a group! I loved it!

Even though there are no temples here on Cyprus, Zion is still here as we come together to talk of Jesus Christ and love and serve one another.