The Things I Write About

My parents wedding

           I am a second-generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That means I was born into the church, but my parents were converted into it. I was eight years old when I first heard the story of my parent’s conversion. The story begins in eastern Canada, continues in Europe, and returns to Canada where I was born.

            My dad, Arthur Douglas Chrismas (Doug), was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, April 6, 1952. From a very small age, he knew that there is a supreme being. He didn’t understand how he knew it, but he also knew that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate and distinct beings; a belief that is contrary to the church that he grew up learning about: the Anglican Church.

            He grew up, and joined the military when he was 17 years old. He was stationed in Gagetown, New Brunswick when he met my mom. She was a waitress in Truro, Nova Scotia, and was 16 years old. They married shortly after my mom turned 18.

            My mom, Starlene Joy Millard (Star), was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 18^th, 1954. She belonged to various religious affiliations: such as, the Salvation Army, Jehovah’s Witness, United Church, and Catholic Church. She lived in poverty, and needed to enter the work force at a young age.

            My parents moved to Lahr, West Germany with my two older brothers: Tony and David. My parents were struggling with their marriage. They both knew something was missing, and my dad was certain that it was God. He made the decision to remain in the marriage, even if he was unhappy for the rest of his life. With commitment on his side, my dad began his search for God.

            He looked at various religions, but none answered the questions in his heart. He deeply desired to find the religion that taught Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost to be separate and distinct individuals. While at the bank, he ran into two Mormon missionaries. My dad approached the missionaries, and invited them to his home, so that he could take the time to ask the missionary his questions.

            My mom was not too happy about the missionaries’ arrival. She actually thought my dad was crazy to invite two strange men into their home to “save their marriage. “ Within five minutes of meeting the missionaries, my dad knew their message to be true. The missionaries answered all the questions that my dad had, so my dad desired to be baptized.

            Baptism was put off because my dad was stationed back in Canada for a training course. While he was away, he continued to ponder the message taught by the missionaries. He desired to learn all that he could, and commit to the religion. He returned to Germany, where he proceeded to take the missionary discussions. As soon as was possible, my dad was baptized.

            On the other hand, my mom didn’t want to get baptized. She didn’t want to change her lifestyle, and couldn’t see how religion could save her marriage. Yet, she couldn’t help but recognize something good in the decision my dad made. Within six months of meeting the missionaries, my mom developed her own testimony. She quit smoking and drinking coffee, and made the decision to be baptized. My dad was able to baptize my mom. Shortly after that, my brother Scott was born.

            My parents now had three boys, a new religion, and a commitment to make things work between them. They thrived in their small branch in Germany. Since the branch was so small, and the members so few, my parents felt needed and connected to the other members in the area. A year after getting baptized, my parents headed to London to be sealed together. While in London, my parents and brothers stayed in a hostel. Mom and Dad were separated because there were no coed living conditions at the hostel. My mom stayed on the female side with my brothers, since they were so young, and my dad stayed on the male side.

            The first time my parents attended the temple; they were sealed to each other for time and eternity. My brothers were also sealed to my parents. They were now an eternal family. Their marriage was strengthened in the temple, and it lasts to this day.

            My dad recalls a feeling he had in the temple. While in the sacred walls, my dad felt connected to the church in a way he never felt before. Since he was a convert, he didn’t have the biological connection to the early church like many who are born into the church. But while he was in the temple he felt connected to the early saints. He recognized the time and sacrifice it took to build temples.

            My dad understood the persecution the early saints faced. After my dad was baptized, other military servicemen began to persecute him. He was harassed for his choice, and work became more difficult for him. Taking his young family to the temple put everything into perspective, and helped solidify his testimony in the church.

            My parents also recalled the time when they received their patriarchal blessings. It was a long drive to the patriarch’s house. My mom, who had little experience driving, felt the prompting to ask about the tires on the car. My dad reassured my mom, and off they set for the long drive. There was no incident, but once they arrived at the patriarch’s house, they noticed their car tires were flat. The tires could have blown, or burst while they travelled, yet air stayed in the tires long enough for them to reach the patriarch’s house. They made it safely to receive their blessing, and felt that it was the Lord keeping them safe.

            Shortly after my parents were sealed together, my sister Karen was born, and my oldest brother Tony was baptized. My family had to leave Germany at this point because my dad was transferred back to Canada. My parents left the small German branch, and faced a large portion of members in Canada. They struggled with activity in the church once they returned to Canada. While their testimonies remained, they struggled with finding their place. They no longer felt vital to their ward, and they didn’t feel connected to the members. There were numerous misunderstandings on what ward they even belonged to. After some time, my parents stopped attending church altogether.

            It was during this time of inactivity that I was born. I have no memory of attending church until I was 8. My sister was teased at school. I am not sure the whole story, but I do recall that as a result of the teasing, my sister desired to learn more about God. It was at this time that my parents remembered the feelings when they first joined the church. Missionaries came into our home and taught my whole family together. My siblings and I desired to be baptized, but my dad didn’t feel ready to baptize us. So my oldest brother got ordained into the priesthood, and was given permission to baptize my other siblings and me. I was nine when I got baptized.

            That is the story of how my parents found the Church, and how they found and developed their personal testimonies of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father. Their decision has blessed my life, and the life of my children. I too know that the Church is true: that families can be forever. I am eternally grateful that my parents made covenants in the temple so that we can be together forever. So ends the tale of how the Chrismas family found the Church. A tale that began in Canada, traveled to Europe, and returned to Canada, where it blessed the life of my family and me.