"A Tender Spiritual Witness"
By Alan Taylor
I've been trying to find the time, to tell my
story. I was brought up LDS kind of, both my parents were "jack
Mormons". They were heavy beer drinkers. I was baptized at
eight, not confirmed until ten. and not active until I was 20 years
old. That's when my story begins. . .
I am not a writer, so bear with me, My girl
friend would not marry unless I went on a LDS mission, I said why.
she said she wanted to marry in the LDS
Temple.
I was a member of a very strong anti-LDS
motor cycle club. I rode several different motor cycles, Harleys,
Suzuki, Honda, etc. all were choppers. Well at this time in my life,
I was # 52 in the United States draft. So a mission was kind of out
of the picture for me.
So I went and talked to my LDS Bishop. He said I
can't send you on a mission. Because first, you have to be active in
the Church.
But I said, "my girl friend will not marry me unless I go on a mission." Well my mother, said go talk to your
uncle, to see if he will let you go from his ward. So I did and he
said be active in my ward. for at least 6 months. Then I will let
you go.
Well you think of it? Six months, How do you learn
the gospel in six months. I didn't but my Bishop, decided to send me
anyway. I went to England central mission. My new companion, was
from Calif. Elder Doug C. Pratt. To make this a little shorter, I'll
get to the point. Joseph Smith who, who the heck is he? The Book of
Mormon?. I thought we believed in the Bible.
Needless to say. My mission president got
involved. I was taught the Gospel in the mission field. I finally
gained a testimony of the True Gospel Of Jesus Christ.
I prayed, I receive a tender spiritual witness. In
which I still have today. I went into the mission field only to
fulfill a mission so I could marry my girl friend. Instead I sent her a
"Dear
Jane" letter, and married a Sister missionary from my mission.
We've been married 36 years. I've been a Bishop,
in a Bishopric 4 different times. I'm presently serving at a BYU
married ward on the High Council. I could tell more but my
testimony is so strong. That's what counts I know God lives, and
that Jesus is the Christ, and also lives, and that the Book Of
Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith truly restored the
true church of Jesus Christ back to the earth.
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