I gave a ride to a young man from Jamaica. He works at a restaurant in Park City. I picked him up and we talked about how everybody in Park City is from somewhere else. As the drive went on we talked about how his dad doesn’t like it here. I asked him why his dad doesn’t like it here in the Utah. He said that his dad would trade it all to live in New York. He gave New York up to live here and has been salty ever since. I said I would give up on New York in a heartbeat.
I said that his dad should learn to like it here. He said, I think he would like Utah if he gave it a chance because it’s so peaceful. I asked him why it’s peaceful? He said, that’s easy, because the people are so nice. I asked him why the people are nice. He said he didn’t know.
I said it’s because they obey the commandments. He said, ah man! That means you can’t do anything fun, that’s a buzz kill. I laughed and asked him to think about it differently. I talked about obedience and how obedience to God‘s commandments isn’t a buzz kill or handcuffs in any way. Just the opposite, they’re the only way to be free. I used drugs and alcohol versus sober and in control as an example and he agreed. I said, another example is having sex with lots of different women or out of marriage with diseases and out of wedlock pregnancy versus relationship in marriage with love.
In each case I asked him which would be the happier person. He said, the one who was obeying the commandments. I said, which would be the more peaceful person in their soul. He said, the one that obeyed the commandments. I asked, if you had a lot of these people who obey the commandments together would you feel that peace? He said yes.
I talked about how God gives us commandments and he reveals them through prophets. I testified to him that we have a prophet today who reveals God’s will to us because we face new challenges that didn’t exist in Bible times more than a thousand years ago.
I asked him if he had friends who were members of the church. He said yes. He said he had one that went to Brazil on his mission who is a very good friend. I asked him if he knew what he did while he was in Brazil and he said no.
I talked to him about the Book of Mormon and how there were prophets in ancient America and they taught the people God‘s word. I talked to him about Jesus coming to America and how he commanded people to be baptized. I taught him that Jesus invited everyone to be baptized with his baptism and that this invitation is still being extended today. I told him that extending this invitation to receive the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ is what his friend did in Brazil. I taught him that as we are baptized, we can become clean from the sins that we commit and be pure before God. I asked him if he would like to be clean and feel that peace. He said yes! He said, it would be amazing.
Earlier as we talked about commandments I received the impression that he had much experience with and some hard times due to the breaking of these commandments. When he said it would be amazing, he lit up and I could tell it struck a chord.
I taught him about how in Jerusalem Jesus had said “other sheep I have”. I said that those sheep were in America and other places around the world When he got to America he said that those were the sheep of whom he spoke but that there were still other sheep and that he had received a commandment to go to them. Jesus said that these sheep were not in America or Jerusalem or the lands roundabout.
I asked him where he thought the other sheep might have been. He was pensive and didn’t answer right away. I asked again because I wanted his response. He said, possibly in Africa? I said, I believe so. I said, the Book of Mormon is proof positive that God is an all loving God. It shows that he loves everyone no matter where they were born, no matter when they were born just the same. He sent his son to all of them. I asked him, if an all powerful God had lots of children which one would he visit? He said, all of them. A perfect father would show love to all of his children
I asked him if he had a Book of Mormon and he said he did. I asked him if he knew that this is what it taught in that book. He said he had no clue but he couldn’t wait to read it.
The spirit was powerfully testifying at this point. I asked him what he felt in his heart right then. He said, this is crazy, it is so powerful, emotional and peaceful at the same time. I love this feeling. I asked, do you know what that feeling means? He said, no, what? I said, it means these things that I have said are true. I asked him if he doubted the truth of what we were saying in that moment with the spirit in his heart as a guide and he said no. We talked about how God sent his son to his ancestors and to my ancestors. I said, we all have an inner part of us seeking to connect with the Savior and when it recognizes the spirit it latches on.
He said that was awesome. I asked him if he would call his friend who went to Brazil and tell him about the ride when he got out of the car? He said, absolutely. He said he was going to do it right away. I told him that when he called his friend he should tell him what we had just talked about. I said his friend would know what to do from there. He said he was going to make the call as soon as he got out of the car. I told him to tell his friend what he felt in the car. I told him to tell him that he had heard that he could become clean through baptism and ask him if he could help him do that. With a huge smile, he said that he would ask those questions.
I asked him again what he was feeling and he said that he felt joy, happiness and peace. I asked him what that joy happiness and peace was telling him. He said, it’s telling me that this is true.
I told him to tell that to his friend and he said he would. I told him to ask his friend why he didn’t explain this to him in the first place. He laughed and said, that’s exactly what I’ll do. This kid was awesome and what a great experience it will be for them.
Sometimes God sends you a lift 