John McSwain shares inspiring journey to BYU-Idaho | BYU-Idaho Radio

REXBURG -- Listeners of BYU-Idaho Radio know John McSwain by his voice. His deep, rich and warm tones are often heard on the airwaves. Beyond the microphone though, McSwain is a BYU-Idaho student and a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an inspiring life story.

McSwain came to Rexburg from New Jersey, where he was born and raised. He said coming to BYU-Idaho was not part of his original plans.

McSwain and his family found the Church when his sister came in contact with the missionaries. The missionaries started coming to their home and teaching the family. At the time, he was eight years old.

"My mom was the first to be baptized," McSwain said. "And then it was me, my brother and my sister-in-law, at the time. My sister, however, wasn't able to be baptized because she passed away before that could happen, unfortunately."

As they look back on that experience, the McSwains believe their sister and daughter was sent here with that mission.

"We saw that later in life because, you don't really recognize it in that moment, that possibly that was her mission to bring us to the Church," McSwain said. "It's been such a blessing to be a part of the Church since then."

McSwain said that in the aftermath of the tragedy, the family became inactive in the Church. They continued to go to churches of other denominations in the area but stopped going to their ward.

As McSwain grew, he continued to face setbacks and challenges. For a number of different reasons, the family found themselves homeless. McSwain also spent time in the foster care system.

The family then moved to another part of New Jersey and lost contact with ward members. Unsure of which ward they belonged to, the McSwains continued to go to different churches until, one day, a ward member stopped by their house and invited them back. That man would end up becoming the bishop who continued to bless McSwain and his family.

"It was very special to us to have that relationship with the bishop and be close to him and his family," McSwain said. "We were just unexpectedly blessed by just several invites to dinners. And anytime my mom needed a blessing, she received it instantly."

McSwain became inactive once more in his 20s. It was when he hit "rock bottom" that he turned back to God for good.

"I just said, 'I'm here for you, Lord. I'm going by faith. I'm going in Your will. Let it be done," McSwain said. "It has benefited me in my life to do so."

In this stage of his life, McSwain did odd jobs to make ends meet. He spent time as a grocery store manager, attended culinary school and even became a licensed masseuse. It was while he was working as a grocery store manager that McSwain was thinking about going back to school. That was when one of his friends in the ward introduced him to BYU-Pathways Worldwide.

At the end of the program, and with some prodding from ward members and friends, McSwain made the prayerful decision to attend BYU-Idaho in person. That decision continues to change his life.

"I love the environment that this campus has," McSwain said. "Meeting these professors inspired me to say yes, to drop everything."

This interview is part of the BYU-Idaho Disciple Journeys Podcast.

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Disciple Journeys Podcast