I'm a Convert:: This is my story

Did you know my parents and I are converts to the Church?

Here's my story,...a LONG one...made short :)


background info: At the age of 5 my family and I were blessed with residency visas to the US and moved to california where my mom's side already resided. Being Peruvian, everyone in the family is Catholic except for my aunt Maggie and her family. They were LDS and while in California, invited us to a few church activities but we were not knowledgeable at all.

December 1996::

Little darlene was 7 years old and my parents, brothers and I had just moved to Arizona from California. My brother humbly worked at a little Arbys located on Main and Hobson. It was December and my brother one day came home from work and said, "mom, there's a really cool park next to arbys and they have a LOT of beautiful lights. I think it's a park? I dont know but you should take darlene to see it". My parents took my brothers advise and took me that weekend.

I dont remember much of my trip to see the "cool park with pretty lights",...but there was a moment that night that i will never forget, and this moment...started my testimony of Temples.

At one point, I perfectly remember walking around with my parents and approaching the back side of the Visitors center by the reflection pool and being approached by two Spanish speaking missionaries. Within our own ignorance of what a Temple was, we asked them what this park was and why there were lights. The elders began to talk to my parents and of course, explained that we were not at a park,...that we were at the LDS Temple and then they began to share the Gospel.

While my parents talked to the Elders, i wondered off and walked along the sides of the reflection pool. I remember looking at the reflection of the beautiful temple and looking down at all the flowers. It was at that moment, that something that i never could explain came over me...i began to cry. I tear up just thinking about how i felt at that specific moment. I felt pure joy and I didnt know why i was crying. My mom worried and ran to me asking me why i was crying and all i could answer was "I feel so happy".

Every single time i walk by the reflection pool, that night when i was 7 years old comes to my mind. That feeling of overwhelming joy comes back to me and I give thanks for that moment i had. It was such a strong, beautiful moment and for being 7 years old it was really special.

The rest of my story goes without saying. My parents received lessons from amazing missionaries. Some with whom my family still keeps in touch with. One being the amazing sister Laubach who was from Hawaii. She left a strong testimony with us and we will never forget her. She even wrote about us in the Hawaiian sports magazine,...she was pretty amazing at volleyball and there was an article about her which included a picture of me and her :)

A year later, on January 11th, 1998...about one month after my 8th birthday, My Daddy baptized me and I remember that day like it was yesterday.


A long the road of life, things happen. There came a time where I wasn't as active as i should be and my dad found himself working Sundays. But with time, we overcame the work obstacle and all the other things that life threw our way. And finally, on May 8th, 2010...my parent's and i were sealed in the Mesa, AZ Temple for time and all eternity.

May 8th was so special, for we were able to go back to that "park with pretty lights" and be sealed as a family forever.

December 1996 changed our lives forever, in the most beautiful and joyous way, and for that...i am eternally grateful.

I am grateful that for the past 2 years, I have gone back to that beautiful "park with pretty lights" and danced through my testimony of my Savior during Christmas time, right in front of the same reflection pool that means so much to me. I love this Gospel. Forever and ever :)