Hi, my name is Rena Lodwig. I was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am 57. I am married to a wonderful man, who isn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have four children; one of them is in heaven. The other three are grown and on their own. None of them are active in the church right now.
When I was in my twenties, I made some choices that lead me away from the church. Even though I wasn’t living has I had been taught to, I never fully lost my testimony of the true fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew what I was doing was wrong but kept on doing those things. I ended up being disfellowshipped from the church for a little while, then repented and was restored to full fellowship. To be disfellowship means to not be able to give talks in church, or hold a calling, or partake of the sacrament. I was still a member, but it was like I was on probation.
I was in full fellowship for a while when I fell away again. This time I had 4 children, and I was in my thirties. The sins I committed were the same I had done in my twenties and this time I was excommunicated; I lost my membership in the church. I will be forever grateful to the bishop who told me that I was excommunicated, because of what he said to me next. He said that this do not take you off of the hook of teaching your children the right way. This sank deep into my heart. I still had a glimmer of a testimony and knew what the bishop was saying was true. I would keep going to church for my children. Eventually I was also going for myself.
Step by step, line upon line, and after years of repentance I was found worthy to be rebaptized and had all of my temple blessings restored. My original records were restored, and there is no record of my excommunication, because it is just how it states in the scriptures, if you repent the Lord will not remember your sins no more. (Hebrews 10:17 and Doctrine and Covenants 58: 42).
How grateful am for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for His atoning sacrifice. Because of Him I was able to repent and be forgiven. How grateful I am for the scriptures and for the words of the prophets that have led and guided me back to the covenant path that will lead me back to live with my Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth today, and that it is led by Jesus Christ through his prophets. I know that if we fallow the prophets will be on the covenant path that leads us to eternal life!