The Convert Devotionals

The Convert Devotionals

di Clare Thomas
Cristianità
Stagione 2
“From Pentecostal Roots to the Book of Mormon: Gavin Harris’s Story To LDS Baptism”
Today on The Convert Devotionals Podcast, we’re joined by Gavin Harris, who shares a powerful journey of faith, doubt, and spiritual transformation. Raised in a Pentecostal tradition, Gavin grew up with a sincere desire to connect with God, but over time found himself wrestling with deeper questions about truth, church authority, and the nature of God Himself. His story takes a pivotal turn as he enters a season of faith crisis and begins exploring different Christian traditions and diving into ancient religious history. What starts as intellectual curiosity gradually becomes something more personal, as Gavin searches for what he calls “good fruit”—truth that is both spiritually and historically grounded. It’s during this exact season of questioning that Gavin writes How the Holy Ghost Haunts: A Memoir, capturing his doubts, discoveries, and spiritual wrestlings in real time—before he ever makes the decision to be baptized. That search eventually leads him to the Book of Mormon, where he encounters teachings that resonate in a way he didn’t expect. Through study, prayer, and meaningful conversations with missionaries, Gavin begins to feel a growing conviction. He describes a moment of clarity similar to that of Joseph Smith—a moment where, in his own words, “I knew it, God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Just weeks later, he makes the decision to be baptized, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his faith.
S2 · E4
7 apr 2026
24:36
" A Book Of Mormon Left In The Break Room, How Mahari Found The LDS Gospel"
Today on the podcast, we’re hearing from Mahari, whose faith journey is nothing short of inspiring. She explored paganism, Hinduism, and Catholicism before finding her way to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Along the way, she wrestled with doubt, sought answers through prayer, and had a powerful moment walking the temple grounds for hours just searching for clarity. Her friend Cameron, who had come home early from his mission, played a pivotal role in her journey. They actually worked together, and one day a Book of Mormon had been left in the break room at their workplace. That small moment sparked conversations, questions, and eventually led to Cameron sharing the gospel with her. He supported her through her doubts and ultimately had the honor of baptizing her. Mahari describes the moment she received personal revelation like this: “I recognized the temple in my dream.” That experience became a turning point in her journey and a moment she knew she could trust. She also reflects on the peace she felt afterward: “I felt the best I ever had in my life.” This episode is about seeking truth, wrestling with questions, and learning to trust God’s timing. Mahari’s story is a reminder that even when answers aren’t immediate, persistence, prayer, and openness to personal revelation can completely change your life.
S2 · E3
1 apr 2026
26:22
Pray, Research, and Receive: Katie’s Independent Journey to Baptism
In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Katie to hear one of the most authentic conversion stories I’ve ever recorded. Katie didn’t grow up in the Church. No missionary lessons at her door, no family tradition, no pressure from friends. Instead, she took a completely independent path — diving deep into her own research, asking hard questions, and seeking answers directly from God. What started as curiosity about the Book of Mormon soon became powerful spiritual experiences that she couldn’t ignore. Through doubts, discovery, and sincere prayer, Katie found something she had been searching for: truth, beauty, and a plan of salvation that finally made sense. In this conversation, Katie opens up about how she investigated the Church on her own terms, the moment everything changed, and how her family’s love and support became one of the greatest blessings of her journey. This is a story about courage, personal revelation, and what happens when someone truly prays and does their own research.
S2 · E2
19 mar 2026
36:21
From Shame To Salvation: Sam`s Journey To LDS Baptism
In this episode of Convert Devotionals, we sit down with Sam Namm as she shares a deeply personal story of faith, repentance, and healing. Sam opens up about the struggles that shaped her early life—including becoming a young mother, facing mental health challenges, and carrying the emotional weight of a past abortion. As Sam began searching for purpose and peace, she started learning about Jesus Christ and exploring faith more seriously. What began as a simple invitation to attend church eventually led her on a powerful spiritual journey. Through prayer, scripture, and the influence of those around her, Sam came to understand the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the possibility of truly starting over. One of the most emotional moments in her journey came while preparing for baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During her baptism interview, she was asked about her past abortion—something that filled her with fear and shame. Instead of condemnation, she experienced compassion and a deeper understanding of repentance, forgiveness, and Christ’s grace. Sam shares how that moment helped her realize that through Jesus Christ, our past does not define us. Baptism became a turning point in her life—a symbol of leaving shame behind and stepping into a new life guided by faith and the Holy Ghost. Her story is a powerful reminder that no matter where we come from or what we’ve been through, healing is possible, forgiveness is real, and God’s love reaches every one of us.
S2 · E1
11 mar 2026
24:53
Stagione 1
Walking Into A Church Building: Curiosity To Calling-LDS Baptism Story Of Edward Steele
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Edward Steele to share a journey that is raw, unexpected, and deeply rooted in the search for truth. Edward's path to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints didn't begin with a simple upbringing or a clear religious roadmap-it began in complexity. Edward grew up in the Northeast in a home far outside what most people would consider traditionally Christian. His mother was a practicing witch, deeply involved in Wicca, and his father was a Hells Angel. Faith, structure, and spiritual safety weren't clearly defined, and from a young age Edward was exposed to worlds that left him searching for meaning long before he had words for it. Statistically, his life was supposed to go in a very different direction. Alongside his wife, whom he met at just twenty years old, Edward built a life centered on loyalty, resilience, and family. Together they traveled the country, started businesses, raised three children, and did their best to protect their marriage-but underneath it all, there was still a quiet longing. A sense that something was missing. A pull toward Christ that never fully went away, even when faith felt distant or complicated In this conversation, Edward shares the moment everything began to shift-walking into a church building not because he had answers, but because he was searching. Searching for peace. Searching for truth. Searching for something that could finally make sense of his life and his past. What began as curiosity slowly turned into a calling, and that calling eventually led Edward to baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We talk about the role technology played in connection, the courage it takes to approach faith authentically, and the joy Edward found in an LDS community that welcomed him exactly as he was. He opens up about what his baptism meant to him-not as an ending, but as the beginning of a new way of living, learning, and walking with Christ.
S1 · E28
10 mar 2026
47:35
Knowing Joseph Smith Is True: The Baptismal Story Of Michaela Wyatts
" | just needed to know if the Church was true. I needed to know if Joseph Smith was a true and living prophet. I told Heavenly Father I was willing to give up everything-even the life I thought I wanted-if He would just help me know the truth." - Michaela Wyatt Welcome back to The Convert Devotionals. Today's episode is a powerful reminder that Heavenly Father knows each of us personally-and that He honors sincere questions when they are asked with a willing heart. In this episode, I'm joined by Michaela Wyatt, co-host of the @angelsamonguspodcast Angels Among Us podcast. Michaela opens up about her very real struggle with Joseph Smith and the truthfulness of the restored Church. She shares how doubt, prayer, and complete surrender led her to seek personal revelation-and how God answered her prayers in a deeply personal way. That journey ultimately led Michaela to make the sacred decision to be baptized, choosing to follow Jesus Christ even when the path forward felt uncertain. Her story is a testimony of what can happen when we are willing to seek truth at any cost and trust God enough to act on the answers we receive. We also talk about trusting God through trials, including infertility, the waiting that stretches faith, and the miracle of adoption. Michaela's experience is a witness that testimonies are often built not in certainty, but in faith, courage, and obedience.
S1 · E27
10 mar 2026
47:04
“The Journey to Real LDS Faith: Lessons from a convert , Stubborn Saint”
This weeks episode of The Convert Devotionals we are joined by Stubborn Saint, who shares a remarkable journey of faith, doubt, and spiritual transformation. Growing up in a home with inconsistent church influence, Stubborn Saint navigated multiple Christian traditions-from LDS wards to Presbyterian congregations-and learned early on the difference between mere lip service and genuine discipleship. As he reflects, always cared more about what people did than what they said. That's the example that stuck with me from my earliest church experiences! His story takes a pivotal turn in his late teens and early twenties, when his mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Through that trial, he begins attending church with her-not yet for himself-but gradually notices the fruits of true discipleship through the missionaries and faithful examples around him. He recalls being struck by the selflessness of young missionaries who, at the same age he was, were leaving their homes and dedicating their lives to service. I thought, how are they so selfless and I'm so selfish?' he says. His conversion unfolds through personal prayer, scripture study, and th whisperings of the Holy Ghost. He starts by praying specifically about Jesus Christ, seeking a personal witness of His role as Savior, and then turns to the Book of Mormon, where he feels a profound stillness that confirms its truth. That spiritual experience, combined with learning about Joseph Smith and receiving personal revelation, solidifies his testimony and leads to his baptism, ordination as a priest, and a deepening commitment to living the gospel. As Stubborn Saint reflects, 'Once knew it was true, I couldn't act like I didn't know it. It changed everything.""*
S1 · E26
10 mar 2026
1:02:13
Mercy Met Us Here, Prison, Baptism, And Becoming- Harley and Tommy`s Story
This week, on The Convert Devotionals, we share the story of Tommy and Harley - a husband and wife whose journeys to faith were shaped by hardship, mercy, and unmistakable moments of divine intervention. Tommy was raised in the Church but found himself pulled in a very different direction as a teenager. After a series of difficult family experiences and choices, he was incarcerated at a young age and eventually sentenced to prison. In a moment that could only be described as both painful and providential, Tommy was placed on the same prison yard as his own father. What followed was years of wrestling with anger, regret, and identity - but also moments of deep spiritual awakening. It was there, in prison, that Tommy felt a powerful prompting to return to LDS services, where he experienced a change of heart that would begin to reshape his life, his future, and his understanding of God's mercy. Harley, on the other hand, grew up without a religious foundation and spent her early adult years searching for meaning in places that left her feeling empty. Wanting something more, she began attending church - not knowing exactly what she was looking for, only that she needed God in her life. When she met Tommy, faith became part of their conversations, their relationship, and eventually their journey together. Though hesitant at first, Harley felt drawn to the sense of belonging, peace, and genuine love she experienced in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After learning from the missionaries and growing in her testimony, she chose to be baptized - just weeks after marrying Tommy - with him baptizing her after receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood. Together, Tommy and Harley share openly about repentance, conversion, marriage, parenting, and learning that faith is not a straight line. Their story is one of falling, getting back up, and choosing Christ again and again. It's a reminder that baptism is not the finish line, that conversion is ongoing, and that no past is too heavy for the Savior to redeem.
S1 · E25
9 mar 2026
44:35
From Atheist To All In; Brendan`s Baptism Story In The LDS Church
In this episode we meet Brendan-a man who once identified firmly as an atheist, shaped by a childhood of skepticism and doubt. With a father who dismissed religion as nonsense and a grandmother whose house overflowed with pictures of Jesus. Brendan grew up caught between disbelief and devotion. For years, he leaned toward disbelief, never imagining that faith would one day break through in a way he could not ignore. But everything shifted when Brendan began reading the Gospels for himself. A single moment-Peter telling Christ, "Depart from me, for l am a sinful man"-hit him like a lightning bolt. It became the crack in the wall he'd built, the moment he felt Christ calling him personally: Follow Me. That spiritual awakening only deepened when the missionaries entered his life-especially one of them, Elder Allen. With a sincerity that cut through Brendan's defenses, Elder Allen introduced him to Moroni 10:5: "By the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." Those words didn't just move Brendan -they changed him. They felt like a homecoming, a moment of clarity after years of searching without knowing he'd been searching at all. And during his baptism, when Elder Allen laid his hands upon him, something extraordinary happened-something that left witnesses stunned and Brendan overwhelmed with a peace he could physically feel. From atheism to faith, from skepticism to surrender, Brendan's story is one of transformation, revelation, and unmistakable spiritual power. This is the journey of a man who went from "I don't believe" to "I'm all in."
S1 · E24
9 mar 2026
31:57
The Beauty Of Belief: A Testimony In Action- Claire`s Testimony
am beyond excited about today's conversation because we have a very special guest, Claire. I’ve been following on TikTok for a few months, and I just knew I had to have her on the show. Claire lives in the Pacific Northwest, is a mom of four, and has always been deeply creative-she loves singing, dancing, crafting, and building things. Right now, much of her focus is on raising her small children and finishing her family's new home, but she's still incredibly passionate about her faith and sharing her experiences with others. What I love about Claire is how intentional she's been about her spiritual journey from a young age. Growing up in two very different households after her parents' divorce, she was placed in a position where she had to evaluate her own beliefs and make decisions about faith early on. As she put it, "Even if you feel like you can't choose your parents, you can't choose your home..your personal faith and belief in God is something that nobody can touch. If you make that decision for yourselt, nobody can pull that out of you." That quote really stuck with me because it speaks to the power of agency and personal conviction in our spiritual lives. In this episode, Claire shares so much wisdom about how to navigate life's challenges while holding onto your beliefs, how to approach respectful conversations with people of different faiths, and the beauty and inclusivity of the plan of salvation. She also talks about how gospel study-even in small, practical ways-can bring peace and clarity to everyday life, and she shares resources and tips for teaching the gospel to children in creative and meaningful ways. Whether you're just beginning your faith journey, looking for ways to strengthen your testimony, or simply curious about what it looks like to live a faith-centered life with young children, this conversation is full of encouragement, insight, and inspiration
S1 · E23
8 mar 2026
40:01
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