I grew up believing I knew Jesus.
As a child raised in the LDS (Mormon) faith in Utah, I was taught about Jesus, church history, and what it meant to live a “righteous” life. I believed in the prophets. I studied the Book of Mormon. I went to church faithfully and testified of its truth — because it was the only truth I had ever known. And because I believed in Jesus, I thought I was already a Christian.
But it wasn’t until much later in life that I discovered there’s a big difference between knowing about Jesus… and truly knowing Him.
When I was first introduced to Christianity outside of the LDS Church, I didn’t think much would be different. After all, I believed in Jesus — wasn’t that what made me a Christian? But as I began to study the Bible for myself and compare what I was learning to what I had always believed, something shifted. I began to see clear differences in theology, doctrine, and truth.
Some of what I discovered made me uncomfortable. It challenged everything I had grown up with. But the more I read Scripture, the more I realized that what I had once accepted as truth simply didn’t match up with God’s Word. It was hard. It was emotional. But deep down, I knew God was pulling my heart toward something real.
And that’s when everything changed.
I stopped depending on a church or a system. I gave my heart fully to Jesus. I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior — not because someone told me to, but because I had seen the truth in His Word and felt the Holy Spirit move in my life. From that moment forward, I knew I didn’t need religion — I needed relationship.
The peace that followed was unlike anything I’d ever known. No more striving. No more confusion. No more pressure to prove myself. Just light. Just love. Just Jesus.
That encounter with grace became the foundation for everything I now write. My novel, Rocky Testimony, is directly inspired by that journey. It’s about what happens when faith and love collide — when you’re forced to choose between tradition and truth. Brad’s story mirrors so much of my own: the questions, the heartbreak, the surrender, and ultimately, the joy of choosing Jesus.
If you’ve ever felt unsure… if you’ve ever wondered if you’re doing “enough”… if your heart has wrestled with salvation, grace, or who Jesus really is please hear me when I say: He sees you. He knows you. And He doesn’t want your performance. He wants your heart.
Religion can’t save you. Church membership can’t save you. Doing all the “right” things still won’t make you righteous. Only Jesus can do that.
And when you give Him your heart, you won’t just feel better, you’ll be free. Forever.