|
|
Keith Lionel Brown's Conversion Story |
|
|
Who is Keith Lionel Brown?
My full name is Keith Lionel Brown. I am 51 years old and currently reside in Annapolis Maryland. As my Naval career ended here in Annapolis, I decided to stay here and make this my home. I was born on Friday, 17 October 1958, at 10:17 p.m., in what was then the little town of Salisbury Maryland, in what was at that time known as the Salisbury Hospital. Today Salisbury is a growing city and the old Salisbury Hospital is now known as the Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC). I was born of two goodly parents. My beloved mother, the late Frances Mae Harmon Brown (24 September 1937 - 12 June 1997), passed away on 12 June 1997 at the age of 59 after a battle with breast cancer, and my father, the late John Wallace Brown (23 January 1935 - 20 November 2006), passed away on 20 November 2006 at the age of 71. I miss both of them dearly. I come from a family of one older brother, Kenneth, and two younger sisters, Sharon and Patricia. I am also the proud uncle of a 10 year old nephew. My brother Kenneth (Ken) is a year older than I am and is a Computer Analyst by trade. The younger of my two sisters Patricia (Pat) runs her own printing business called the P&E Print Shack. She is also the one who has been blessed with the musical talents in our family. She can play drums, guitar, piano and organ, all by ear. My other sister Sharon is married and has a son (my nephew) and is an Administrative Assistant. I was honorably discharged from the United States Navy on 31 March 2001 after 20 years of faithful, dedicated service to this great nation of ours. It was a very interesting journey to say the least, and I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have been able to serve for those many years. I was an Electronics Technician by trade while in the Navy, but as I am more interested in programming computers than fixing them, I decided not to pursue a career in repairing electronic equipment after I retired. I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Before becoming a member I was a Baptist and was actively studying to become a Baptist minister. I was baptized on 10 March 1998 in Reykjavik Iceland . I was serving on active duty in the United States Navy in Keflavic Iceland at the time. I was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood on 22 March 1998 and received my first two callings shortly thereafter. My first two callings were that of Activities Chairman and Single Adults Representative. I enjoyed both callings tremendously, especially Single Adults Representative as it gave me an opportunity to organize the weekly Family Home Evening for the single adults and to teach the lessons from time to time. I was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood on 31 January 1999 and went to the Washington DC temple for the first time on 5 June 1999. On 10 September 2000, I was ordained to the office of High Priest and set apart as a member of the Annapolis Maryland Stake High Council where my duties included serving as a Stake Young Men's Representative, the Advisor and Coordinator for the Stake Missionary Preparation Program, an Advisor to the Broadneck Ward, an Advisor to the Relief Society and an Advisor to the Public Affairs Committee. I am a member of the Annapolis Maryland Ward
where I have served as the Sunday School teacher for the 14 to 16 year
olds and First Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency. I have also served
as both the Second Counselor and the First Counselor in the
Annapolis Ward Bishopric and I am currently serving as the High
Priest Group Leader.
Featured Website: LDS.Net Becoming Fishers Of Men
(Mark 1:17) My name is Keith Brown. I am a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
. I was baptized on 10 March 1998 in Reykjavik
Iceland while serving on active duty in the United States Navy. I
was stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavik Iceland at the
time. The Vicissitudes Of Life
I thank God for the days of yesteryear. It was those days that laid the very foundation upon which I have strived to build my life upon these past 50 years. I thank God for those whom He has allowed to be a part of my life to show me and to teach me the way that I should go. Some of them have gone on, but to all of them, I will forever be eternally grateful and my life richly blessed for having known them. I do not
know what tomorrow may bring, but I do know the One who holds all
tomorrows. If I am faithful and obedient and trust in His perfect will, I
know that He will never leave me nor forsake me. He alone knows the plan
that He has prepared for my life. I only pray that I will always be
willing to say "Here am I, send me". In The Lord's Due Time:
Finding My Faith In 1 Nephi In
Jeremiah 29:11-13 we read these words, "For I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give
you an expected end. Then shall
ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto
you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with
all your heart." On March 10, just a little over a month ago, I celebrated my eleven
year anniversary as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. I actually began investigating the Church in late 1980. I had seen
several television commercials about the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and each one normally ended with how one could obtain a
free copy of the Book of Mormon. I have always had a love for books and
was always on the watch for any new book of interest that I might be able
to add to my small library of books. Having no knowledge of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and having never heard of or seen a copy
of the Book of Mormon, I thought that this might be an interesting
addition to my library, and besides it was at the right price, free. What
I later found out is that the commercials failed to mention one minor
detail. Nothing that I can recall was ever mentioned about the fact that
two young men, riding bicycles, dressed in suits would personally deliver
the free Book of Mormon. I later learned that these young men were
missionaries for the Church. For Such A Time As
This Webster's dictionary defines the
word pioneer as "a person who plays a leading part in the early
development of something."
Therefore, in the truest sense of the definition, as the only
person in my family that is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, I am a pioneer. And so, I would like to take just a few
moments to share with you some of my thoughts about being a pioneer
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 1, we are taught "To
everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under the heaven." I
strongly believe that I am the person that has been chosen, and given the
responsibility by my Heavenly Father for such a time as this to lead the
rest of my family to the saving knowledge of the Restored Gospel of Jesus
Christ. It is a responsibility that I dare not take
lightly. I am reminded of the words
of President Lorenzo Snow: "You exert a certain degree of influence, and
be it ever so small, it affects some person or persons, and for the
results of the influence you exert you are held accountable. You,
therefore, whether you acknowledge it or not, have assumed an importance
before God and man that cannot be overlooked." (JD, 18:299). And so, I have a responsibility to
be a positive influence on my family. |
Malcolm Leal - Faith Among Shadows "Faith Among Shadows" by Malcolm Leal is not just another story. This is an amazing story of courage and commitment, but most of all, it is a story of the faith of one man's great-grandmother that ultimately through the trials and tests that he endured in his own life, became his faith, his story, his TESTIMONY. This is a book about faith in action. Though we have never met in person, I am honored to call Malcolm my friend, but more importantly my Brother. If there is one book you should read, I highly recommend that this be the one. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - The Testimony Of An Apostle Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave one of the most powerful and stirring testimonies of the Divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon and of the Prophet Joseph Smith that I believe I have ever heard. My sincere gratitude and appreciation goes to Seth Adam Smith for his hard work and diligence in putting this video together for everyone to see. You can read Elder Holland's Conference address titled "Safety for the Soul" given during the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2009, 179th Semiannual General Conference by going here or you can view his Conference address by going here.
Feature Message : Our Rock -- The Rock of All Ages This message was delivered at the LDS Chapel in Reykjavik Iceland on Sabbath day morning, 31 January 1999. This was my farewell message to the members of the congregation there. As
I was prayerfully considering what subject I would use for my final
Sacrament talk here, a verse of Scripture found in the Old Testament came
to mind. The Scripture is taken from what is known as Moses' song or his
farewell address to the children of Israel and is found in Deuteronomy
chapter 32. The Scripture that I will base my talk on this morning is
verse 31 of that chapter which reads, "For their rock is not as our Rock,
even our enemies themselves being judges." During the next few minutes
that I have to share with you, I would like to talk briefly about OUR
ROCK, who is indeedTHE ROCK OF ALL
AGES. Read Our Rock -- The Rock of All Ages The Winds Of Adversity "Happiness," in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it." (History of the Church, 5:134.) Often that path includes affliction, trials, and suffering -- physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Adversity, or what we perceive to be adversity, enters into the life of every individual at various times and in various forms. Adversity may be the consequence of willful disobedience to the laws of God. However, even those who with righteous desire seek earnestly to learn and strive diligently to do God's will experience adversities in their lives. It is primarily to that audience of people which I wish to address my remarks this day. Adversity in the lives of the obedient and faithful may be the consequence of disease, accidental injury, ignorance, or the influence of the adversary. To preserve free agency, the Lord also at times permits the righteous to suffer the consequences of evil acts by others. (See 1 Nephi 18:16.) Some may respond to such innocent suffering with resentment, anger, bitterness, doubt, or fear. (See 1 Nephi 17:20.) Others, with a knowledge and testimony of the divine plan of salvation, often respond with faith, patience, and a hope born of that "peace. . .which passeth all understanding." As we are taught in the Scriptures in Philippians 4:6-7 which reads, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The Savior himself "learned. . . .obedience by the things which he suffered." (Heb. 5:8.) Prophets and Apostles, ancient and modern, have struggled with adversity in their own lives, as well as with trials associated with their divine callings. No one is exempt. Read The Winds Of Adversity
The Eternal Importance Of Families
It was President Joseph F. Smith who taught us that "It is important for us to cultivate in our own family a sense that we belong together eternally, that whatever changes outside our home, there are fundamental aspects of our relationship which will never change." (CR, October 1974, p.161.) Our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "Love is the very essence of family life. Why is it that the children we love become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is it that these children who love their fathers and mothers sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick? "There is beauty all around," only "when there's love at home."" (Hymns, 1985, no. 294.) (Ensign, May 1989, p. 67.)
The words of living prophets are clear regarding our sacred duty to strengthen our families spiritually. In 1995 the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles issued a proclamation to the world, declaring that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. This statement from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" declares the responsibilities of parents to their families: Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives - mothers and fathers - will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. Alma the Younger, when "racked with
torment. . . .[and] harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins,"
remembered hearing his father teach about the coming of "Jesus Christ, a
Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world" (Alma 36:17). His father's
words led to his conversion. In like manner parents, your teaching and
your testimony will be remembered by your children.
Click on
the radio above or here to listen to BYU
Radio. Click on the
television set or here to watch BYU
TV.
|
