Donny Osmond

My best friend since I was 11 is LDS and over the years I learned a lot about the Gospel from asking her questions. I was curious about it, especially since my family isn't that religious. I was baptized as Methodist (My mom is Methodist), my dad is Roman Catholic, and my Grandma was a Jehovah's Witness. So as you can see, I was so confused about what was right and what to believe.

In sixth grade, my grandma passed away the day after my birthday from cancer. She lived with us for many years and I had never had a relative or anyone close to me pass away before. This was probably one of the hardest times in my life, as I had also been battling depression. One day I was out with my two LDS friends and we saw some Sister Missionaries. I took a discussion and afterwards, I came home excited, asking if I could join the Church.

My parents said I could attend, but couldn't officially join until I was 18. Being only 12, I soon lost interest in the Church after not being able to do what I wanted. My desire waned for a few years but my friend Marni and I would always have random conversations about the Gospel here and there.

In High School, Marni and I went through some very tough times. At a point, we weren't even friends. She fell away from the Church and although she attended regularly, she did not live the Gospel. I saw this change in her, and knew she was very unhappy. Then this past year, I noticed a change in her. She repented to the Bishop after one of our Missionaries came back home and had his talk. Afterwards, she was active again... And before I knew it, Marni was herself again, but this time there was something different. She was happier, and she just radiated this goodness that was so appealing to me. I knew it was the Gospel that had done this.

Over the past few months, our talks about the Gospel grew more intense and more often. By August of last year, I knew I wanted to become a member of the Church. I just didn't know when I would be ready (I was not living a life that I could be proud of.) I was involved with a boyfriend who was not a good influence on me. I became more depressed and unhappy. The more I did things that hurt my Spirit, the more I lost the interest in the Church. Meanwhile, Marni grew more spiritual and seemed to have this everlasting light about her. In September, my boyfriend and I broke up. Sometime that summer (I can't remember when) I had a dream that I was talking to Heavenly Father online (I am a computer nerd) I told Him that I knew I wanted to be a member of the Church, I just didn't know when. He told me that it was alright that I wasn't ready, and that He knew that I would make the right decision. I told Marni the next day. She told met that Heavenly Father often spoke to us in visions.

The talks and interest grew even stronger. Marni had feelings to give me a Book of Mormon but kept ignoring the feeling. Three days before my birthday, my friend gave me my second copy (The first one is from when I was 12) of the Book of Mormon. Our Sunday school teacher had challenged the whole class to see who could place the most Book of Mormons. Marni, being the competitive person she is, finally took this as a sign and put her feelings into action. Enclosed with the Book was a long letter with her testimony. She said that she just wanted me to have it before we went away to college, not even expecting me to read it. I read it, and I felt a sense of peace and weird feelings I had never felt before. I couldn't put it down. The next day at school, I told her I had been reading it. Unknown to me, that day she went to the Deseret Bookstore and bought me a CTR ring for Christmas. I had been wanting one the whole year.

After reading it again that night, I knew that she gave it to me just a few days before my 18th birthday for a reason. I forgot completely about my mother saying I could join once I was 18 until that day. Heavenly Father was definitely pointing me and guiding me in the right direction over the years.

Marni and I decided that I should go to Church or Seminary with her. After a few failed attempts, I finally attended Church with her on December 4th. Afterwards, I told her Dad that I wanted to be baptized. That same day, I had my first Missionary Discussion. We set my Baptism date for the 18th (which was then later moved to the 23rd.) What is so cool is that I was baptized on Joseph Smith's 200th Birthday and confirmed a member on Christmas day.