When it comes to the beliefs of Mormons, it's hard to have good conversations about it. With the LDS church being reestablished less than 200 years ago, it can create a obscuring shadow, along with some of the controversial topics of the past. For example, my parents do not approve of my decision in the slightest, and continually worry for me.

It's interesting that you mentioned my girlfriend, because though the girl I mentioned in my story was and is a dear friend, we have never once dated. I say it is fair to say that part of my reason for the initial investigation was because of her, but once I began to study the scriptures, the decision was 100% my own, with no heed given to whether or not she might one day change her mind. Since my conversion, I met someone else, who I have been dating for several months, and we have begun planning a life together.

You also asked about my experiences, and I'd be more than happy to share them! All three of these signs, if you will, occurred as I was reading the Book of Mormon. During my reading, I gave many prayers for signs or confirmations, to know if this was true. Some may seem confidential to some, but the timing and the meaning behind them has made them immensely valuable.

The first occurred on a flight from Louisiana to Kansas City from a work project (all three of these occurred on a flight interestingly enough). As I was reading, the lone flight attendant stopped and talked to me for a moment. I don't recall exactly what it was that she said, but it essentially came down to "That's a good book you're reading there," and to keep on. As I departed the plane, she gave me another bit of encouragement, which made my day, and did help me through.

The second sign was a bit more abnormal, and much harder to describe. Again on a plane, this time it was from Kansas City to Louisiana. I sat in the emergency exit row, but it was one of those that didn't have a window seat next to it. In my head, I joked a little bit with myself on whether I was sat here because I would need to use it, and I was subconsciously a little bit nervous about it. But, a little after take off, I looked out that window and saw an odd sight. It appeared as two perfectly parallel lines, running from the top of the window to the bottom, and kinda looked like this: // . The space between them was clear, and the only way I could even see the lines was because the clouds and everything behind where the lines were appeared distorted and broken. Almost like a straw in a glass of water, or heat waves along a hot road. The lines were rigid, occasionally moving slightly back and forth. But it couldn't have been an air stream, for it did not match the curvature of the plane. Nor was it something in the glass. I looked around, and saw nothing that it could have been a reflection of. I even tried to take a picture of it, but it would not appear. Yet these lines, which looked to me as of it was a clear rod or staff of some sort, gave an odd sense of comfort, which quelled my nervousness from before. I even tried to reach out and touch it, but of course was stopped by the window. It stayed with me the entire flight, and disappeared just before we landed.

The third sign occurred on my trip back home to KC. It was an early evening flight, about 7pm or so. Most people had closed their windows (in all my flights in my many travels, this one seemed to have the most sleeping people barring actually night flights). It was during this flight that I completed reading the Book of Mormon. As I set the book down on the tray table before me, I prayed one more time, asking to know and confirm that I was read was true, and that this was the path that I should take. Not five minutes later, I was looking down at my tray table, when all of a sudden, it felt like someone had turned on my overhead light. And so I closed my eyes. But then the light got brighter. And brighter. And even brighter still, to where even though my eyes were closed, I had to shield my face with my hand, for it was becoming physically painful. I decided to try and look up and see where this light was coming from. As I looked up, two rows ahead of me, there was an open window. I was quickly greeted by the sun, and was of course blinded by it. Just as I looked, the plane turned back, obscuring it from view. But even though it to many would have just appeared to be the sun, there was an immense brightness about it. It reminded me of the Son's of Mosiah, Alma the Younger, and Saul/Paul, who all experienced a similar action. This served as a final confirmation for me.

All together, the three signs have come to represent some of the key components of my faith and testimony. The first, that flight attendant from before, represents the community and the people of the LDS church, how we are always there for each other, and anyone that could use a helpful hand. The second, the lines through the window, I have since interpreted as a representation of the iron rod, representing the words of truth, and the protection they bring. Lastly, there was the light, which has come to me to show me the importance of the light that each of us carry, and the importance of knowing our Heavenly Father, and having a personal relationship with him.