While there are remarkable stories from every corner, Greater Salt Lake stood out this year. Two young women from a Latter-day Saints background received Christ, marking significant milestones in their spiritual journeys. Here is one of their stories.
Vila grew up under the shadow of a stringent faith. Her family, deeply rooted in the dominant religion of their community, nurtured in her a fierce belief that led her astray. But, from childhood, Vila felt a stirring within her, a pull towards something greater, something she could not yet name.
As she moved into her teenage years and early adulthood, the yearning to know God intensified. She sought answers, but her inquiries were met with admonitions to accept her religion’s teachings without question. Doubt began to creep in, slowly and insidiously, as she questioned whether the teachings were true to the Word of God and Christ. In desperation, Vila prayed for guidance and for someone to lead her to the truth. Not long after, the GenSend summer team crossed her path at a church event. Vila was wary, her defenses high, but she agreed to join them for ice cream and game nights. It was in these simple moments that Vila felt God’s unyielding grace wash over her. She asked questions, and the team answered with joy, bringing her a peace she had never known.
Today, Vila shares her story to remind us that those in spiritual darkness are more than mere statistics. Her journey to truth has been long and fraught with difficulty, and it is far from over. Untangling the web of half-truths and lies that ensnared her from youth is a painful process. One lie in particular haunted her: the belief that if she wasn’t good enough, God would abandon her. Vila struggled to earn God’s favor, always feeling she fell short. In a conversation with a member of the Salt Lake City GenSend Team, they discussed Romans 8:38-39, which assures that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. Vila likens her journey to assembling a puzzle with missing pieces and pieces that belong to another puzzle. Yet now, she understands the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, grateful for the assurance that the Lord will never leave nor forsake her.
Vila prays that her story will shine as a beacon of hope to those around her who are desperately seeking Jesus. Her decision to follow Christ has cost her dearly. Leaving the religion of her upbringing means leaving behind everything and everyone she holds dear. She faces the loss of her family, friends, and home. Despite this, Vila affirms that through the summer and her connections with the GenSend team, she found the truth she sought and now knows that life with Jesus is far better.
Published August 15, 2024