How I found the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I’m 17 years old and my dream is to be a rock-n-roll star and as in any endeavor you must pay your dues. As a bass player, I played in five different styles of bands: a rock-n-roll (60’s & 70’s music); a pop (early 80’s, now classic); a school orchestra, the Maryland state orchestra, and the band for the play Godspell. So needless to say I thought I could do it. My story really begins with the play Godspell, a play that was promoted by my home city’s hunger committee as a way to raise money for the food bank. We performed about 70+ shows in the summer of 82.
At the end of most of the shows we would hold cast parties, that where usually pretty rowdy and ruckus. On one particular party I had actually acquired a case of Budweiser beer, with the sole purpose of getting drunk, seeing double, and falling down. (Twisted perception of fun) As I put the beer in the fridge and grabbed one to get started, I began talking to the light manager. Very soon one of the other guitar players joined in the conversation. (Steve, whom I played in the pop band with) Quickly the conversion turned to talking about Jesus Christ. An individual I knew about, but had no desire to bring into my life. I grew up Lutheran but never had to go to church.
This conversation went on from 10 pm until 4 am, the whole time of the party. It is hard too describe how I felt when I left the party because I did not have one drink of beer. I was totally sober. But my heart was beating hard and my whole body was tingling and it felt like I floated out of the house. Once, at home I was pacing back and forth trying to figure out this feeling that I had in my whole body. Finally I concluded that it was religious and went for the big Lutheran family Bible that we had. I opened up the book to a page that had a picture of Jesus on the left side and one scripture on the right. It read,
And Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt 18:20)
The spirit of the Lord came down on me and I slid down to my knees and confessed to myself, “This guy lives?!”
At that point I said my first non-panic prayer: “Lord I know this is you, if I can find a church that can match this feeling I will join it and serve it.” At that point my “quest” began.
I started going to different churches with a friend who had also became born-again. I must’ve joined about twelve different religions ranging from Pentecostal; Presbyterian; Baptist; Southern Baptist; many different born-again churches. I eventually went back to my old ways of life, but attended church on Sunday.
Trying to pursue a music career my one band started doing some cool gigs. But life was getting crazy. At this time my brother showed up for some unknown reason, but ended helping my father convert our garage into a living room. While he was there he kept setting up appointments with these geeks in suits, missionaries.
Well time went on and the living room was finished and my brother went on his merry way. But for the next 5 months I was visited by these geeks in suits, who called me by name. (I was actually considered an investigator) I never let them get passed my door and told them to get lost. Then one day a knock came on my door and there stood two of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.
I invited the sister missionaries in where they taught me the first discussion, but I admitted I was more interested in them then what they where teaching, but that wasn’t good so I kicked them out. But something they said sunk deep inside me. It was about this time that a guy I knew vanished, then one day I ran into him and I asked him where he had been. He told me he had joined the Navy. Thinking about my friend, I started thinking about my life and how it was getting crazy. Then one night I found myself kneeling in front of a police squad car being busted for drugs that weren’t mine. But because I was the only one over 18 I could get arrested as an adult. Luckily for me the cop let me go. As I pondered the events that night I thought, “If I stay on my same path I could end up either dead or in jail by 23.”

Question: How can you change your life in one day? Change everything about you, your home, your friends, everything?
Answer: Join the military.

I first went to the Navy, but they where gone so I went to the next door, which was the Army. Score!
After finishing basic training and advanced individual training, (where I learned to drive truck). My first duty station was with the 7th Infantry Division at Ft. Ord CA. Truly a piece of heaven on earth, right on the Monterey Peninsula, it was truly the best place I’ve ever lived.
Well the Lord works hard and there was something about the “Mormons” that kept me interested, but I couldn’t find one to save my life.
(This next part is the story from my friend Ray Hirshmugl)
Ray had a dream, to take a pamphlet from his church and put it in our chow hall. (Lunch hall) He ignored it and went to lunch. Half way there, he said he was stopped and felt “very” strong about going and getting a church pamphlet. He listened this time and went and got “Christ in America” and put it on a table with other religious articles for anyone who wanted them.
(My story) Within an hour I came through for lunch. As I stood in line I looked down and saw this pamphlet and although I didn’t read it, it had the phone number for the missionaries. I left the line and called the number. This is one phone call I will never forget:
Missionary: Hello?
Me: Hi, my name is Chuck Ilsley…I’m interested in learning more about your church so I can join it…
Missionary: Hello!?
(I repeat my statement, then the Elder hands the phone to his companion. I heard their conversation.)
Missionary 1: Who is it?
Missionary 2: I don’t know…some guy who wants to join the church…
(Number 1 missionary comes on the phone and very rudely goes…)
Missionary 1: WHO IS THIS!!!
After some time I finally convinced the missionaries that I was legitimate. So I set up a meeting with them.
(It should be known that the only reason the missionary was incredibly rude to me was he thought I was another set of missionaries because the missionary who answered the phone had only been in the field a week.)
My living conditions were myself and 3 other roommates. I bought a VCR and one of them bought a TV. They pummeled me and took my VCR. (All in love) When ever we where in our room these guys would watch pornography non-stop. Here’s my situation: I’m living with Satan and God is coming to my door.
I met with the missionaries twice and on the second discussion they asked if I’d like to be baptized… “Sure”, I said. My idea at the time was: “If I join all the churches and I die, I’m set”
The reason I cannot remember the name of the missionaries is because after my baptism I never saw them again, and I was not fellowshipped into the church. Thank goodness for the Spirit of God. About every 3 months I’d return back to church but no one would talk to me, except the bishop. (But that’s how it was in all the other churches I joined. Only the pastor would talk to me.)

My testimony
On one fast and testimony Sunday, I went to church and found a seat in the over flow section. (The space between the pews and the cultural hall) The nearest person to me was three seats to my left, other than that I was alone. One by one people went to the stand and bore their testimonies about the truthfulness of the Gospel. Mind you, I had been going to this ward for three months, and the only one who ever spoke to me was the Bishop. I sat in my chair with my arms crossed thinking to myself, “These fools! How can you really know, that the church is true…I’m leaving!” But I could not pull myself out of the chair. Then my thoughts changed to what I would say up on the pulpit. Then I started arguing with myself in my mind.
Now, I don’t know if you as a reader have ever argued with the Spirit of God but I promise…you do lose.
As I sat there I felt a hand press against my back and push me out of my seat. As I stood up I look around and quickly sat down…still looking around, there was no one near me. Again, I felt a push on my back that put me out of my seat and as I stood up a second time, I quickly looked around and sat down. On the third thrust, I gripped the side of the folding chair, gritted my teeth, and mumbled, “I’m not moving from this seat.” Just then my hands got weak and I had to release my grip from the chair. I started to think how weird I was beginning to feel, when I glanced over to my left and there a woman, sitting three seats away, pointing at me stated, “You need to bear your testimony.”
You could’ve knocked me down with a feather.
I got up and sat waiting for my turn. Within a couple of minutes I looked up and every eye was looking at me, so with nothing better to do, I stood up and walked to pulpit. To this day I only remember saying my room mates name John, but that’s it. I have no recollection after that, but when I finished I looked at the bishopric and all three where smiling…I didn’t understand why. Again I’d been going to this ward for three months with no one but the bishop talking to me. I felt anger come to me and I asked them what they where smiling for, they just laughed, and each shook my hand. At this point I was starting to get real angry and as I walked back to my seat and with my peripheral vision, I could see many people looking at me. Then about 5 feet away I stopped and I had a vision come to my minds eye. That night, five years earlier when I gave my prayer, “If I can find a church that would match this feeling, I would join it.” Then a vision of that day came to me, then the two melded into one and I floated back to my seat with the Spirit of God, as I sat down I thought..., “This is it…This is the true church of Jesus Christ.” I was 23 years old.

On January 1st 1988 was my official day of becoming a real member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One year later my bishop asked if I would like to go on a mission for the church. Upon receiving much resistance from my family I served for two-years in the New Jersey Morristown, Mission.

There’s more…on December 31st 1990 I was sitting down getting ready to eat when my door opened and in walked Rich Austin and Matt Anderson, my guitar player and drummer of days of old. They picked me up and carried me out stating since I no longer drank, I was going to be the designated driver. It was a wild reunion with a lot of my old high school friends who I haven’t seen in seven years. The last party we went to was the wildest, truly a wine, women, and song type, Sodom and Gomorrah in comparison. As I sat on some stairs overlooking this party, a dark figure came next to me and as I looked to my left, there was a black space allowing nothing to be seen around. Then I heard a voice as clear as if I was talking to you the reader, saying in a very condescending voice:

“So Elder of Israel, Do you think you can sssave these people.”
I thought for a moment then said to this very real being:

“You know, I may not be able to save them, but…I can save myself.”
Upon that I told my friends I will wait for them in the car. As soon as I left, the spirit was gone.

This is my story and it teaches me many things, but these two great lessons are what I will share:

I learned that:
1. Jesus Christ lives, and He is very mindful of mine (and your) existence.

He made someone have a dream to bring a pamphlet to our lunch hall… for me!!

And…

2. Satan lives and he is aware of mine (and your) existence. He will do everything to destroy you.


You are very important to our Father in Heaven and He knows who you are for you are His child. But the evil one wants you to suffer as he will suffer. Let us stand tall and tell him to go to Hell, because that is where he belongs, not you.