One night I was out at 86th S. and the old Bingham Highway. I was finishing up what I thought was my last ride taking me towards home at 3:20 in the morning. As I swiped it off I heard a new ride come in. That ride was in Salt Lake City at the Mavrick gas station at 400 South Redwood Rd.
I was frustrated because I wanted to go home. I was tired so I called him and told him that he should cancel because it might take me a while to get there. He said, I’ll anyway. So now I had to decide whether to cancel him and take the hit or drive up there and get him.
I have a friend that drives as well and we communicate back-and-forth all night long. Even though my friend was encouraging me to just cancel it I felt a powerful prompting that taking the ride was what I was supposed to do and as I started to drive it was confirmed to me that this is where I was supposed to be.
When I arrived he was outside the Maverick with bare feet and no teeth. He got in the car and thanked me for coming.
He said he was a businessman from
just outside of Columbus Ohio. He said that he was in town and had gone down to Main Street to the bars that night. He said that he could remember nothing after his first drink.
Obviously he had been roofied. When people slip drugs in your drink to take advantage of you sexually or rob you blind or both. He had been robbed. They took his shoes, his teeth (who steals teath) and his cell phone. They left him wandering aimlessly and confused through the streets in Salt Lake City without a clue as to how to get to his hotel.
Finally the drug wore off and he went into the Mavrick and they called me. We climbed into the car and started driving out to his hotel which was by the airport.
Knowing I had to work quickly here I asked him about the Holy Ghost. I asked him what he knew about the Holy Ghost. He told me it was the Spirit of God. I told him that the reason why I came to get him at all that night was because God had sent me and that the Holy Ghost told me that I needed to do this. I told him that in our church when we are baptized we get the Holy Ghost and it can go with us to be our constant companion.
He told me that he believed in baptism so much that he was baptized in prison to show his love for God but he isn’t sure if it took. I asked him, do you believe that Jesus Christ could come to America if he wanted? He said yes! Yes I do!
I talked about Jesus Christ coming to America,blessing, teaching and going to other places as well. We talked about how the first thing he did in America was baptism and giving the authority to baptize, then the gift of the Holy Ghost and having the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost. I told him that baptism was really important but that it be done correctly. He totally agreed. He said he wanted a baptism that would take.
I told him that it was interesting that he said he believed that Jesus came to America. He said of course he came to America. He said he didn’t know how he knew that but he knew it was true. I asked him if he would like to read an account of that visit. He looked shocked and said absolutely. Where do I find it? I said it is in the Book of Mormon. I testified of the Book of Mormon as the ancient religious history of the people of America and their dealings with God, including the visit of Jesus to America. I told him that it was true and that I knew it was true because I prayed and God confirmed the truthfulness to me by the Holy Ghost. The spirit was very strong in the car.
I told him about Joseph Smith, looking for the true church and being directed to the Bible and then to his knees in the forest. I told him that God the father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and called him to be a prophet. You could see that he was visibly moved and excited by what I was saying. I told him we have a prophet today that speaks with God.
I told him that the same spirit that whispered in my ear not to decline the call to pick him up in his hour of desperate need was the same spirit that protected him throughout the night from serious harm. I told him that it was the same thing that had protected him during his life even in prison and that I could tell by the spirit that he was making that connection. He said, now that you mention it I did feel God in my heart, he’s never left me even though I walked away at times.
I gave him a Book of Mormon, one that has the markings in special preparation by Bert and Janie Secrist and told him that this was the Book of Mormon. The book that contains the visit of Jesus Christ to America. I told him that if he would read it he would be strengthened. I told him, if he prayerfully read it the spirit would confirm it’s truthfulness. The spirit was powerful and testifying loudly. I asked him what he was feeling, he said he was feeling like everything was the truth that he been told. I asked him what feelings he was feeling in his heart and he said excitement and peace. He said that the confusion and pain of the night’s ordeal had been erased by what he felt now.
I said we’re going to set you up with some missionaries at home and when you’re talking to them I want you to tell them that you were in this car and you heard about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and that you received a witness of the spirit that these things are true. He promised me he would do that.
I told him that now God has a different direction for him to go and asked him if he would be willing to step up! He said I have loved feeling the spirit here tonight and never want to let this go so absolutely! He didn’t want to get out of the car but eventually he had to go because it was 4 AM and I had to sleep! We shook hands and he grasp my hand with both of his and gave me an emotional heart felt thank you. As we all know in these situations we get so much more out of this than they ever do!
I think the missionaries will find here what we call in the sales profession, a qualified lead!
Sometimes God sends you a lift 