말일성도 박복주의 개종이야기(MY RELIGIOUS HISTORY)

I have often been asked why I became a Christian, a Latter-day Saint(LDS). First of all, let me explain a little about my background.

I was born in Muan County, in Cheon La South Province(250 miles(400km) from Seoul), near Mokpo City, South Korea, on November,1950 (Lunar: October,1950).
My father is Un-Pal, Park(朴雲八, 1900.12.13∼1977.3.3) and my mother is Ae-Soon, Choi(崔愛順, 1910.8.20∼1995. 2.1).

I was born during the Korean War. My mother was pregnant with me when the war started. I have four brothers and one sister. My hometown was one of the most important strategic areas. Many of my family, friends and neighbors fled the Communist invasion in order to survive.

In those days of Korean War, my mother buried a Genealogical Book in the ground of my family garden with a jar. Because there were many blazing houses in our village in accordance with bombing. This Genealogical Book is treasured as an heirloom in our family from generation to generation. Many were killed by the enemy from the North, but my family miraculously survived.

Years later, when I finished high-school, I moved the capital city of Seoul. I needed more education. I wanted more knowledge of life. At that time, I tried to get into university, but like most of Korea, my family, was very poor. This poor life frustrated me. I became discouraged, disappointed with my life. But I made a firm determination and had worked my way through university.

I had many questions, such as "Why am I here?", "Why was I born into poverty?", "Why is life so unfair?", "Why do bad things happen to good people?". Also, I wondered, "Does God exist?". No one had answer this questions for me. One day, when I a freshman of Jung Ang university in Seoul, two missionaries visited at my boarding house with my friend's letter. They are Craig Hunt Champlin (Logan, Utah, 84321 U.S.A) and Richard Dean Berguist(after) (Welsev, Idaho 83672 U.S.A). It was a very cold winter in January of 1972.

*Korea Seoul Mission * Mar 1971 - Mar 1973 * Mission President: L. Edward Brown * Served in: Seoul, Kunsan, Chenhea, Chunchun

I decided then that wanted to know about God and my friend's church. Two missionaries gave me the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith's Testimony. I knew then that Jesus would help me try to understand about my life. During the months that followed and my discussions with the missionaries, I felt the presence of God many times. I will never forget that time of my life spent with the missionaries. Although I did not speak English and they did not speak Korean very well, I understood through the spirit of God. I learned the magnificent story of God and this church. After four months, I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ by elder Craig H. Champlin<photo>, missionary at Sungdong Branch(now Shindang Ward, Dongdaemun Stake). I felt my life was just beginning. I cried many times during that period of my life.

Ever since the sayings of Jesus and accounts of the Apostles were written down, Christian missionaries spread their message of faith out into the world. The story of Jesus touched me deeply. He spoke the language of the common people. He was a great teacher. He reached into the minds and hearts of people -to the poor, the uneducated, and to the crowds of needy people who gathered around him. Jesus is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind and the organizer of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. Although his ministry lasted but a few short years, Jesus' influence was profound. I know that he died on the cross for us. The Gospels tell the brief ministry of Jesus that transformed the words! When I sing hymns in sacrament meeting, my heart ponds in rhythm with atonement of Jesus Christ.

It is written that western missionaries were not allowed in Korea until the 1880's, but copies of Gospels translated into Korean had been sumggled across the Manchurian border some years before. When missionaries were finally admitted, they found converts ready to be baptized because they had the Gospels and accepted their message.

Many years later, during the Korean War, U.S. Servicemen brought in this true Gospel of Jesus Christ into Korea. Since I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have learned many things. Looking across the centuries and many religions, whether inprimitive or more developed faiths, one finds that heart of religion is man's desire to feel at home in the universe, to find out some meaning in life, to cope with the unknown, to deal with uncertain, to find answers.

I know that Joseph Smith was a God's prophet in the Latter-days. He was honest with himself, with his neighbors, and with God. He received revelations from God.
Our Heavenly Father restored this true church on the earth through Joseph Smith.
I love Joseph Smith. When I think about him, I think about his life.
I have read many books about him. He translated the Book of Mormon. People did not understand him; those who do not have testimony of God.
I understand his feelings when he was inprisoned and I often cry when I think about him and his life. Two of my favorite hymns are We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet. [No. 6.(Korean)] and Come, Come, Ye Saints. [No. 16(Korean)].

1) We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its ways.
We thank thee for every blessing
Be stowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee,
And love to obey thy command.

2) When dark clouds of trouble hang over
us And threaten our peace destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliverance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We've proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

3) We'll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We'll praise him by day and by night.
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go.
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.

Seodaemun Ward, Seoul [1975]

Bundang Ward [May, 2000]

When I sing this hymn, I always think of Joseph Smith. Latter-day Saints are not narrowly patriotic. We are loyal to our country, but not in the spirit of "right or wrong, my country first." Our first and greatest loyalty to God and humankind. We looks beyond the boundary of our own country. We are world citizens. All men are our brothers and sisters. I think religion is more than feeling, more than hope, more than a mystery.
It includes moral precepts and theological postulates which provide perfectives on significant areas of life. If the glory of God is intelligence, then intelligence is less glory of man, who was created in his image. Jacob said it will to those who believe: "But to be learned is good, if they harken unto the counsels of God."(2 Ne. 9:29)

In summary, I know I am happy with the true Gospel. When I think about my life, I am happy where I am now. I love my life. I love to learn. I am still rowing and learning from this church. The Gospel is true for all humankind. I know this church is true church. I know my redeemer lives eternally.

The Gospel of this church has changed my life. I married on December, 1979 with Myung-Sun, Choi(born May, 1952) at Seodaemun Ward(West Gate Ward, now Chung Jung Ward). She is a typical Mormon sister and a very good woman. She is beautiful. I love her. We have been married 22 years. We are happy. We have a son, Se-Woong, Park and a daughter, Se-Jin, Park. My wife, sister, and honey, my son and my daughter is a great present from my God.

                                            October 5, 2001
                                            Bundang, Sungnam-si, Korea
                                            Bok-Joo, Park