Conversion Story
of
Tokerchuk Nadyazhda Valentinavna

It began when I was 7 years old. My parents decided to baptize me into the Orthodox Church. We came to Apsheronsk church (Krasnodar krai) accidentally met the young couple that were supposed to become the godparents. Talked to the priest and agreed on the ordinance. We didn't have to wait long, the priest called me and my parents to do the ordinance. We walked in circles, and he sprinkled the holy water on us, and was saying a prayer. At that moment my grandmother opened the door and asked him something, he got very mad and yelled at her with uncensored language. That's how I was baptized in the Orthodox Church.
A woman named Vera came into our life very suddenly. She came from Moscow, accidentally met with my mom, they became friends, and she talked to my mom a lot about God, Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, baptism by immersion. Our grandfather became very interested in it, and he started to read the Bible very actively. Sometime later when he realized everything, he had a revelation come to him in a dream, that he can baptize with the Holy Ghost. When I was 8, grandpa asked me do I want to be baptized, I said yes, so he laid his hands upon my head and said a prayer. I felt very happy at that moment.
My grandfather taught us about some of the signs of the true church of Jesus Christ and encouraged me to look for that church.
Walking on in my life with the word of God, I had many difficulties, some of which I managed, some didn't, but everything with me was turning out the way God wanted. He knows better where we need to go, and what we need to do. You just need to trust Him with your whole life, give Him all your problems, and you'll see how everything is working out fast and great. And remember, that whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap. This law works perfectly.
I found the Church of Jesus Christ in a very interesting way. I lived in Krasnodar, in a rented apartment, and as I was cleaning up, I found a book that had so much dust on it, that I couldn't read the cover. I cleaned off the dust and read – the Book of Mormon. I started to read it, and couldn't come back to my senses. It astonished me so much, especially the vision of the Angel to Joseph Smith. I was motivated to read this book and I did set a goal to find the true Church of Christ. I received a revelation in a dream that I must look for the church, and not back down. How do I find it? Where is this place, and how do I find it? A year passed by, and I happened to be in Krasnodar again. I had a dream, where I saw the church and the people and came to the service and I liked it. This gave me more motivation to search. I thought maybe there was a branch of the church in Krasnodar, so I looked on the Krasnodar web site, and I saw the address right away. That day I went to that address, and I found the church. You can't imagine my feelings when I saw the building and The Church of Jesus Christ (the plaque), and I saw the name Joseph Smith in a window. I was so happy, but I came in a week day, and I couldn't talk to anyone, I just got to pet the church cat.
I came to church on Sunday, and I was more astonished when among the speakers that day I saw the Holy Ghost, and he didn't disappear, and I still see him. When I saw Elder Patterson sitting on the stand, I thought I knew him, but I couldn't remember where I could have seen him. So I was even more motivated to learn more about everything that was going on. The Church of Jesus Christ is great power, when everything is according to God's laws, and all laws are kept – it is a great amount of blessings!
I was baptized on January 22, 2011 in the Krasnodar Branch by Elder Clark Lynn Patterson and the next day I was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of Holy Ghost.