Escaping the Urban Jungle

I picked up a girl from the Urban Lounge, a music venue and bar in Salt Lake City. When I was waiting for her to get in the car two guys came up and asked me who I was waiting for and I gave them her name and they said, oh, we’re here for that ride. That’s us.

I was about to let them in, I had already unlocked the door when the spirit said that’s not your ride, wait! Waiting is not fun because time is money. It’s very frustrating when you’ve got people there you want to go but I followed the prompting and re-locked the door. I said, through the window, I don’t think this is you. I think you’re just trying to get her ride. They held up a $50 bill and said, I think this says that we’re the right people. I said no it doesn’t. I’m waiting for the person assigned to my ride.

They got really angry and then out of the bar she came and pushed through them.

I could tell it was her, I could tell she was frustrated and I could tell things weren’t good. I unlocked the door and when she got in I said you’re the right person right? She asked for my name, I asked for hers and everything matched so off we went.

When I started to tell her the story about those guys trying to steal her ride she got very angry and said that those guys have been tracking her all night. She said they’d been rude to her and when she turned down their advances they have been vulgar and abusive.

She thanked me for having the integrity to turn them down even though they had offered me money. She was a little emotional but very grateful that she was able to be away from there, escaping from a bad situation.

Then I received a prompting about her but given the state of what had just happened I didn’t know if it was the right time. I thought about it in my mind for a second and debated whether to say it or not. The spirit forcefully said to say these things. In addition the spirit said this is the perfect time.

We were heading down 700 east turning west at the south east corner of Liberty Park when I said, do you mind with a if I share with you a couple of impressions I’ve had about you? She looked surprise and said sure go ahead.

I said, you put on a very strong front, like a tough girl. It’s like you’re saying that you’re not bothered and that you were tough and that you have an exterior that just lets things bounce off as if you didn’t care.

I said, that’s not the real you! The real you is very loving and very caring and you’ve got a huge heart and you desire to share that not hide it. I said, there have been circumstances in your life where you’ve been hurt because you’ve extended your heart and you’ve learned to protect it by not putting it out there.

I said, you’ve even had people you trust in your life that told you to quit putting your heart out there and sharing your heart. Then I had a strong impression to say that her mother had been the author of most of this and because of it they didn’t get along. I repeated to her that impression and she said how can you possibly be so right on.

She said, that’s exactly right. Everybody thinks that I am a cold, cranky mean woman because that’s the face I show. I’ve been told my whole life that people will take advantage of me and hurt me if I show them who I am inside. She asked how could you know this because no one has ever picked up on it.

I asked her if she really wanted me to tell her because it had a religious implication and she said yes, I’d love you to. I said when we are baptized in our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we get what’s called the gift of the Holy Ghost by the power of the priesthood which is God’s power. The gift of the Holy Ghost protects us, helps us and whispers to us the things we should do and the things we should say.

It also gives us the words to say to others that God would have them hear. Today he put this in my heart to say to you so that you would know that he is here and that he loves you and he is your father. Her eyes were wide open and she looked astonished. The spirit was very strong in the car and I said can you feel that? She said, oh my gosh it’s a wonderful feeling. I said that’s the spirit of God and he’s embracing you and he’s letting you know that he is your father and he does love you.

I told her that her desire to love is not something to hide but a gift to be shared. I told her there were people that would try to take advantage of her and that she needed to be on the lookout. I told her that God would help her and protect her as she she used that gift that he gave her for good.

She said, I have to tell you something, I just felt like there was a reason why I was in your car tonight like I was supposed to be here. It was a battle getting here but I know this is where I’m supposed to be and I thank you for that message.

I said, what do you know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She said I really don’t know anything, I was hoping to learn some thing on this trip. She was from Canada and down here for a business function.

I asked, do you know any members of our church? She said that she worked with a couple but she had been a little timid to bring up religion with them. I assured her that it wouldn’t be a problem.

We arrived at her location and I turned off the meter so that she wouldn’t have to pay to receive the word of God. I told her that God has a plan for each of us and he loves everyone of us just like he loves her and he’s given us each tools so that we can do the things that he needs us to do.

I told her that we worship Jesus Christ and we believe that God is the God of all the world not just the God of Jerusalem. He sent Jesus Christ to redeem all the world not just the people in Jerusalem.

I pulled out a Book of Mormon, one of the special ones prepared by the Secrist’s and I asked her if she would like to have one. She smiled brightly and beamed as she said yes, cool! I gave her the book and explained the questions of the soul on the front page and how it correlated with the tabs in the book. I said, if you read this it will answer a lot of the questions you have and help you along your journey.

I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and it’s truthfulness. I bore my testimony of Joseph Smith and told her that God speaks to us today not just through the Holy Ghost by through prophets. Because of this we can know the truth and know God‘s will for us. I felt the spirit again and asked her if she felt it again. She said yes. I told her that God gives us confirmation of truth through his spirit and that when she felt it, she knew that the things she was hearing were true. She said well, I know this is true I feel it deep in my soul.

She held the book tightly and she said that she would love to read it. I told her that it testifies that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. It talks about his visit to God’s children in places other than Jerusalem. I told her that those prophets in the Book of Mormon wrote their prophecies and teachings. Their testimonies have impacted me very deeply and it is changed my life.

She said that I am sure it will also change mine. I promise I will read it.

I said will you make me another promise? She said anything you want. I said, will you take this book and sit down with your friends who are Mormons and discuss it with them. Talk to them about it and tell them what you felt and learned in the car tonight. She said that she had already been thinking about that and that she would be excited to do so.

One glance back at her showed a light shining brilliantly in her face with big beautiful eyes and smile from ear to ear. Her countenance was on fire! She had been touched by the spirit and she knew it. Compare that to when she came running out of the bar angry and in a huff, having just protected herself and hidden who she was. The transformation was remarkable.

She got out of the car and grasping the Book of Mormon tightly with one hand thumbing through the pages with the other she walks slowly into her Airbnb on 13th West

This all reminded me of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 123: 12-14 where it says that we should waste and wear out our lives bringing light to those who know not where to find it.

She’s found it and I think she’ll do good things with it.

D&C 123: 12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.