Birth of
a Testimony
by Charles
M. Sakai
I was brought
up in a Buddhist family with no strong religious convictions; however,
from the age of eight I became dissatisfied with the faith of my
ancestors, when I started asking questions such as, "Why am I praying
to this dumb idol who never talks back to me?" My quest, stretching
over a period of twenty years, was filled with many disappointments.
Instinctively I felt that the truth must lie in the teachings of
Jesus Christ, but was baffled by the spectacle of hundreds of churches
contending against one another, each with their own interpretation
of the scriptures.
Several times
members of other churches attempted to entice me into becoming one
of them, but my frustration and confusion were so great that I could
not commit myself to becoming a member at that time. During my college
years, I sadly concluded that the reason for this confusion was
because mankind had strayed from the original teachings of Christ,
and that we were left to our own devices ever since.
Invitation
to Family Home Evening
By the time I was twenty-eight, my heart had become hardened
and steeped in worldliness, until a wondrous sequence of events
caused me to submit meekly to the will of God, and led me gently
into his Church. It all started rather innocently, in the second
half of November, 1976, when my neighbor, Joseph P. Haroldsen, invited
me to "Family Home Evening." I accepted, mostly out of curiosity,
since he did not explain the meaning of that term.
On the evening
of November 22, 1976, imagine my utter astonishment when, a few
minutes after my arrival, two LDS missionaries entered his apartment!
Elders Wallace W. Booth and Kevin H. Coleman stood before me. We
played parlor games, watched a film about Joseph Smith ("The First
Vision"), engaged in a brief discussion and agreed to meet a week
later. Little did I realize then that Joe Haroldsen was planting
the seed of faith in my heart when he made the following request,
in all humility, "Won't you please say a little prayer once or twice
a day?" I consented to do so out of friendship, and the missionaries
coached me in my first halting attempt.
The second meeting
with the elders was livelier than the first, as we knew each other
a little better, and could afford to be more frank and open. I confronted
them with over two dozen questions on church doctrine and history,
and freely admit to feeling a sense of smug superiority when they
couldn't answer two of them to my satisfaction, namely their former
practice of plural marriage, and the fact that black members could
not hold the priesthood back in 1976. It took a considerable amount
of investigation, soul-searching and prayer on my part, and a personal
revelation that the situation regarding blacks and the priesthood
would soon change, before these lingering reservations were swept
away.
An Unusual
Dream
Even at that early stage I could not help but be impressed by
their sincerity and dedication to their cause, particularly the
powerful testimony of Elder Booth. Joe's remark that these missionaries
were teaching the gospel at their own expense also left a deep and
lasting impression. That very night (November 29-30), I had a dream
quite unlike any I had before, and to this day I can distinctly
recall every detail of it. I beheld myself standing on the shoulder
of an Interstate freeway, hitchhiking in the dark, with only a duffel
bag and backpack for baggage. A gentle but persuasive voice told
me, "You will go down to El Paso, Texas, as soon as possible." I
was also made to understand that I would know exactly what to do
and say once I arrived there. This dream struck me with such compelling
force that I could not help but interpret it as a commandment from
the Lord, and a test of my faith.
Although I could
scarcely afford to travel just then, I decided to undergo the journey,
convinced that I had been presented with a rare opportunity. For
once I understood how the merchant of old must have felt when he
saw his chance to obtain the pearl of great price. A day or two
later I revealed the contents of this dream to my neighbor's wife,
Bonnie. Instead of laughing at me, she promptly reported it to her
husband. Within three days Joe called his bishop, whose wife referred
him to L. LaVon Cardon, of the El Paso Second Ward. He then telephoned
Bishop Cardon at his own expense and persuaded him to take me in
for one weekend as a guest. This in itself was a shining example
of how far-reaching the LDS brotherhood can be, since Bishop Cardon
knew virtually nothing about Mr. Haroldsen and even less about me!
A Journey
to El Paso
On Thursday I set out on the long journey to El Paso, and drove
the 700 miles in one day. Bishop Cardon told me that he had served
as bishop for five years before being released, but that it was
still proper to address him by that title. The next day he led me
and introduced me to the local missionaries, Elders Giles and Waite.
They were most eager to answer my questions concerning the LDS Church,
and gave me several pamphlets to read. Around 6:00 that evening
Bishop Cardon returned, and I followed him to his home.
The Cardons
live in comfortable circumstances, but more importantly, they extended
their wholehearted hospitality to this investigator of modest means,
and I solemnly testify before God and my fellow men that they were
the perfect family to introduce me to the LDS way of life.
For three nights
and two days they placed a spare bedroom at my disposal, supplied
all meals, patiently answered my questions, and took me on guided
tours around El Paso and Juarez. What impressed me about the Cardon
family?------ I believe it was the gratifying discovery that there
existed a Church which still retained the moral authority to inspire
its members to lead righteous lives seven days a week, without fear
and without compulsion.-------The faith of Bishop and sister Elois
Romney Cardon, in particular was sufficient to melt the hardest
heart. Their gracious hospitality contributed materially to making
my stay in El Paso a pleasant and memorable experience. I agreed
to accompany the Cardon family to church on Sunday (December 5).
Something more
than the laws of chance operated in my behalf that day, for this,
the first Sunday of the month, was Fast and Testimony meeting. Although
I now know that the Spirit is with the Church at all times, it somehow
feels more intense on Fast Sundays. I received a favorable impression
of their morning priesthood meeting, as I was cordially welcomed
by the brethren, and not made to feel like an alien, even though
I was the only Asian present. Throughout the day I couldn't help
but notice how happy many of the families were, and how quick they
were to credit the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the harmony in their
lives. I also noted a refreshing absence of graven images in and
around the church building itself.
A Testimony
Meeting
The single event which convinced me that I had finally found
the true church took place during the afternoon, during the testimony
meeting.---Being unaccustomed to fasting, I agreed to skip breakfast
only, and after lunch we returned to church. As soon as the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper had been blessed and passed, we settled down
to hear various members of the congregation bear their testimonies.
Each speaker declared publicly his faith in our Heavenly Father
and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and also in the sacred mission of
the American prophet, Joseph Smith. Never before had the Spirit
of the Lord uplifted and inspired me as it did that afternoon. People
of all ages eagerly awaited their turns, and each of them spoke
without notes. How could I help but be impressed by their quiet
sincerity?
I had not planned
to address a roomful of strangers when I walked through the door,
but now felt impelled to bear my testimony. I humbly acknowledge
that it was only through the power of the Holy Ghost that I could
bring myself to talk for five or six minutes. I had always considered
myself slow of speech and dreaded ever having to appear before an
audience, no matter how small. This incident was sufficient to convince
me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is truly God's own church.
Even on the
return trip it seemed that the Lord was watching over me, since
only two days after I arrived safely home (December 9), I heard
that the very same roads which I had traversed in Texas and Oklahoma
were covered with ice and snow. Upon returning I started attending
Sunday services at the LaSalle Chapel, with the Colorado Springs
Fifth Ward. I originally planned to investigate the church for several
months before making up my mind, however, it took only a casual
conversation with Joe Haroldsen to accelerate my immersion into
the waters of baptism.
Joe and I were
heading home in his car from Manitou Springs when I asked him, rather
hesitantly, "Since Christmas is coming, and since you and your family
are moving at the end of
the month, what would you like to receive from me?" His answer was
brief but inspired: "The greatest gift you could ever give is to
be baptized, - in fact, I'd be honored if you would let me perform
the baptism." In less than ten minutes we agreed on most of the
details of the baptism.
The day of my
baptism - Saturday, December 25, 1976 - shall always be engraved
upon my heart as a beautiful and spiritual experience. Joseph and
I agreed to fast that day, and the baptism was set for 4:00 p.m.
After a short
lesson with the missionaries, we proceeded to the LaSalle Chapel
and changed into white clothing. Brother Haroldsen performed the
ordinance of baptism. ----- I actually felt clean on the inside.-----
I invited all Melchizedek priesthood holders to participate in the
laying on of hands while Elder Booth confirmed me a member of the
church. About a dozen men stepped forward. If there were any lingering
doubts in my mind concerning the power and the glory of the Holy
Ghost, they vanished in an instant during confirmation as all those
palms pressed down upon my head, I could feel it getting lighter
and lighter, and the Holy Ghost descended upon me in the form of
a shaft of light illuminating a barren wilderness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I wrote the
first draft of this conversion story on April 2, 1977. Some time
later I showed the manuscript to a Korean investigator, Bok Ja Moon,
later known as Bok Kim. After she and her sister translated the
account into Korean, Bok Kim was baptized on December 25, 1978.
She started using the translation as a missionary tool. Over the
years she has helped bring not less than 30 Koreans into the Church,
and her two sons have served missions, graduated from Brigham Young
University, and married in the temple. Many of these events are
recorded in the book, "The Stone Rolls Forth: A History of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southeastern Colorado 1846-1986,"
compiled and published by the Colorado Springs North Stake in 1988.
In writing this
simple account of my conversion, while it is still fresh in my memory,
I wish to bear witness to the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints genuinely possesses the authority to act in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; that
for a small amount of faith on my part, unmistakable signs were
manifested unto me. The Lord has been a great source of strength
to me in many times and places as I served a full career in the
military, and it is a great source of comfort to know that no one
can take away from me what I have seen, felt and experienced. I
only hope and pray that on this solid foundation my testimony can
continue to grow. I seal the truth of these words in the name of
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Editors'
Note: Submit your missionary stories to our Meridian Missionary
Journal editor, Peggy Proctor at missionaryjournal@meridianmagazine.com
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