Our Beginning

Every journey must have a beginning. For Shawn and I, our journey began at our church's young single adult scripture study class, which is called Institute (or Institute of Religion). Shawn had recently returned to activity in church and had been assigned as his ward's (congregation's) young single adult representative. I was the Institute president at the time, so when I learned he was the new rep, I immediately sent him an email telling him all of the stuff that he needed to do, the most important of which was to faithfully attend Institute. When I walked into class the next week, I saw a tall, lanky man I'd never met before. So, introduced myself to him. As the months went on, I grew more and more impressed by his knowledge of the gospel, and how easily he invited the Spirit into every single class. I tried not to become too interested in him, though, because he was preparing to serve a mission - but I was really just fooling myself. How could I not fall in love with someone over the scriptures? Just before he left for his mission, we went on one date together - to the temple. He expressed to me shortly afterward that if I was still single when he got home, maybe we could go out again. Well, the rest, as they say, is history. I wrote him nearly every week on his mission and, when he got back, we began dating seriously. He proposed in the Celestial Room of the temple, and we were married six months later. Our time together since then has been wonderful - and I could not ask for a better husband, friend, or eternal companion.

-Kim