For some, finding Christ can be a long and challenging process. But the result makes it all worthwhile. Today’s episode of Changing features Jermaine Ward, who developed his relationship with Christ while serving in prison. His incredible story shows that we can work to live a life full of prosperity and hope no matter our past.
Growing up, his family life was volatile.
- As a kid, he watched someone bleed to death on the stairs of his house after a bad prostitution deal.
- In particular, his father had an issue with a man in Jermaine’s community. One thing led to another, and Jermaine’s father told Jermaine to shoot the guy. And he did.
- Because of that decision, Jermaine was on the run for manslaughter.
- At 16, he fled to St. Louis and joined gang life.
- While his manslaughter case was closed, an argument with his father years later resulted in Jermaine’s father calling the police to turn Jermaine in for his crime. After that, Jermaine went to prison.
While in prison, Jermaine studies morals, philosophy, and religion.
- Many people in prison are just trying to find themselves. If you don’t mess with people, they’ll usually leave you alone.
- One night he was thinking of all the things he did wrong in his life, and he didn’t want his relationship with God to go down the same path. So he took it seriously and read the Bible.
- Jermaine found it very powerful that Jesus continued his ministry after visiting the Jewish people in the middle east.
- Jesus taught five principles: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obedience.
- Second Nephi 31:5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
Jermaine was determined to do home worship.
- He kneeled down and prayed while in prison, and all he asked was, “Lord, is this the truth?”
- He felt a spirit come over him, and it was powerful and convincing. It was undeniable. He felt comfortable and warm.
- His first week out of prison, he looked for the Church of Latter-Day Saints in the yellow pages.
- He called each church, asking if they do what's outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants.
When we’re patient with the Lord:
- We shouldn’t expect God to answer all of our prayers immediately - he answers them when the moment is right.
- The Spirit helped him understand that he never reconciled with society for killing somebody.
- So, when he got out of prison, he sought to pay his debt to society. But he was still owned by the state, and he could not be baptized until his parole was over.
- But he worked, studied, and focused on doing right by God to repent and come to terms with his past.
Jermaine’s advice to people who think changing your life is too challenging:
- God loves all of us, and we have to love ourselves.
- Don’t look to be judged by the...
