New Members Share Conversion Story

Jim and Patti Reid will be forever grateful to Bishop Jim Bown and the sister missionaries who first introduced them to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. When they speak of the circumstances of their conversion, both smile broadly.

"The ‘hook’ for me was the lesson on the pre-existence," states Jim. "What they told me just made sense . . . there was a beginning, there is a middle and there will be something even more wonderful on the other side when this life ends!"

Jim is a jazz drummer, a water colorist, a golf fanatic, a former substitute teacher at Dixie Middle School and Dixie High School and a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for 36 years. He accepts that his drinking negatively impacted his first marriage and resulted in the near loss of his advertising agency. "When 3 guys in Alcoholics Anonymous adopted me, I was $25,000 in debt and struggling in every aspect of my life! AA was a lifesaver because it taught me to shut up and listen." Once sober, Jim approached his debtors one-by-one, to arrange a payment plan. "It took me five years to pay everyone back, but I had finally started doing things right and it felt really good!"

The Reid’s first met across a casino poker table. She was the dealer and he was a player. They were married in a drive-thru wedding chapel in 1993. "My knees were knocking when I said ‘I do’" to Patti and her 10-year-old daughter; but, because of several factors, the marriage didn’t last. Later they met again and after a short courtship, they married a second time in the same drive-thru wedding chapel, though this time it was her legs which were shaking!

In 2005, when the couple, who had lived in Las Vegas for more than 17 years, announced to friends and family they were moving to southern Utah, a surprised co-worker asked, "are you a Mormon?" Though she knew nothing of the church she would soon join, Patti remembers her offhand - but seemingly prophetic - response. "Not yet!" she said.

The Bloomington couple can see clearly the path which brought them to the church. Sister Reid’s only regret is not having the opportunity to grow up in the church, but she takes any and all opportunities to share the gospel message with others, particularly her daughter. States Jim, "what a wonderful thing this church is!"