I grew up surrounded by my extended family. My parents didn’t live with each other and weren’t married. My mother’s hard life made her determined to work hard so she could raise me well. She then decided to work in a distant place and as a result my grandmother took care of me.

My grandmother is a very spiritual person who taught me a lot of things about God. I remember before going to sleep, together with my other cousin, she would always tell us stories about Mary and Jesus Christ from the Bible but I really didn’t understand their importance in my life. I learned how to pray and to go to church but I wasn’t that active in the church where we belonged. I knew there was God but my spiritual foundation wasn’t that solid and I had so many questions about life that I couldn’t seem to find the answers.

𝐌𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒
Years after I was born my mother had another relationship with a man who later became my stepfather. My childhood years was full of fun because of my cousins and siblings. This was a blessing to me for there was always someone to play with. At an early age, I was aware that I couldn't have both my mother and my real father because of the new situation. I had accepted this fact but no amount of money or anything could have made up for what I actually wanted all along: a complete family I could call MINE.

There is nothing imaginary about the pain of a broken heart at my young age. Despite the pain I felt, I was still grateful for my family who has inspired me to be at my best always. It became my dream that someday, I will have my own family.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝟏𝟖
I became acquainted with the church when I was 18 years old. The first time I attended the church was also the first time I listened to the missionaries. They taught me about the overview of the Plan of Salvation. That was the first time I heard that "Families can be together forever". I found this concept weird but I felt something different with what they had shared with me. I continued listening to their lessons every week and my desire to know the truth deepened.

There were a lot of challenges came up while I was investigating the church but it didn’t stop me in knowing the truth. After weeks of attending the missionary lessons, they invited me to get baptized. I prayed hard to know if I should be baptized in the church. After receiving an answer to my prayer, I accepted the invitation to get baptized.

On May 25, 2012, I entered the waters of baptism and made promises with our dear Heavenly Father. Just like the late prophet Joseph Smith, I also had follies during my youth that I felt ashamed of and regret because of my past choices. But because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I was changed. I understood my life better. I had come to realize that it’s not yet the end of the world when you do something bad. There is always hope. There is always chance to change. That is why God lengthens our days so we can change, so we can prove to Him that we are worthy to go back to His presence. I gained a strong testimony of His atoning sacrifice that I am so grateful for every day. His sacrifices always remind me that I need to stay on the path of righteousness even though it is not easy.

𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐈 𝐀𝐌
After baptism, I experienced a lot of trials and challenges. My family didn’t like the idea that I changed my religion. But it motivated me to go on and press forward. Though there were challenges and trials in my life, I managed to keep my faith in God.

After my college graduation, I decided to relocate to my father’s place in Cebu. I continued coming to church even if there was no one to fellowship me and what’s hard for me that time was to understand the dialect. Eventually, I was able to find the nearest chapel in our house. I found new friends and family in my new ward. My testimony grew stronger and gained a desire to go on a mission. I strove hard to learn the basic doctrines of the gospel and sought greater understanding about the life of the Savior.

It was in November 2014 when I received my call as a missionary and was assigned to serve in Phils. Quezon City North Mission. February 2015 when I was set apart as a missionary and left Cebu to serve a mission. I had learned so much from my mission. It was a life-changing experience and my testimony about the Savior was strengthened. I worked hard to give my 100% effort in serving the Lord. There were hardships but I had learned so much from them. I really believed that what we do in the mission field is what we become in the future. My mission helped me understand better my role as a woman. I wanted to be a woman who could change lives and I learned it while serving as a missionary. Becoming a missionary was a blessing to my life. I returned home with honor from my mission on August 2016.

Two years after I returned home from my mission, I married my eternal companion for time and eternity on December 27, 2018. After 11 months of marriage, I gave birth to our firstborn. I realized that I am now living my dream life. I am building my eternal family. I will be forever grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

Geccie Carian Algar
Marigondon Ward, Mandaue Stake Cebu

The Lord expects that we will keep our lives in order, that we will live the gospel in every aspect.

👉 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬?

As you take steps to repent and follow God’s laws, you will begin to feel just how much Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son want you back home with Them! They want you to be happy.

👉 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲?

Some might say, “I just don’t fit in with you people in the Church.”

If you could see into our hearts, you would probably find that you fit in better than you suppose. You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and struggles and hopes similar to yours. Your background or upbringing might seem different from what you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that could be a blessing.

Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique talents and perspectives. The diversity of persons and peoples all around the globe is a strength of this Church.

👉 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞.