You may be wondering why I start my engagement/marriage story with high school since I never met my husband until I went away to University. It was such an important stepping stone in my life, especially with one unique man that I have the utmost respect for even to this day. It all starts with seminary and Brother Allred. I believe it was my sophomore year of high school which would put it in the year 2002. I was struggling with the LDS church, a lot. I knew that I wanted to believe. I only had good friends that were on the seminary council and would go to the pre-seminary invitationals before school. Even with those friends that were so strong, I found myself not understanding why I was unable to do certain things that were seemingly small like drinking coffee. Why should a religion restrict my eating and drinking habits? I really didn't understand at all but to appease my parents I consistently stayed enrolled in Seminary.
Poor Brother Allred was so kind and patient while I was horrible. I would bring my cup of cappuchino to class with him fully knowing what it was I was drinking but to my dismay I wouldn't get into trouble just as long as I had it downed before the bell. I don't know why, but since he was accommodating, I always had it done before the beginning of class. I did everything I could think of to get kicked out of his class for at least a day. I had been able to do this in each of my other classes up to that point and one after that. I even had a bishop tell me that I should study seminary at home instead of going to the early morning seminary because of my protests regarding the teacher. I mean I constantly did everything to not go to seminary on a consistent basis.
He never kicked me out and he was able to teach me. He had me be a sceptic of the church where another friend of mine had to find answers to my questions from the Book of Mormon. He knew what he needed to do to get some of the teachings in my head.
I think about this wonderful man on a regular basis and tried to write a letter to him but he had moved. I was really sad when I received the letter back. Many after school hours were spent talking about gospel principles with him patiently answering my sometimes off the wall questions. That is the time when my little testimony seed was planted.
I didn't know it at the time, but when I moved to little, tiny Williams, Arizona I ended up being the only LDS girl in the entire high school. 2 out of 5 of the LDS boys were my cousins. One was too young and the other 2 already had interests in other girls so I went completely dateless the entire year which was probably good for me. There was this one boy at Grand Canyon, but that was too far away.
Williams was probably the best thing that could have happened to me after the tutelage of Brother Allred. I was forced to either believe and gain a real testimony, or make up my mind that it wasn't for me. I was able to see my options and I chose to learn more and be a good examples to the girls in my ward that were still in Jr. High and struggling to understand the supposed restrictions that the Gospel places upon the young people. It was there that my testimony grew and I knew that I would not falter.
We ended up moving back to Weston before the end of that school year. It was nice to move back to where I had friends and a good opportunity to go to prom. I missed Williams and the great testimony that I gained from the wonderful people there. I had to hold strong to the testimony that I gained there because I was back in the place with 90% LDS people. Surprisingly enough it is easier to be good LDS in a non LDS place than in a predominately LDS place.
This was the first time that I realised that I wanted to be married in the temple for time and all eternity. That I was prepared to commit my life to the LDS church and prepare for the time when I was going to be married in the temple.
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