Safety in his peace

One evening I was just about to go home for dinner and I was coming down I-15. I got a call to go to Walmart and pick up some people. Walmart this time of year is a mess just in case you didn’t know.

It took me a minute to find them but I eventually found them. It was a mother and an adult (17 year old) son. I helped them load their groceries into the back of my car and started to drive. We don’t see exactly where it is they are going, we only see turn by turn directions, So I started to drive.

As we started to drive I noted that they didn’t speak English so I started speaking Spanish to them. They were a little shocked to say the least but they were excited and we started talking.

I asked them where they were from and they said Santa Cruz Bolivia. Then I asked them why they were here in the United States. She said that they were political refugees. She, her husband and her family came to the United States two years ago. Her husband was a journalist that had to escape for his life.

I asked them what they thought about Orem. They said it was the most beautiful place that they had ever been. They said it was not just the scenery but that the peace they felt was incredible. I asked them why they thought that there was peace here in Orem. They said that they didn’t know and hadn’t really thought about it but they enjoyed it and could certainly feel it.

I told them that it was because the people that live here in large numbers follow God. Due to the fact that God is in their hearts, peace surrounds them and their community. I asked them what they knew about our church. They said that they really didn’t know anything about the church. They said that they attended the Catholic church because it’s like five blocks away from their house and they had been Catholic their whole lives. I told them they should go to one of our churches because we are so much closer to their house and they could find out what we have that brings such peace. The mom said that there is one of our churches right across the road from their house.

The mom asked if i thought it would be fine if they attended our church. I told her we would love to have her come and that we could send some missionaries out to help her understand what was going on.

I asked her if she had ever heard about the Book of Mormon. She said she heard about it but didn’t know anything about it other than that it existed. I told her that it was scripture and that it was a companion to the Bible. I told her that it was full of the writing of ancient prophets who lived here in America. I told her that the Book of Mormon testifies of the divinity of Jesus Christ and his desire to bless all of his children in the world.

She asked me where the book came from and I bore my testimony of Joseph Smith. I told her that Joseph Smith didn’t know which church was true. He read the Bible and found the key to getting knowledge from God is through prayer. He went to a grove of trees near his house where he knew he could be alone and he prayed. I told her that God the father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and called him to be the prophet. I said that he was called to restore the church of Jesus Christ and all of its truths on the earth again. She said, I just got chills when you said that. I said, it’s because it’s true. I told her that this is how she feels when God’s spirit touches her soul. He does this to help us know truth.

I said that later Joseph Smith was given the records of the ancient American prophets written on plates of gold. He was given the power of God to translate those writings and that translation is the Book of Mormon. I said, it came directly from God and those ancient prophets to us to help us navigate this troubled world.

She said, we really do need that now. She said that she could see why there would be peace here if we get help from God to navigate trouble in life. She asked me if I would bring one of these books by her house. I said, why don’t I just give you one now. I reached into my glovebox and grabbed one of the Book of Mormons prepared by the Secrists and gave it to her. She asked if she could have another for her husband. She said he would want his own. I didn’t have any more in my car but she didn’t live far from my house so I said I would bring it by for him the next day.

The next afternoon when I got there she said she had been waiting for me all day. She wanted me to show her a little bit about that book. I gave her the book and I showed her different parts and scriptures I like. I showed her the questions of the soul in the front cover and pointed to third Nephi where Jesus came to America. I told her that he called 12 apostles and gave them authority. That is the same authority that we have in the church today, we call it the priesthood. I told her that this authority is a big difference between our church and other churches.

She said, do you have that authority? I said, yes. She said, with that authority can you give blessings? I said yes. She said, I would like you to give me a blessing. I could really use a blessing from God.

I asked her husband if it was OK. He smiled and said, please do. I gave her the blessing. When I put my hands on her head the spirit rushed in the room and filled her heart. She was crying and through the tears she said that she understood now where the peace comes from. She said she wanted to have this peace in her life. Her husband said, I love that! She said to me that she would read the Book of Mormon and that she wanted to attend church. She said that it is incredible how her whole life she believed in God but never felt him in her heart like she did right then.

I gave her the information about when and where their ward met for meetings in both English and Spanish so she could make the best decision for her family on which one to attend. She was so excited and she and her husband agreed to go. I asked if I could have missionaries stop by and teach them more. Her husband said that would be great. I found their ward and their missionaries to set it up. I know that they went because I saw them at the church a few times and I think they were baptized. I think they have moved but now understand the peace of the gospel and it can go with them.

The thing that struck me most about this is that she was just looking for someone to ask the question she didn’t know how to ask. She felt his peace around her and it prepared her. I am happy that the Lord trusted me with the opportunity to be that person. I realized that they were here to find peace and safety but they found safety in the peace God brings.