From BYU to Baptism: How an Institute Class Led Me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
My journey to finding the restored gospel didn’t start with a spiritual quest—it began with a desire to gain knowledge. What unfolded was something far beyond academics.
A Search for Skills—and Something More
At the time, I was focused on gaining a certain skill. That’s when someone recommended BYU Pathway. I looked into it and was impressed by its strong academic reputation and the affordability of the education it offered. I decided to enroll..
The Institute Class That Opened My Heart
Image: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
As part of the program requirements, I had to enroll in an institute class. I didn’t think much of it at first—it was just a requirement. But as I began attending the lessons, something in me started to shift. The things being taught were new. The doctrines, the vocabulary, even the way people spoke about God and Jesus Christ—it was different from anything I had ever heard before.
Looking for the Church
The institute class stirred a hunger in me—not just for academic learning, but for spiritual truth. I began looking for a nearby branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Eventually, I found a local meetinghouse and decided to attend. I wanted to see for myself what this Church was all about.
Meeting the Missionaries
Image: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
That first Sunday was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I was welcomed with two brothers with name tags. They introduced themselves as missionaries and offered to teach me and answer any questions I had about this new gospel.
Week after week, they taught me the foundational doctrines of the gospel: about the Plan of Salvation, modern prophets, priesthood authority, and the Restoration through Joseph Smith. Each lesson answered questions I didn’t even realize I had been carrying.
The Question That Made Me Freeze
After completing all the missionary lessons, I was gently asked a question: “Would you like to be baptized?” I froze. What if I wasn’t ready? What if I failed afterward? All those thoughts rushed through my mind. I got cold feet and didn’t know how to respond.
The Testimony That Changed Everything
Sensing my hesitation, one of the missionaries bore a simple, heartfelt testimony. He shared how the gospel had changed his own life, and how he knew without a doubt that baptism was the beginning of becoming who God wants us to be.
That moment pierced my heart. It was like the Spirit swept in and removed every fear. Suddenly, I saw baptism not as a burden, but as a gift. It was the next step on the path I had already been walking.
Led by Learning, Changed by Truth
What started as a pursuit of knowledge led me to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I came looking for skills and left with something far greater: faith, purpose, and a covenant relationship with God.
