“I was an adult convert to the church. I loved how accepting and loving this new community seemed as I took the lessons and joined the worship services. But when it came time to get baptized, I was bothered by all the pressure techniques used. The missionaries didn’t seem particularly interested in answering my heartfelt questions, only in making me commit to a baptism date before I even knew what I was committing to. I should have expressed my discomfort and doubts sooner, but I got swept up in the high pressure sales tactics and the overwhelming love and support I was feeling. And then came my baptism – and it all disappeared. I suddenly felt empty, alone and regretful. When I expressed some of these feelings, I was chastised or worse – ignored. I wish I could take it back. I wish I would have listened to my intuition. After resigning, I did my own symbolic baptism in a lake near my house to purge me of this painful era of my life. After emerging from that water, I have never since felt so clean.”
— Submitted by Charla

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