My First Activity

My sister and I arrived at the church with our friend. Inside, at the center of a large cultural hall was a small group of people: two sister missionaries and maybe six others. They were playing a simple game and enjoying popcorn and juice. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.

"Who are these people," I wondered, "and why are they so happy?" I knew it certainly couldn't be because of the game they were playing or the physical environment or the treats they were sharing. Those were all so simple. The happiness seemed to be coming from inside them.

I had often wondered where true happiness came from and what I could do to find it. I thought maybe it came from exciting activities or taking exotic vacations or pursuing all that the world has to offer. I had tried some of that, but it hadn't filled the emptiness I felt. And then I went to that meetinghouse, where these people were so happy without any of those things. It made a significant impression on me.

After the activity the missionaries stood at the exit to shake hands with everyone. When my sister got to the door, they asked her if she would be interested in knowing more about the Church. She said, "No, thanks." But I was still curious. I felt a "desire to believe" (Alma 32:27), so when they invited me to learn more about the gospel, I said yes.

My parents weren't interested in the missionary lessons or in having them conducted in our home, so I arranged to have the lessons at the meetinghouse. Over the next month I learned about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ—about what made those people in that cultural hall so happy. I learned that happiness came from doing what the Lord wanted me to do, that it came from within, and that I could be happy no matter what was going on around me. That doctrine was "delicious to me" (Alma 32:28). I wanted it in my life.

A month after that first activity, I decided to join the Church. In the years that followed, both of my parents also joined the Church.