Conversion Story

We got to the Colon Ward almost a half hour early today.  It is a beautiful, light colored, chapel.   There was a gentleman about 60 years old in the chapel, reading his scriptures.  (Uh...that's Jerry in the picture.  The man I'm talking about is on the left, outside the picture.)   Not wanting to bother the man, we went to the first row and sat down.  No one else was in the chapel.  There was a CD player playing hymns for the prelude.  What  a beautiful way to begin a sabbath morning! 

After a few minutes, the brother came over and greeted us.  He told us his story.  About 30 years ago, he was taking the discussions.  He decided he was not interested, so he brought all the books back to the church and left them there.  No one was at the door to greet him, so he just left. 
He became very active in an evangelical congregation for 20 years or so.  He served a lot in that church.  He didn't agree with some of the beliefs, however, and eventually stopped going.  

In February, 2011, two young elders knocked on his door. He was interested and wanted to know more. They were happy, because that very night, there was an activity planned at the church. He went and at the end of the activity, the elders gave him a Book of Mormon. He came to church the next Sunday. In the investigator's class, he was answering questions because he knew so much.  The elders were excited to have such a golden contact.  He was baptized two weeks later!  ( I got this information from Elder Howell from Layton, Nevada, who baptized him, to make sure I understood the story correctly.)

I wanted to take a picture of the brother right there in the chapel, but restained myself.  The thing is, his face just shined with the spirit!  He had white hair, was wearing a dark suit, with a white shirt and tie.  What a wonderful example of a person who has the light of the gospel in his countenance!  He was very excited because today he was getting set apart for a calling. 
He looks like a patriarch or a general authority because of the light the emanates from him.  I was so impressed with his humility, his excitement at being a member of the church, and his new calling. 

He was truly an example to me of someone who knew the Bible well and was used to serving in a church.  Once he found the truth, it was an easy thing for him to attend and be a devoted member.   I hope someday, I will be able to eminate the light of the spirit like he does.