Changing can take forms in many ways. From small elements to life-altering events, we constantly look for ways to better our lives. For today’s guest, a decades-long search for a church led her to a solid and lifelong relationship with the Heavenly Father. Cheryl Niedzwiedz learned changing is more than a Sunday activity, and that’s the story she shares on today’s episode.
Cheryl had fond memories growing up in the church.
- Her earliest church memories are a feeling of warmth while singing worship songs.
- She loved reading scripture, and she felt wrapped in love every time they were about Jesus.
- When she blew out the candle for her eighth birthday, she wished for the wisdom of Solomon.
However, she quickly realized discrepancies in the way people acted outside of church.
- The people who attended church seemed like different people Monday - Saturday. They weren’t trying to be Christ-like outside of Sunday school.
- Cheryl learned that confessing her sins to the Father made them forgiven. But it bothered her that people would commit the same sins for the same reasons every time.
- Why would the heavenly father forgive you if you didn’t intend to change?
- She realized her childhood church was not for her when she was ten. Her Sunday school teacher was teaching about Jesus when a voice came to her and said, “this is not it.”
At 13 years old, she began to attend other churches to find one where she felt comfortable.
- She went to many different churches over twenty years, and it wasn’t until her early thirties that missionaries of the Latter-Day Saints knocked on her door.
- They explained the belief in changing after repentance. They explained the power of prayer. In these conversations, Cheryl felt calm and hopeful, knowing these thoughts were true.
- It was the warm feeling she remembered as a child.
When she came to church, she didn’t find perfect people.
- But she found a group of caring, supportive people whose goal was to be more Christ-like.
- Since joining the church, she has felt like there was a lightning strike in her heart.
- While her family was initially skeptical, they were pleased and accepted it once they saw the positive changes in Cheryl and her life.
- Now, after fifty years of being in the church, she’s still working on changing. But we are all a work in progress.
For someone who needs a change in life, especially finding a church, Cheryl recommends praying to the Lord. Because our Heavenly Father will lead us to the answer.
