M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

Conversion Downunder—Thank you Elder Park
by Richard Rothery

Back in 1957, September I think, I was living with my wife and young family in Padstow, a suburb on the near fringes of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. On this particular occasion, I was weeding the garden with the family, when our next door neighbor called over the fence that her friend down the road just phoned to warn that "the Mormons" were coming up the hill towards us! I had not been greatly interested in the conventional religions because I could see them as being pretty much in the same boat as the one I had grown up with. I attended a church secondary school and remember some of the questions, which I and others, had problems with. When we asked the "brother" questions we were advised to leave any deep doctrine to the leaders, as all we were required to do was have faith, keep the commandments and the church vows and we would then be assured of going to heaven and not to purgatory or hell. Also we must go to church every Sunday even if we spent the rest of the day "enjoying ourselves." Our questions were along these lines:

"Why infant baptism,"—- which sounded rather unjust to us.

"How can God be three persons in one, indivisible and every where at the same time?"

"Who or what is the Holy Ghost?"

"Why don't we study the Bible?"

And,

"If we take vows not to drink alcohol or to gamble, why do the majority of members including leaders, brothers and members of high standing not only break those vows but do it to excess and are lauded as perfect examples for us to follow?"

We were told not to worry, as they are only little minor vows. These questions were asked while we were in grade eight so our young minds were already teeming with questions and hungry for truth. The answers we received were not really encouraging and, I for one, decided about then to go find the true church somewhere else when I cleared 21, as I was thoroughly disgusted with that one.

When I left school at age 17, I followed my father and two brothers into the seagoing profession in the Merchant Navy, so was from then on virtually a free agent as regards religion. I noted the Protestant beliefs of fellow officers and also a little about the Jewish faith but still felt no desire to mingle. Most of the time I was busy working and studying. I did manage to keep my habits clean and above board. I drank a little when required socially and smoked a little, not to excess. I had a strong desire to be well behaved. Now that the Mormons were coming up the hill, I felt a strong desire to put my questions to them. When they knocked on the door I felt great satisfaction that I was about to destroy their enthusiasm. I welcomed them and invited them in, sat them comfortably, gave them refreshment and sat opposite ready to blast them off the map. I hadn't heard a lot about the Mormons. I don't think I'd ever heard their official Church title mentioned. There were stories regarding their being an American church which practiced polygamy at some time. Some western novels of the day mentioned them in not very endearing terms. When I invited the missionaries in they nearly fell off the porch! I warned them, however, that I had questions and I wanted logical answers. Well, now it was my turn to be surprised. Now, as they answered my questions with such ease, I nearly fell off my chair!! This was astounding!

Feeling a bit like a sponge I asked for more. They gave me a little more then called a halt and arranged to call in again. I readily accepted.

We were each given a Book of Mormon and asked to read and to pray about that book, asking our Heavenly Father to confirm its truthfulness in our minds. We did just and through this experience, decided together that this was truly the Church of Jesus Christ. I think we realized then that the term Mormon was simply a popular name— which actually drew one away from the idea of it being the Church of Jesus Christ. That name and the stories we had heard relating to it had, till then, caused a few doubts to linger in our minds. My former church had assured us that the church had authority directly through Peter, however the Spirit we felt when reading the Book of Mormon and seeking testimony through prayer completely removed any doubts about where the authority to act for Christ now rested. The searching for truth has answered all my original questions, enlightened me with more understanding and a knowledge that everything fits as it should. Salvation is not only for us but also for all those ancestors who have ever lived through this mortal probation. Every facet of doctrine is complimentary of the next and paints the perfect picture of a plan which we have come to know as the Plan of Salvation...Perfectly simple and simply perfect as has been so eloquently said.

We were baptized in 1958 in a tin font at the local Bankstown Sports Club. Now, after all these years, I feel a strong desire to contact that cool missionary, Elder J. Sam Park, who spent two years of his young life, some of the most important and formative years, to find me and others who were ripe ready for harvest. He conveyed to me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the message which altered my life and set me on course in the direction of eternal salvation and progress. For that I am eternally thankful. I think he would love to hear how many members (7 children plus 19 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, and so far, 5 full time missionaries), have resulted from his efforts.

I have no hesitation in testifying that the Church of Jesus Christ is true in every respect and brings a fullness of joy and satisfaction to all the faithful. Being an ex Master Mariner I am a bit of an expert on the meaning of integrity and the Church fits that bill perfectly.

We are lead by a true prophet of the Lord, President Gordon B. Hinckley. Joseph Smith was called by the Lord—he actually saw Heavenly Father with His Son in the sacred grove. The completeness of the gospel and the testimony of the Holy Ghost indicate just that. I now reside in Brisbane, Australia and we have missionaries over for dinner about every month. They are terrific. Elder J. Sam Park, wherever you are, I can be contacted through Meridian's Missionary Journal.

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