Robby Johnston to me

show details Aug 18

Dad here is a story I would appreciate you giving to Pres. Pursel.

The Lords water of baptism is such a beautiful gift. This past week I learned how real it is to be able to change someone’s life through the waters of baptism. It all started when we were contacting in the streets. We were walking to the Church to clean the font for a baptism on Saturday and along the way we were contacting people. For the past few weeks I had wanted to contact near the Church for some reason but wasn’t exactly sure why. I just felt like it would be a good idea. Little did I know that the Lord had plans in mind for me and my companion. We contacted two men standing on the street corner. One had a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The other one had a backpack that appeared to be a kid’s and was wearing a white tank top that was ripped and worn. Like always we invited them to Church on Sunday and asked if we could stop by some time to tell them more. The man with the beer turned away and ignored us but the other seemed sort of shocked for a moment then asked us if we would have time right then to teach him what we had to say. Now it was my companion and I that were sort of shocked for a moment and after looking at each other for a second we said yes we of course we had time. Following the guidance of the spirit we went to the church with him, unlocked it and let him in. We began teaching the first lesson of the restoration in the room adjoining the baptismal font. During the lesson I felt a strong impression to get up; walk to the doors of the font; open them and show it to him …but I didn’t. Later again I felt the same impression but just didn’t know when I could stand up and show him the font because we were in the middle of the lesson. Then, as we started to close the lesson, the spirit basically yelled at me “stand up NOW and take him to the font!” This could not be denied any longer. I immediately stood up and invited him to go with me to the doors. As I opened the first one he was a little hesitant to look inside. As he approached the door and looked inside a silence came over all of us. I have never experienced something so powerful. The spirit was welling up inside and tears filled his eyes. As he started to cry he looked at us and said “this is what I have been waiting for my whole life”. As we continued to talk, now with tears in our eyes as well, he opened up and shared many things about his life and many things that had happened. We told him of the blessings that could come to him, and to all, through the waters of baptism and a happiness filled him like I have never seen happen so suddenly. The following day he came to the baptism we had scheduled and then attended church on Sunday. Through this experience he committed to baptism and set a date to be baptized himself. I testify that the spirit is real and it is powerful in so many ways.

We can all learn many things from this story I think. How the Lord prepares us; how some turn away and how others find the straight and narrow path that leads to the savior and how the waters of baptism change lives. It also teaches that we should follow the spirit the instant it tells us to take action. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth and the only one through which everyone can truly receive the blessings of God.

I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Elder Jake Johnston