From Anti-Mormon to Active Disciple: Sister Reha Poulson's Unexpected Journey

In this episode, we feature Reha Poulson, who shares her powerful journey of conversion and preparation for her mission.

Reha's Journey of Honest Seeking and Revelation:

Ria was born a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active until she was 16, when her family stopped attending. Facing significant life changes and a new ward where she knew no one, she "fizzled out" of church activity, making "pretty bad choices" and living a life that was "not righteous at all".

Her interest in religion reignited when her mom found a non-denominational Christian church that Reha loved and attended religiously for months. However, a turning point came when people at this new church would ask her why she left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reha found herself giving unsatisfactory answers like "I don't really know" or "Oh, they lie". This lack of an honest, doctrinal answer was deeply bothering to her soul. She felt "stupid" and embarrassed.

This dissatisfaction drove Reha to make a bold decision: she decided to "find a Book of Mormon and prove it wrong". She developed a specific method: she would use a pink colored pencil to mark "all of the horrible, evil, nasty, gross things in the Book of Mormon" and a blue colored pencil to mark the words "Jesus Christ" and things she believed to be true. Her intent was to compile "proof" to show her friends and the Protestant community why she "chose based on doctrine and history" to leave the Church. This felt "more purposeful and meaningful" to her.

The Spiritual Breakthrough and Rapid Conversion:

Reha started reading the Book of Mormon late at night, beginning with the introduction, marking in pink. However, as she got into the actual verses of 1 Nephi, she found herself marking "a lot" in blue, realizing "Okay, crap. I'm already wrong".

Her life-changing moment occurred when she read 1 Nephi Chapter 8, Lehi's vision of the tree of life and the great and spacious building. She "literally saw myself in that building making fun of the people that are in the church on the covenant path". In that moment, she "bursted into tears" and "felt the spirit stronger than I ever had in my entire life". She realized "for the first time in my life" that the Church was true, receiving a powerful "burning in my chest" and a profound sense of "peace and calmness". This personal revelation immediately led her to meet with her bishop the very next Sunday, where she received a temple recommend within days of her powerful experience

Key Scriptural and Spiritual Principles Taught:

Feasting Upon the Words of Christ: Reha's experience is a powerful demonstration of the principle from 2 Nephi 32:3: "feast upon the words of Christ". The episode emphasizes that her diligent study, even with an initial intent to disprove, led to the Holy Ghost confirming truth. It encourages all, especially those preparing for missions, to "just start, like just open the book".

The Power of Honest Intent: Regardless of one's initial question or intention, if there is a true "intention... to find out the truth, you're going to find it". The Lord desires "sincerity".

The Choice to Follow God: Reha's journey illustrates the "hot or cold" principle from Revelation and Elijah's challenge in 1 Kings 18:21, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, then follow him". Her decision to definitively "choose cold" by attempting to disprove the Book of Mormon ultimately led her "back to the hot" truth.

Building on the Rock of Christ: Reha's rapid and deep conversion demonstrates building one's "foundation" upon "the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ" (Helaman 5:12), which provides a foundation that "will never b