Truth Restored

 Moroni 10:30: "And again, I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift . . ."

 My new friend Val and I spent about 3 weeks having fun together, 3 weeks that changed my life, before he moved to his family's other ranch in Colorado.  His family also owned a local ranch, not far from town.   We rode horses, went to farm auctions, and did other ranch-related activities, and talked religion all the while.  There was much I did not understand about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and why its members felt it was the only church with the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ.

One night we were talking in my living room.  I insisted that my church was the legacy of Christ and therefore couldn't be wrong.  He said, "The Catholic Church doesn't have the authority to act in the name of Christ."  Instantly, I was overflowing with the intense warmth of the Holy Ghost telling me this was true, and I remembered that this same uninvited thought had been troubling me for some months.  It was a marvelous revelation.  He left me with a Book of Mormon and a promise from me to read it, and went off to Colorado.

I plodded through the Book of Mormon, still overflowing with questions.   Some of my Mormon friends thought I was being too cautious, that how hard could it be to understand that Christ had restored His Church in its fullness to the earth.  I understood from my experience mentioned above that my church was not the right one, but was the Mormon Church correct?  I was positive it could not be, so I went to the library (and again, I can't believe I did this) to check out books proving that  Mormonism was not correct.  The more I read those negative books, and The Book of Mormon at the same time, the stronger my conviction became that yes, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the Biblical church restored in its fullness with the power and authority to act in the name of God.   I was so surprised at what I had found, and that I knew.  This was not my plan, but it is exactly what happened. 

Soon after I was talking to some Mormon friends, Robin and Kerry, who were in one of my classes.  They asked me what I thought of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I exclaimed that I knew it was truth!   They were thrilled and asked if I had the missionary lessons yet.  No, I hadn't got that far.  Then get in the car, we're going to find the missionaries.  And we did.  And I was baptized not long afterwards.

And now 40 years have passed.  I have come to understand a consecrated life, and have been blessed by the truths in the scriptures, the teachings of the temple, the service I have rendered and have been given, and I strive to comprehend and fulfill the plan Heavenly Father has for me.

Alma 5:33-34: "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.  Yea, he saith: "Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness. . . ."