Changing can take forms in many ways. From small elements to life-altering events, we constantly look for ways to better our lives. For today’s guest, a decades-long search for a church led her to a solid and lifelong relationship with the Heavenly Father. Cheryl Niedzwiedz learned changing is more than a Sunday activity, and that’s the story she shares on today’s episode.
Cheryl had fond memories growing up in the church.
Her earliest church memories are a feeling of warmth while singing worship songs.
She loved reading scripture, and she felt wrapped in love every time they were about Jesus.
When she blew out the candle for her eighth birthday, she wished for the wisdom of Solomon.
However, she quickly realized discrepancies in the way people acted outside of church.
The people who attended church seemed like different people Monday - Saturday. They weren’t trying to be Christ-like outside of Sunday school.
Cheryl learned that confessing her sins to the Father made them forgiven. But it bothered her that people would commit the same sins for the same reasons every time.
Why would the heavenly father forgive you if you didn’t intend to change?
She realized her childhood church was not for her when she was ten. Her Sunday school teacher was teaching about Jesus when a voice came to her and said, “this is not it.”
At 13 years old, she began to attend other churches to find one where she felt comfortable.
She went to many different churches over twenty years, and it wasn’t until her early thirties that missionaries of the Latter-Day Saints knocked on her door.
They explained the belief in changing after repentance. They explained the power of prayer. In these conversations, Cheryl felt calm and hopeful, knowing these thoughts were true.
It was the warm feeling she remembered as a child.
When she came to church, she didn’t find perfect people.
But she found a group of caring, supportive people whose goal was to be more Christ-like.
Since joining the church, she has felt like there was a lightning strike in her heart.
While her family was initially skeptical, they were pleased and accepted it once they saw the positive changes in Cheryl and her life.
Now, after fifty years of being in the church, she’s still working on changing. But we are all a work in progress.
For someone who needs a change in life, especially finding a church, Cheryl recommends praying to the Lord. Because our Heavenly Father will lead us to the answer.
Audio credits to soundstripe.
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(Note: This podcast is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)