When God throws you a rope you grab it and hang onto it

I picked up this kid on State Street. I say kid because he’s under 35, ha ha. I was a little further south on State Street than I normally would be because I was stupid and didn’t turn off my app during my previous ride and let them stack a ride to take me further out of town. That means less money and it’s a bad move financially.

He got in the car and we started to chat. He asked me if it would be possible for me to stop for a second. I said that would be OK and I pulled over at the indicated spot. Lo and behold two of his friends came from inside the building and jumped in the car with us.

This was not what I was expecting and I thought about it for a minute but it felt like it was going to be OK. I liked the kid so we started to go. The kid sat up front with me and the other two who were boyfriend and girlfriend sat in the back. We started from south Salt Lake on the way out to West Valley City. On the way out we had general discussions about what it’s like to drive, the frustrations and general smalltalk. When we got out to the place we were going they asked me if I could bring them back in to the same place where I had picked them up and I said yes.

The kid sitting next to me and his friend got out and went in while the girlfriend stayed in the car and we talked. Instantly I got a feeling that she was closed to anything spiritual. That she was not open to hearing about the gospel. We chitchatted for a second and then I felt impressed to tell her my story about the guy who tried to attack me and was shocked by God.

I didn’t publish that story but if you would like a copy please direct mail me on the contact tab and I can forward a copy to you.

Not being a woman of faith she thought the story was cool and interesting but she didn’t think more of it than that. She liked the story though! She liked it so much that when the guys got back in the car to head back in to town she said why don’t you tell them that story so I did.

The story talks about how I prayed and God shocked the man as he tried to come between the seat and to attack me. As I told the story the kid sitting next to me was wide-eyed and engaged.

When I finish the story the friend in the back said “I really like that Mormon stuff, we’ve got a little group together and we talk to some missionaries now and then”. “It’s really good stuff”. He was interested but not engaged. He was more interested actually in his girlfriend in the backseat. There were two levels of interest none and some in the backseat.

To the contrary, in the front seat, it was 100% full on attention. He asked me what it felt like to be protected by God and I told him it is a great feeling and it’s one that everybody can feel. He said, so you’re a Mormon? I said yes! He said, my grandmother took me to that church a couple times when I was really small living in Washington. What I really am is Catholic but I don’t do any of it.

I asked him if he would like to be able to get to the point where God can help him and protect him. He said that would be great. I told him that when we’re baptized we get the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a protection and a comfort and it helps us know God‘s will.

I asked him if he’d ever seen a Book of Mormon he said, yes he had seen a few of them but he didn’t have one. I reached into my glove box and grabbed one of the book of Mormons prepared by Sister Secrist and then asked him if he’d ever seen one like that. He said no. I asked him if he knew what was in that book and he said no.

I told him that the people who anciently lived in America had prophets that spoke with God just like the people in Jerusalem had prophets and spoke with God. I told him that this was the case because God loves everyone not just the people in Jerusalem. I asked him if that sounded right to him and he said absolutely.

He said that sounds right that’s what I believe. I told him that God spoke to his prophets and gave revelations to protect those people and help those people and that they wrote them down. I told him that this book also contained the history of the visit of Jesus Christ to America.

He said what? I asked, “Have you ever heard about that?” I told him that Jesus had said in the Bible that he had other sheep and that he would go to visit them. This is why he came to America. This kid’s mom was from Mexico and I could tell that the idea and the spirit did touch his heart. I asked him, “How does that feel when I say that?” He said it feels right.

I said there were three days and three nights of darkness after the death of Christ and then a resurrected Jesus descended from the heavens and stood there in front of his ancestors. He had the people come up and touch the prints of the nails in his hands and they knew it was their God. He said that’s amazing.

I told him that he taught them and loved them. He blessed them and their posterity. Then I looked at him and said I imagine that means you! When I said that I could feel the spirit. I could tell he felt it too. He grabbed his chest as if to grab his heart. I heard some noise in the backseat and could tell that they were tuned out but we had full on attention in the front seat.

I said, your heavenly father loves you and that feeling that you’re feeling right now is evidence of that love. He said I’ve never felt anything like this. I asked him what does that feeling he was having now mean? Does it mean that what I’m saying is true or is it false. He said this info is new, it’s not what I’ve heard before, but I know it’s true. I told him that the fact that he was feeling the spirit was not a mistake and it’s not a coincidence.

I told him that he is right! God sent his spirit to testify of truth.

I told him about Joseph Smith and how he translated the Book of Mormon from engravings on plates to be a companion with the Bible. It’s mission is to testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ. He said I believe that’s true.

I said, you know, the spirit is telling me that right now you’re thinking about some things that you’ve done in the past. You don’t feel great about those things and you’ve always heard in your mind the words you’re not worthy of better. You’re not able to be better. You’re not good enough and you can never be clean. He said, how do you know these thoughts of mine. I said that the Holy Ghost whispered it to my heart so I could know to say it to him. God knows that’s what you think. He said that’s true. I always feel like I’m stuck in a hole and that there’s no hope. I said Jesus is the hope.

I told him that when Jesus came to America, after they felt the prints of the nails in his hands, he called up 12 and he taught them how to baptize and gave them authority to baptize so that they could be clean and pure and later receive the Holy Ghost. I told him we felt the Holy Ghost tonight.

I told him that Jesus commanded that they should baptize everyone, even if they already been baptized. He commanded that everyone have this baptism and take upon themselves this new level of discipleship. He taught them that their sins would be washed away and they would be clean and pure before God.

I also told him that when they were clean they were able to get the gift of the Holy Ghost. I told him that the gift of the Holy Ghost would help them make good decisions. It would also protect them like I was protected in my car. It would help them in their lives. I told him that being clean is important and that because of Jesus Christ we can repent. We can go to church every Sunday after we’ve been baptized and take the sacrament. This way the Holy Ghost can confirm to us that we are clean and pure.

He said that would be an amazing day I asked him if he would like to be clean and pure before the woman he wants to marry, before his grandmother and before God? I asked him if it was his desire to stand pure before God. He said, “That would be exactly what I would want to do but I don’t know if it’s possible.”

I told him that it’s totally possible. This is what we do. I told him that when he’s baptized, his sins will be washed away. He said “I’d like that”. The spirit was strong and testified of the importance of baptism. He was visualizing his future and it was amazing.

Then I saw him doubt, I could see the change in his face so I asked him, so are you all in? do you want to get baptized? do you want to work towards that? He said well, that’s a lot of decision to make really quick. I said we have people that can teach you and help you get to that point if that is this something you want. He looked down for second and then he looked at me and said, yes, this is exactly what I’d like to have. I want to be clean. I need God’s help.

When he said this I saw his countenance change, it was an incredible change, you could see it in his smile and you could see it in his eyes. He had been nourished by the word of God and ministered to by the spirit. We talked again about the spirit. I asked him what it meant to him to know that he was feeling the spirit and he said it means that the things that you have said are true.

He said, I’ve been floundering around for a little bit here and I’ve had a lot of troubles. I’ve had a lot of challenges and this is just what I need.

That’s when his friend from the backseat piped in and said, well I’ve got a couple missionaries that can help you out if you want! He was really excited.

By this time we were at our destination. The kid looked at me and said, this has been life-changing. This has changed my whole point of view. I’m going to do this. He lingered to shake hands while his friends ran off. He said I want you to know how much this means to me and off he went.

As he turned to go, I said,” hey one more thing”, he said what? I told him that in his situation he felt like he was drowning and in that God had seen him and had thrown him a rope. I told him this was the rope. When God throws you a rope you grab on to it and you don’t let go.

He said, I will not let go I promise! He shook my hand again, turned around again, and headed across the road.

The thing that keeps coming back to me about this is how God put three people in my car. One to start the conversation even though she had no faith and no desire. One who had looked into it a little bit but wasn’t serious yet but he had connections with the missionaries, and he put them both there to help the kid who was ready. Everyone together in the same place at the same time and it was a miracle. I was blown away by this miracle.