One Monday, I was picking up a young lady in Orem for a quick 10 to 15 minute ride. I picked her up at UVU and was taking her home. It was late at night and I could tell that she was tired.
I said, why don’t you drive to school? She said that she would but there’s no place to park. I said, that’s not true. There is a place to park. She said, where do you think I should park? I said, in the Institute parking lot. She said, institute? Why would they let me park there?
I said, well because they let everyone that takes an institute class park there. She said, I’m not a member of your church. I can’t take Institute.
I told her that Institute is open for any one to take and then she would be able to park in the Institute parking lot, which is right in the middle of campus and the most convenient parking. It is even more convenient than faculty parking. She said, wow thank you for the hack. She said, I could take a class once a week for a parking spot. We laughed and I said there’s always a way around it.
The spirit told me to be bold so I said, you know as long as you’re doing that, you may as well just become a member of the church. Have you ever thought about that? She said, funny you should ask. I’ve been thinking about it. My parents are against it but my cousin who is a member wants me to join. I’ve been talking to her and the preacher at her church.
I said, that’s great. In the end, it’s your decision. She said, I know, and it hasn’t been easy. I asked her to tell me about the revelation she had received from God regarding the truthfulness of the church. She gave me a very blank stare, as if she didn’t even understand the words I said. Then she asked, what do you mean?
I said, the only way we can ever have the strength to do a tough thing and make a tough decision is if we know it’s right. God understands this and that’s why he invites us to read the Book of Mormon, ponder it in our hearts and pray. I said, when we ponder it in our hearts we make a decision of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Then we ask God to confirm the truthfulness of it to us. The way he tells us yes is by sending his spirit to confirm it to us. It lets us know that the decision we’ve made is right. It lets us know that the decision we are making is what God would have us do.it is our revelation.
At that point, it’s not a frivolous teenage decision. It’s a thought out decision, guided and approved by God. When you approach it like that, it will give you the basis and conviction to speak to your parents and to move forward.
As I said this, the spirit was very strong in the car and I identified it to her. I asked her what she was feeling and she said she felt a heavy peacefulness. I told her that it was the spirit of God and that he was confirming the truthfulness of the words I had spoken.
I told her that she had lived with her father in heaven for thousands of years before she was born. I said that she loved him and loved being with him. I told her that her spirit wanted to be with him and please him. I said when she came to earth she wasn’t with him and that she had spent her life looking for that feeling of the spirit. I said, this is what you have felt here in the car. It is that same feeling and relationship you developed in the preexistence. It is God’s way of bringing you in. Bringing you back home. He wants to fill your soul with that feeling and your spirit wants that too. This is why if feels so good and so right.
I testified that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that we have a prophet today. I testified to her that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is the words written by ancient prophets and it testifies of Jesus Christ. As I bore my testimony, the spirit burned brighter. I said, did you feel that? It got even more intense. She said yes.
I said, this is how you know what is true. Heavenly Father guides us by sending his spirit to show us the way and help us make decisions. This is how he lets you know truth, this is how you feel in his presence and he sends his spirit when truth is spoken. His spirit confirms truth. She said, I feel that and feel like what you are saying is true.
I said, it isn’t an accident that you are here in my car today. There is no such thing as coincidence. God wanted you to feel his spirit and he wanted to help you know which way to go. Follow this feeling.
She agreed and said that she knew that her Heavenly Father was watching out for her. She said that this didn’t surprise her at all. She said that she had always wanted please her father in heaven. She said, I have always loved God.
I asked her if she had a Book of Mormon. She said, no. I’ve been wanting to get one. I reached into my glove box and grabbed a Book of Mormon prepared by the Secrists and gave it to her. I said, this is your Book of Mormon. Do you promise me that you’ll read it? She said yes. I said, do you promise me that you’ll feel for the spirit while you read it. She said yes. I said, do you promise me that you will pray to have God confirm it to you. She said yes, I will. I said, then you’ll know and you’ll have the strength to speak to your parents and make the change that you want to make.
She said, this makes me so happy. She took a picture of the Book of Mormon and sent it to her cousin. She said, now I know I can do this. This is what I want to do. I said, you have felt the spirit. What you have felt is God confirming to you that these things are true. You know this now, even before you pray but that assurance will even grow stronger as you read and study and pray. The key is the Book of Mormon. God will confirm it to you She said, that’s what I’m going to do.
She got a text back from her cousin. Her cousin asked, where did you get the Book of Mormon? She replied that she would call her later and tell her the story.
I told her that when she called her cousin what she should do is tell her about what she felt along with what had happened. She said, all along this journey, I’ve kind of felt like it’s what I’m supposed to do. Tonight I know. I guess you could say that I’ve received a revelation. She thanked me and said, I’m going to be baptized and it will be soon. She got out of the car and walked into her home.
Sometimes God sends you a lift 