My Sheep Hear My
Voice
Amy A., New
Convert
Tuesday, May 20 had not gone well. Sisters Goble and Sharp had
been on splits that day. Scheduled meetings fell through; searching the area
for someone to teach, found shut doors, people turning away, and worse.
Disappointed, they both felt they should return home. (2 Cor 6:4)
As they walked through the
complex they saw a young boy playing in the grass not far from their apartment.
“Do you go to church,” asked the Sisters. “Yes, my grandmother takes me and our
God is greater.” (Matt 21:16) Sister Sharp responds, “Oh yeah? Who is that up
there?” “That's my grandmom.” “Do you
believe in Jesus Christ?” “Yes, yes” responded Amy A. Several scriptures
were shared between the missionaries and Amy as they each buoyed each other up.
The spirit was telling Amy to accept them. She had been praying to find the
true Church and for guidance in her life. An appointment was set for the
following day.
Sisters Sharp and Taylor
planned to teach the Restoration; as they taught they asked if Amy would be
baptized if she found the Church was true. Amy was a little unsure; “I
understand what you are teaching about Jesus Christ, but why do you worship
Joseph Smith?” “Oh, no. We don't worship Joseph Smith.” The sisters went on to
straighten out the confusion. “Yes, I want to be baptized. When?” “Let's set a
date of June 14.”
Saturday they toured the
Ridgecrest Chapel. “I was directed by the Lord God to study in John this
morning and in there it talks about other sheep I have. What does this mean”,
asked Amy. Wonderfully surprised, the
sisters taught of the Book of Mormon people. They ended the tour in the chapel
and while there, asked Amy to give a closing prayer. With tears she thanked
Father for sending Joseph Smith to restore the gospel.
Sunday in church Amy sat near
where she had prayed the previous day. She loved Sacrament. “May I have a Book
of Mormon?” The sisters gave her one.
The Book of Mormon was the
lesson for that Wednesday; again they were pleasantly surprised for Amy had
prepared a list of reasons showing why the Book of Mormon was true, with
supporting scriptures from both the Bible and Book of Mormon!
Their next lesson was on the
Plan of Salvation, Law of Chastity, and Word of Wisdom. While teaching the Word
of Wisdom Amy giggled; she told them how she had come to stop using alcohol 20
years ago and that she had given up coffee some three weeks earlier.
Amy A. is a young looking
46. She grew up in Catbalogan, Philippines. Her mom and dad knew of and
believed in Jesus Christ. They did not attend any church so Amy grew up with
little knowledge of the Savior. She married an American serviceman when she was
18 and the two of them later were transferred to Hawaii. One evening several of
his friends were over for a party; her husband “was drunk”, and she felt “the
voice of the Lord came to me telling me to send those people to go home so you
can care for your husband.” They left and Amy and her husband retired. “Around
five in the morning the voice comes to me again telling me to throw away the
alcohol and said 'stop drinking alcohol because your body is the temple of the
Lord.' The voice also told me 'don't smoke', and 'don't drink coffee'”.
(D&C 89)
As she studied the Bible she
learned that service was important, and that tithing was a command. She
understood how to give service, but how could she tithe, and to whom? She
decided to fulfill both requirements by saving ten percent of whatever she
made, and after the funds had grown large enough, return home to the
Philippines, buy rice and Bibles and then distribute the rice with the Bibles
in the surrounding communities. (Mark 9:40, Luke 9:50,Alma 17:16)
June 1 was Fast Sunday; Amy
bore her testimony. She spoke of The Gospel and her thankfulness for the restoration
of the Priesthood; the Spirit strongly bore testimony to the truths she spoke,
and those there felt of that power. (Mni 10:5-7)
At a baptism held Saturday,
June 7, Amy had the opportunity to attend with Sisters Goble and Taylor. While
waiting for the boy to change after the baptism, Sisters Ballard and Mobley
taught the Restoration. “Please, I would like to have that spoken at my
baptism.”
Stake Conference was the
following day. This gave her the opportunity to meet President Eaton; “Who will
you be bringing to your baptism?” “I will ask my daughter and I have a friend I
would like to ask.”
Amy and the Sisters passed
often during the following week; “Where are you going?” “To teach some
investigators.” “Oh, be safe. I'll pray for you.” Supporting each other became
a part of their days. That Tuesday a member of the new Ward she was moving to
joined the three to review the baptism questions and meet Amy. Thursday she was
to meet with President McKinney; “I saw a young woman sitting on the curb, reading
from the Book of Mormon, and was touched.” During the interview President
Mckinney encouraged her to attend the Temple soon; they departed; tears of joy
streamed down Amy's cheeks. (Matt 5:3-9)
Amy was baptized June 14 by
Bishop Critchfield. When she arose from the water she smiled through the tears
and gave the Bishop a warm hug. The Restoration was taught during the waiting
time. Her daughter attended. A spirit of love was there. (Matt 18:20, D&C
6:32)
That evening Sisters Sharp,
Tayor, and Anderson joined the Vinsons for dinner. The discussion drifted to
Family History and the Temple. Sister Anderson commented that in a dream those
of her family that had died had come to her and said there was something she
needed to do for them. (Mal 4:6) The missionaries and the Vinsons taught her of
baptism for the dead and of Temple work. 'Would you like to see the temple?”,
asked the Vinsons. “Yes” They drove up to Bellevue that evening and toured the
Temple grounds. Tears of joy again flowed; her path could be more clearly seen;
Amy looks forward to the day she can return to the Philippines as a missionary.
Mission Leadership Council sings Nearer My God to Thee
