Haunted by memories of war and loss in Bosnia, Dejan Tahic never imagined healing would come through an unfamiliar faith on foreign soil. After fleeing conflict, he found unexpected hope and healing through the teachings of Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon.
The civil war in Bosnia broke out when Tahic was just 15 years old, soon after Bosnia gained independence from Yugoslavia.
“I left as soon as I heard bombs falling close to my town,” Tahic said.
Following their parents’ advice, Tahic and his older sister left to live with their aunt in Serbia, a country at war with Bosnia. Their parents planned to join them, but the border closed, separating the family indefinitely.
“From there, we crossed into Hungary. It was just me and my sister in the refugee camp. Otherwise, we would have been on the streets,” Tahic said.
The grim conditions of the refugee camps were somewhat eased after eight months, when Tahic’s parents were reunited with their children.
“That was a pretty emotional reunion because it was the only time we had been apart for that long,” Tahic said.
After living in three different refugee camps in Hungary, Tahic’s family, along with other Bosnian refugees, made their way to Canada.
While in Canada, Tahic met his wife, who came from a very different religious background. He was a non-practicing Muslim, and she an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“When missionaries started talking to me, I was basically a blank slate,” Tahic said. “Everything they told me was new information, and I was absorbing as much as I could. I was gaining a testimony.”
Tahic said The Book of Mormon played a large role in his conversion and healing from memories of war.
“I really felt peace when I was baptized, a kind of peace I had never felt before,” Tahic said. “Joining the Church gave me a sense of purpose and identity. I found out I’m a child of God with divine potential.”
Today, Tahic is a father of four who enjoys spending time with his wife and serving in the Church. Far from the battles of his past, he has found faith in Jesus Christ.