Ion Fotea - Conversion Story and Testimony

I was born into a Christian Orthodox family where Christian values were taught enough for me to develop knowledge that God exists and that it is the responsibility of every man to believe in Him. One day, my brother, Aurel, told me about a friend at work that had a brochure about a Church that was named after Christ. This Church was described as being the same Church that Christ established when He was on the earth. I told him that I was interested in reading the brochure to obtain more details.

The next day I went with my brother to his friend’s house with the intention of reading the brochure.. This was in January 1995. I do not remember the exact date, but I remember that it was really cold outside and there was a cold rain that continued for several days. When we arrived we were discouraged to find out that the brochure was no longer there; someone had probably thrown it away. I left the building disappointed, looking into the dreary rain, thinking about the brochure and the sadness that filled me because I had not found it.

While looking into the rain I saw, not far from where I was standing, a piece of paper in a puddle that attracted my attention with an unusual force. I thought that perhaps it could be the brochure that we had come to find. I walked towards the paper and the first thing that I saw on it was an older man, with white hair with his arms folded, possible in prayer.

I picked the paper put of the puddle and took it inside and placed it on the heater to dry. It was then that my brother told me that the paper that I held in my hand was the brochure he had previously seen. After it dried, I was able to read about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I found out that the Church had been restored in our days and was directed by God through prophets and apostles. The brochure also told about a book containing a one-thousand-year history of a people that lived in Jerusalem 600BC. This book was another testament of Jesus Christ.

The next day I sent a letter to the address found in the brochure. I expressed my desire to find out more about the Church of Jesus Christ and a copy of the Book of Mormon- which I understood was named after one of the ancient prophet. A few days after I wrote the letter I was visited by two representatives of the Church. They wore nametags on their chests, on which was engraved their names, the name of the Church and the title of Elder.

We had a brief discussion, in which we introduced ourselves and they told me about the Church and the reason they were in Romania. Before leaving, the missionaries gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon and recommended some passages to read before their next visit.

This book’s illustrations helped me realize that the man I saw praying on the brochure was Moroni, whose father was the prophet Mormon.

While I was reading I felt like my soul was enveloped in peace and calm that I had never experienced before. These feelings grew stronger and stronger with every verse that I read. During the next visit with the missionaries we discussed what I had read and I told them how I felt while I reading the passages. I told them that the feelings I had experienced left shortly after I finished reading. They explained that the feelings I had experienced were from the Holy Ghost. They also explained how we can feel him at certain times in our lives, but those who take upon themselves the name of Christ through baptism can enjoy his influence as long as they live.

I was so confused with all that had happened. The Holy Ghost was present only when I read the Book of Mormon or when I was with the missionaries. They invited me to participate in all six discussions, so I could learn more about the Church. We decided to begin the discussions at our next visit.

In the first discussion we talked about prayer and how it can be a powerful tool with faith and a humble soul. We also talked about the Holy Ghost and how He bears witness of truth. With his help we can find the truth about all things that we wish to know if they are from God.

During the second discussion the missionaries challenged me to be baptized and to pray to find out what God wanted for me. I knew that the Holy Ghost could only be my constant companion if I was to be baptized. I really wanted to be baptized, but at the same time the importance of the decision frightened me. To encourage me, we read three verses together from the Book of Mormon which are found in Moroni 10: 3-5. These verses are a promise to all people who believe and seek truth. This was not the first time I was impresses by the author of this promise.

This was the only way I could find out the truth about the Church of Jesus Christ o Latter-Day Saints. I will never forget the emotion I experienced during my first prayer to God to Guide me. I prayed many times aloud, pleading for Heavenly Father’s guidance, but one evening I kneeled with the same purpose. The same feeling of peace and calmness that I felt the first time I prayed came to me again. This time they were more powerful than ever. I then realized that this was the answer I had been waiting for and if wanted the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, I must be baptized.

After this experience I decided to receive the ordinance of baptism from an authorized priesthood holder. On February 25, 1995 I was baptized by Elder Mark Hoffheins from Texas and confirmed a member of the Church by Elder Kyle Leonard from Utah.

I know that God lives. I kneel only before God who in the Garden of Gethsemane endured indescribable pain, taking upon Himself the sins of all mankind. He endured death on the cross that all who looks towards Him can have Eternal Life. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer, Amen.

Claudia"s Testimony and Conversion Story (English)

My name is Claudia Fotea. I am 30 years old and I live in Deva with my family, with my husband , our daughter Adela and our son David.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for 10 years. It has been a little while since I was baptized and in the same time I feel like I was a member all my life.

The missionaries were sent in Deva for the first time in December 1998. Immediately they started to teach English classes. In February 1999 my best friend Mirabela, found out about these classes and both started to attend. They had quite a few people there. But we did not know that these young Americans were missionaries for the Church. We knew nothing about them. At the end of one class they decided to have a presentation of The Book of Mormon (that was recently translated entirely) and of their reason for being here. I do not remember anything they said. But there was something that hit my heart and my soul. In the moment I first saw The Book of Mormon my heart was filled with some feelings that I have never had before. I have to say that I was always a religious person. Before I was Orthodox and I even had times when I was active in the Church and I started early to study the Bible. A few times I talked to people in other churches, too. Soon I realized that something was missing so I stopped going to church. But I continued to study the Bible. ( When I was 4 years old my grandmother died. Because we were very close, and because I was alone at home with her when she died this was a shock to me. This experience made a deep impact on me and I started to be tormented by many questions. Where do we go when we die? Why are we here on earth? Everything was very important and vital to me.I used to cry for hours, alone in bed during the night. And I was praying and begging my Heavenly Father to help me understand.)

Anyway, when I saw The Book of Mormon I felt like I was finally coming home after a long trip. I felt worm and I felt joy. I saw a road opening in front of me, the road that I prayed so hard for the Lord to show it to me. In that moment I didn’t quite understand what were those feelings but I new I had to read the Book. Of course I was afraid to ask the missionaries to give me a copy. But I wanted to go to their meetings on Sunday. Me and Mirabela made plans to go the following Sunday, the Sacrament Meeting was held in the same building with their English classes. Unfortunately, Mirabela couldn’t come so I gave up because I was afraid to go alone.

After a while we discovered that the missionaries were living in the same block with us. And soon I found in my mail box a flyer about the Book of Mormon and their phone number to call and ask for a copy. But again I was to shay to call. But it was a beautiful Sunday in May 1999 when we met the elders close to the place we were living and we got the courage to talk to them and to ask for a copy of the book. The elders were so happy about this that they even went immediately to their apartment to get one for each of us. Then we went to the park to have a discussion about the Book and their Church. It was wonderful. Immediately I realized that they and actually their Church was having the same ideas that I was having about many things. I was truly happy for the first time. I was feeling how this experience was lightening my soul. I was decided to go to Church the next Sunday.

This time we really went. I took the only dress that I had at that time, I met Mirabela and together we proceeded to the Sacrament Meeting for the first time. We were very excited and we were thinking we would go to a room fool of unfamiliar faces. We were scared. But when we arrived there surprisingly the room was almost empty. There were only the 4 missionaries. In a way we were relieved. Later we found out that they had no members in Deva, yet. The city was recently opened for missionary work and they had no Branch. But us, starting with that Sunday, the 23^rd of May 1999 we never stopped going to Church. We continued our discussions with the elders and started to read The Book of Mormon. I remember I read it in a short time and my heart was full of happiness. I found the answers to the questions that where so important to me during childhood. Now God answered. Immediately I knew I wanted to be baptized. I was so happy and I wanted to talk to everybody about my happiness. At the beginning Mirabela was scared. We were the first to be baptized in Deva. (They had a old member couple close to Deva , in Bosorod, but they were inactive. Brother and Sister Muntean were baptized in Bucuresti and were now living in Bosorod, but were not coming to Church.).

Anyway, at that moment I was not thinking about this situation of being the first or the only members in Deva. I knew I wanted with my whole being to be baptized. I was happy. I was 18 and a half and still living with my parents. They found out about my relation with the Church and were not very pleased. They met the missionaries but did not agree to my baptism. My mom told me from the start that if I want to be baptized I will have to leave their house. During that time I read the Book of Mormon twice and other church books.

After many struggles, we decided to be baptized on the 25^th of September without our parent consent. That day soon arrived, with many stumbles in between, but eventually nothing stopped us from taking the Name of Jesus Christ and to make a covenant with Him. That day was wonderful. Our parents were not there for us, but we had some friends that attended the ceremony. I was so happy that I felt like floating. Everything seamed like a beautiful dream. I have finally found what I was looking for so long. I found peace, tranquility and so much happiness. I made so much progress in such a sort while with the help of the missionaries. I assimilated the doctrine and the laws of the Church so quick that I felt I was a member for so many years. Also my first years as a member

I spent them doing a lot of missionary work; I wanted to really share my happiness to other people. This was a wonderful time that really changed my life.

After a year my mom found out about my baptism and she really kicked me out. I lived with a friend for a while. After a few weeks they received me home again. They continued to persecute me but because I was spending much time serving I was not thinking about that.

I know with all my heart that this is the work of the Lord on earth. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true Church on earth, and Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The Book of Mormon is a treasure; it is the word of God that came out these days to bring the truth of the Gospel to people. I destroy the false doctrines and brings to light the pure truth of God. And I am really grateful to know that today we have a prophet on earth again, Thomas S. Monson. He receives revelations in these wonderful days not only for the Church but for the whole world.

I am grateful for the blessings in my life, for my husband, for our daughter Adela, and for our son David. They are the most important treasures that God gave in to my life.

I know that my Redeemer lives, He is my Savior, He is Jesus Christ. I am very happy to say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Marturia si Convertirea mea - Clau (Romana)

Mă numesc Claudia Fotea. Am 30 de ani şi locuiesc în Deva cu familia mea, soţul şi fiica noastră, Adela.

Sunt membră a Bisericii Lui Isus Hristos a Sfinţilor din Zilele din Urma de 10 ani. A trecut destul de mult timp de când m-am botezat dar în acelaşi timp mi se pare că viaţa mea a început atunci , uneori mă simt că am fost o membră toată viaţa.

Misionarii au venit pentru prima data în Deva în Decembrie 1998. Imediat au început Cursurile de Limba Engleză. În luna Februarie 1999 prietena mea cea mai bună, Mirabela a aflat de ele şi am început şi noi două să participăm. Erau destul de mulţi oameni. Dar noi nu ştiam că tinerii americani erau misionari pentru o biserică. Nu ştiam nimic despre ei. La sfârşitul unui curs băieţii au hotărât să facă o prezentare a Carţii lui Mormon (care fusese recent tradusă în întregime ) şi a motivului pentru care ei au venit aici. Nu îmi amintesc deloc ce au spus. Dar …un singur lucru mi s-a întipărit în minte şi în suflet. În momentul în care am văzut Cartea lui Mormon sufletul meu s-a umplut de nişte sentimente cum nu am mai avut niciodată. Trebuie să fac o paranteză şi să specific faptul că eu mereu am fost mai religioasă. Eram ortodoxă, a fost chiar o periodă când fregventam biserica şi destul de devreme am început să studiez Biblia. Am luat contact de câteva ori şi cu alte biserici. Dar curând am simţit că ceva lipsea şi am încetat să fregventez orice biserică. Dar am continuat să citesc din Biblie. (Când eram foarte mica, 4 ani, bunica mea a murit. Deoarece eram forte apropiate și eram singura cu ea acasa cand a decedat, am suferit un șoc. Acesta m-a urmărit un timp. Apoi am început să fiu chinuită de multe întrebari. Unde mergem cand murim? De ce trăim aici pe pământ? Totul mă chinuia. Plangeam ore în șir și îl imploram pe Dumnezeu să mă ajute să înțeleg.)

Ei bine, în momentul în care Am văzut Cartea lui Mormon am simţit că mă întorc acasă. Am simţit căldură şi am simţit bucurie. Şi vedeam un nou drum deschis în faţa mea, drumul pe care îl rugasem pe Dumnezeu de mult să mi-l arate. În acel moment nu am înţeles prea mult din ceea ce simţeam dar am ştiut imediat că trebuia să citesc aceea Carte. Bineînţeles că mi-a fost teamă şi ruişine să le-o cer misionarilor. Dar am vrut să merg la Adunarea lor Duminică. Eu şi Mirabela ne facusem planuri pentru a merge. Adunarea de Împărtăşanie se ţinea la Casa de cultură , unde era şi cursul dar într-o altă sala mai mică. Din păcate Mirabela nu a putut veni şi din teamă nu m-am dus nici eu singură.

După o perioadă am descoperit că doi dintre tinerii misionari locuiau cu noi în bloc. Şi curând eu am găsit în poştă un fluturaş pagina de Introducere din Cartea lui Mormon. La sfârşit ei specificau că această carte se distribuie gratuit şi că pentru a obţine o copie puteam suna la numarul lor de telefon. Din nou mi-a fost ruşine să sun. Dar era o Duminica din luna Mai 1999 cînd i-am întâlnit pe doi dintre misionari aproape de blocul unde locuiam şi am avut curajul să îi oprim şi să le spunem că noi, eu şi Mirabela doream o copie a Cărţii lui Mormon. Băieţii s-au arătat foarte bucuroşi şi chiar s-au dus în apartamentul lor pentru a adduce câte o copie pentru fiecare dintre noi. Apoi am mers in Parc împreună şi am avut o discuţie despre această Carte şi despre Biserica din care ei făceau parte. A fost o discuţie minunată. Automat mi-am dat seama că ei gândeau, de fapt că Biserica lor gândea la fel ca mine. Eram fericită cu adevarat pentru prima dată. Simţeam cum toată această experienţă îmi lumina sufletul. Eram hotărâtă să merg la Biserică în următoarea Duminică.

Şi de data asta chiar am facut asta. M-am îmbrăcat în singura fusta pe care o aveam, m-am întâlnit cu Mirabela şi împreună am pornit spre Adunarea de Împărtăşanie pentru prima dată. Eram emotionate şi ne gândeam că vom intra într-o sală plină cu oameni mulţi şi necunoscuţi. Ne era teamă. Când am ajuns acolo spre surprinderea noastră, sala era aproape goala, erau doar 4 misionari. Într-un fel cred că eram uşurate. Mai târziu am aflat că de fapt nu aveau membrii în Deva, că oraşul deabia fusese deschis pentru munca misionară şi că nu aveau o ramură aici, inca. Dar noi din aceea Duminica , 23 Mai 1999, nu am mai încetat să mergem la Biserică. Am continuat discuţiile cu elderii şi am început sa citim Cartea lui Mormon. Eu îmi amintesc că am citit-o intr-un timp scurt şi în acest timp mintea şi sufletul meu se umpleau de bucurie.Am aflat treptat răspunsurile la întrebarile ce mă chinuiseră de ani de zile. Am ştiut imediat că trebuia să mă botez. Eram aşa de fericită şi doream să vorbesc cu oamenii despre bucuria mea. Mirabelei i-a fost teama la inceput. Urma să fim primele botezate în Deva. Era ciudat într-adevar. ( De fapt la Boşorod , nu ştiu exact câţi kilometrii de la Deva, exista un cuplu mai în vârstă, familia Munteanu, care fuseseră botezaţi la Bucureşţi şi acum trăiau aici dar nu puteau venii la Biserică, am aflat de ei mai târziu )

Oricum eu nu mă gândeam aproape deloc la această situaţie de a fi primele şi singurele membre aici. Eram fericită şi ştiam că trebuie să mă botez. Aveam 18 ani si jumatate. Locuiam cu părinţii mei. Aceştia au aflat despre interesul meu în Biserică şi nu au fost mulţumiţi. I-au cunoscut pe misionari dar nu au fost de accord să mă botez. Mama mi-a spus categoric că dacă mă voi boteza nu mai am ce căuta acasă. Mi-a fost foarte teamă aşa că am hotărât să aştept. Între timp am mai citit Cartea lui Mormon de două ori, plus alte cărţi din literature Bisericii.

Într-un final în Septembrie am stabilit să ne botezăm în 25 Septembrie fără acordul părinţilor. Aceea zii a venit repede, nu fără piedici, dar nimic nu ne-a stricat până la urmă bucuria de a lua asupra nostră Numele Lui Isus Hristos şi să intrăm în legământ cu El. A fost minunat. Părinţii nu au fost alături de noi dar am avut câtiva prieteni care au participat. Eram euforică, parcă pluteam de fericire. Totul acum e ca un vis în mintea mea. A fost minunat. Găsisem ceea ce am căutat de mult timp. Am găsit pacea, liniştea şi fericirea mult dorite. Am progresat foarte repede cu ajutorul misionarilor. Am asimilat foarte bine şi foarte repede doctrina şi învăţăturile Bisericii parcă eram membră de o viaţă. Şi deasemenea primii ani mi i-am petrecut aproape exclusiv muncii misionare pentru a împărtăşii într-adevăr din bucuria mea şi cu alţi oameni. A fost un timp minunat şi care mi-a schimbat total viaţa.

După un an mama a aflat despre botezul meu şi a pus în aplicare ameninţarea. M-a dat afară din casă. Am locuit cu o prietenă un timp. Până la urmă m-au primit din nou acasă. Persecuţiile lor mă făceau să sufăr uneori dar datorită slujirii minunate uitam.

Ştiu din toată inima mea că aceasta este munca Lui Dumnezeu pe pământ. Biserica Lui Isus Hristos a Sfinţilor din Zilele din Urmă este singura Biserică Adevărată pe acest pământ şi Isus Hristos este capul şi conducătorul ei. Cartea lui Mormon este o comoară, este Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu care a ieşit la suprafaţă în aceste zile pentru a face cunoscută oamenilor Plenitudinea Evangheliei Lui Hristos. Ea distruge toate doctrinele false şi scoate la lumină Adevărul pur a Lui Dumnezeu. Şi sunt recunoscătoare să ştiu că această Biserică are un Profet în viată , Thomas S. Monson. El primeşte revelaţii în aceste zile minunate nu doar pentru această Biserică ci pentru toată lumea.

Sunt recunoscătoare pentru binecuvântările din viaţa mea. Pentru soţul meu, pentru fiica nostră, Adela şi pentru copilul care o să vină acum în viaţa noastră. Ei sunt cele mai mari comori pe care Dumnezeu mi le-a dat în această viaţă.

Isus Hristos trăieşte, El este Salvatorul şi Mântuitorul meu şi al tuturor. Sunt foarte fericită să mărturisesc aceste lucruri în Numele Lui Isus Hristos , Amin.