Steve and Carin Drysdale were prepared to change their lives when they were contacted by stake and ward leaders. They had moved to a new area. In their old area they had suffered through some serious problems in their lives. Steve and Carin felt “ill at ease” in attending Church meetings, he says. When they saw the many professional, affluent people who were members of their stake, they felt certain they would not fit in. They soon found they were wrong.
Steve says he had never been “totally abandoned by the Spirit”, despite inactivity. After their move, he and his wife wanted to reorder their priorities because of their children. The urge to change became more pressing when they learned that Carin was expecting again.
Jeff Maccubbin wasn’t very active in the Church, but he loved to play basketball. Youth and leaders of his ward accepted him as he was and loved him into activity. One returned missionary friend in particular helped Jeff decide to go on a mission. As Jeff became more active, he began to urge his family to participate with him.
Through Jeff’s example, one friend was baptized, and now this young man and another are also considering missions.
Sometimes, as in the case of Maira Duron, activating one person may mean bringing back others in the family as well.
With her husband, Sister Duron joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1984. She enjoyed the blessings of the gospel, particularly opportunities to learn about our Savior and to fast and pray for Heavenly Father’s help. But when her marriage broke up, she felt ashamed to face her happily married friends in her ward; somehow, she feared, she had not lived up to other Church members’ expectations. Since she also was working at night to support her two children, Sister Duron felt she was unable to attend church on Sunday mornings. She did not go to church for two years.
The people, however, welcomed her back warmly. They were happy to see her enjoying all the blessings of the gospel as she had before. She faces them confidently now because they have shown her the depth of their love, and she knows they will not let her down.