By Rod Carlo

Converting to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a small decision. For many, it’s more than a change of religious routine — it’s a profound shift in identity, worldview, and spiritual alignment. But what happens when your decision to follow that truth invites criticism, confusion, or even rejection from those you love most?

I chose to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints knowing it might not sit well with everyone in my life. Friends, family members, and members of other Christian denominations I once worshipped with didn’t understand. Some believed I was being deceived; others thought I was abandoning what I already knew to be true. The pressure to “just come back” was real — and so was the fear that I might be making the wrong choice.

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🧠 Facing Confirmation Bias with Faith and Humility

It’s natural for all of us to cling to what we’ve always believed. That’s called confirmation bias — the tendency to interpret new information through the lens of our existing beliefs. But if we’re not careful, that bias can become a blindfold, keeping us from seeing the new light God is trying to give us.

I had to wrestle with that. I had to ask myself, “Am I really open to the idea that I don’t already have all the truth?” That’s a vulnerable question — but an essential one.

Scripture encourages us to seek answers not only with our minds but with our hearts. In Doctrine and Covenants 9:8, the Lord teaches:

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”

This wasn’t just an intellectual journey. It was spiritual. I had to study, question, and — most importantly — pray.

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🙏 Praying for Truth, Not Just Comfort

I clung to the invitation in Moroni 10:4, which reads:

“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and… he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

This scripture doesn’t say, “Ask your friends,” or “See if it fits your tradition.” It says, ask God.

When I finally did — with real intent and an open heart — I felt the answer. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic. But it was undeniable. Peace. Clarity. A burning in my soul that this was right, even if it wasn’t comfortable.

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💬 “Pray Always” — Staying Spiritually Anchored Through the Storm

The New Testament also echoes this pattern of constant communication with God. Paul taught in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” And Jesus Himself taught in Luke 18:1 that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

That counsel gave me strength when doubts crept in or when well-meaning people tried to talk me out of my choice. Through constant prayer, I wasn’t just defending my decision — I was nourishing it.

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🌱 Conversion Is a Beginning, Not a Finish Line

If you’re considering joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or if you’re wrestling with the weight of what others might say, let me testify: truth is worth the wrestle. God doesn’t shame us for asking questions — He invites it. But we have to be willing to listen with more than just our ears. We have to listen with a heart that’s open to change.

I didn’t lose Jesus when I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I found Him more fully. And in doing so, I discovered that He never leaves those who are sincerely seeking Him.

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🕊️ A Final Invitation

If you feel that tug — that quiet pull to something more — don’t ignore it. Pray. Read. Ask. And trust that our Heavenly Father will guide you, just like He did me.

“If ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you…” (Alma 32:27)

Truth isn’t always popular. But it is always powerful. And when you find it, you’ll know — because your soul will say, “This is it.”