I met my wife Cindy Tims in May of 1978 and this became my introduction to the restored gospel. Cindy and I dated for a short time and were then married in February of 1979 in the church that she grew up in, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I was a worldly young man that didn’t know much about God and, frankly, didn’t care to know. I thought I was doing just fine without God and a church life.

Six years into our marriage, I was compelled to change my way of life. I had a severe drinking problem I acquired in high school and it was about to end our marriage. I turned to God for help and was soon baptized into a Protestant church. Through the following years I tried several different Protestant churches, but never seemed to develop a strong root system in any of their doctrines. Also, during this time I had learned that the RLDS church believed in additional scriptures and that really bothered me, creating a larger barrier between me and the restored gospel.

In 1992 my youngest brother passed away. I had problems dealing and coping with this loss and returned to drinking. This time the experience was much worse. I also had quit going to church altogether and my anger and drinking became a horrible mixture. My family suffered much because of my choices and actions.

But somehow God never seemed to forget me. The first of many miracles happened in 2001. I received a job transfer and we moved from Parsons, Kansas to Independence, Missouri. This relocation made my wife very happy as most of her family had lived in the Kansas City area since 1986. I was happy because you could buy liquor on Sundays. We were in Independence about five months when my wife’s father lost his battle for life after a brief but severe illness. The loss of my father-in-law softened my heart. I felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit present at his memorial service, stronger than I had ever felt before. The service was held at the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Blue Springs, Missouri where most of Cindy’s family were members.

The second miracle was in 2002. I agreed to attend cottage meetings to learn more about this church that was so important in my wife’s family. Through these meetings I was later baptized and became a member of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I now found myself a member of the church that I had earlier vowed never to be a part of and was now supporting the very same gospel that I had mocked and made fun of for twenty-three years. For the next eighteen months I didn’t fully repent of my sins or seek to serve the Lord. The Holy Spirit was dormant within me because I continued to be disobedient to God’s laws and commandments. I had even quit reading the Book of Mormon because I didn’t think it was true.

The third miracle came in the fall of 2003. I was driving home from work and, on an impulse, I changed the radio station and heard a preacher talking about how you can’t serve two masters. For some peculiar reason I left it there to listen to what he had to say. He went on to say that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out - if you are not serving one master then you are serving the other! These words immediately pierced my heart. I instantly felt godly sorrow for all the sin throughout my life and deep anguish for not serving the Lord in some way.

I couldn’t get this off my mind all evening and, later that night, I got on my knees and prayed from the depths of my heart for forgiveness, begging the Lord to let me serve Him. I surrendered to Him and said, “I am yours do with me as you wish.” I was tired of serving Satan and enduring the misery that he offered. After this prayer, I felt peace immediately and truly believe the Lord changed my heart at that moment. I became a “new creature” in Christ that night.

The very next day the Spirit prompted me to open the Book of Mormon and begin reading it. The Holy Spirit was now able to work within me and bear witness of the truth contained in this book and the other scriptures. I knew they were true as soon as I began to read them. This happened because I had finally surrendered to the Lord and truly repented of my sins.

I read the Book of Mormon almost every day until I finished it. I remember reading about young Alma’s conversion and that it happened because of the constant prayers of his father and the people who knew him. They prayed with much faith that Alma would be brought to the knowledge of the truth. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I was converted because of the prayers that many people had also prayed on my behalf. Today I pray that same prayer for my loved ones every day that they may also be brought to the full knowledge of God’s truth.

The fourth miracle was that I suddenly had a desire to attend church every time the doors were open. I went from going once or twice a month to going more than twelve times a month. I began to publicly pray and testify frequently at prayer services even though I really didn’t know how to. Then, in 2004, five months after my conversion, I was called and ordained to the office of Priest. I never thought that a sinner such as I could or would be entrusted in such a serious and important work. It was at this time that I knew God had truly forgiven me of my past sins.

Miracle after miracle has happened in my life after I surrendered to the Lord. In 2005 I was called and ordained to the office of Elder. From late 2005 through the middle of 2007, Cindy and I were asked to be the Remnant Church Youth Directors. We gladly accepted this responsibility and were richly blessed as we served in this area of ministry. In 2008 I was called and ordained to the office of Seventy and one year later, in 2009, I was called and ordained to the office of Apostle, to be a special witness of Christ. Over the past few years the Lord has provided me with many powerful testimonies about His church and challenged me to share them with all who will listen.

These truly are the best days of my life and it is because I have the best relationship with Jesus Christ that I have ever had. I have found the love, peace, and joy that I had been searching for. I have found it in serving my Lord and Savior.

I give Jesus Christ all the praise, honor, and glory for all the good things in my life and I pray for the eternal welfare of your soul.

Your Brother in Christ,

Apostle Donald E. Kite