Gather In Podcast. Stories of Conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Stephanie has terminal cancer, but we've managed to do this interview before life gets too uncomfortable for her. She reminisces about growing up post WWII in rural Victoria, Australia, and studying to be a nurse in Melbourne, and there meeting missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within weeks she would become a member of the Church and within months met her future husband Neville and go onto raise...

Solange Edith Valdez Watts was born in Chile in 1964. By the time she was 8 years old, there was political turmoil in Chile and her family migrated to Australia.
Her father had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile, but on settling in to Melbourne, had drifted away from the Church and Solange was raised as a Catholic. Missionaries came to visit and reignited the desire to be with the Church, and at 1...

(Had some sound issues with the first version of this that I uploaded. Hopefully this one is better.) Bob Grant has an amazing story to tell. He's been a member of more churches than most people have had hot dinners. Anglican, pentecostal, SDA and JW almost, and even his Dad's own church! He was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by an old hunting friend, which was appropriate as Bob had been hun...

When Craig Sandford was 11 years old, growing up in my home town of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, his family became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was not all smooth sailing though, and his parents later left the Church and even had their names removed from the Church records. Craig was committed though, and had an unshakeable testimony and went on to serve as a missionary. Many years later, just bef...

It was such a pleasure to interview my old friend, H. J. Brian Horsman. At almost 93 years of age, Brian is not the oldest person that I've interviewed (that was Robert (Bob) Lyon) but this is certainly the longest interview I have done. Even if you think you know Brian very well, I think there will be a few surprises here for you. Brian is somewhat a legend of the Church here in the Geelong Ward anyway. I'm pretty sure he ...

Betty Frew grew up in a tenement building in Scotland in the 1950's and '60's before following some extended family members and migrating with her husband to Australia. She met her late husband, Ray, when he was 16 and she only 14, but managed to hide her relationship with him for a couple of years, as there was a catch. Not only was she too young to have a boyfriend, but Ray was a Mormon! Betty was raised in a traditio...

Michelle's life journey is an incredible story of growing up in the Philippines and moving as a child to New Zealand and later as a young married mother to Australia. Her "fun" teenage years brought her in contact with other teenagers who happened to be from Latter-day Saint families. Michelle's naturally charming and bubbly personality shine through in this interview. I'm sure you will love her, just as all h...

Russ was a fascinating interviewee, and very patient with the technical difficulties I encountered! He is a wonderful story teller and has many stories to tell. I hope this episode provides an insight into life in Salt Lake City, where Russ grew up as a next door neighbour to Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For older couples, I also hope you might be inspired to want to serve...

Christian McOmber @MissionaryUniverse grew up in a Latter-day Saint family in Seattle, served mission for the Church in Brazil, and is a young married father of one, so far :) His first book, a memoir of his mission in Brazil, is now available on Amazon. Search for "With your Shield or Upon It". It is a fantastic read for prospective missionaries, currently serving missionaries, returned missionaries, and anyone else who ...

Murray Ceff talk with recent convert, Milton Smith, about his journey into the Church. Milton was adopted at a young age, with his sisters into a loving and religious family, attending Pentecostal churches. His adoptive mother passed away at 47 years, and not long after, his father also died. He was then adopted, and raised by, his adoptive sister and her husband. Years later, after some searching he became a member of The Church o...