TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS AT THE ERC AND BEYOND

There have been some very difficult situations for me at the ERC—again. I think it has been because I have been so concerned about our “golden” investigator, Keith, that I prayed that I might have the opposition he might have to face to his conversion and baptism. In any case, because of his rough background, this sweet-spirited “gentle giant” with the formidable appearance and head-to-toe tatoos, there was some question whether he could be baptised. He was very depressed about this and felt that it was because he was so completely honest about his problems. However, the missionaries found out that he could be baptised after all (it was on again and off again!), but by the time they let him know, he was feeling very down and wasn't sure that he could do what he needed to do to qualify, which was to commit to change. So the missionaries called me and told me that his baptism was off indefinately until he would really commit to change, but that they would still stay in contact with him. I was convinced that if he put “off” baptism, Satan would intervene, and without the Holy Ghost, it would be hard for him to ever become a member, as he might become embittered with himself, the Church and Heavenly Father. I called and talked to him begging him to continue to do as he had been doing so far in learning about the truthfulness of the Gospel—pray in faith and wait for His answer. He had been sincerely praying about the Book of Mormon, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the truthfulness of the Church and had received total assurance that he couldn't deny. Please, I begged him, just make all of his concerns about worthiness and his ability to qualify a matter of his most fervant prayers and act on the answer he would get, which was to to commit in faith to the changes he needed to make. He did, and the next morning the elders called me that he had called them back and had a desire to make those committments—the baptism was scheduled for 2:30PM on Sat!! I was so excited for him, and so grateful for the answers to all of our prayers. They asked me to give the talk about the Holy Ghost, and I was honored. The Spirit prompted me to include some thoughts from Elder Bednar's “Patterns of Light” in this talk and I spoke directly to Keith. The baptism, of course was a super spiritual experience. Keith told me that he felt that all the bad thoughts and feelings were simply washed out of his head (like many who have suffered childhood abuse and/or are in addiction, he experiences racing negative thoughts most of the time). His head felt “empty” and he felt peace. The next morning, he was confirmed a member of the Church, and I thought about one of the first things he told me when he came into the Center. He has said, when I asked him his last name again (he speaks very quietly). He said it was Augustine, like the "Saint" (Catholic). When the beautiful blessing was given along with the gift of the Holy Ghost, I thought about Ephesians: “..no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the Household of God”. Keith, you are now surely a Saint in very deed, and will be of great service to your fellow saints, your brothers and sisters!