He was of medium height, slight in his build, and wore glasses to read his copy of the Book of Mormon and Doctrines and Covenants, “…a supper of the house of the Lord…First, the rich, and the learned, the wise and the noble” he read out loud to me. “Will you be baptized by one holding the authorized authority this Friday afternoon? You are of this verse, brother, and the Spirit has whispered that to you” was my question to Jonathan. With a long pause, and a silent prayer in our hearts, With tear filled eyes, “I will, for I know Almighty God has lead you here to answer my lifelong search” was his reply. Some months back, Jonathan had studied with the missionaries but the weakness of the flesh, postponed the blessings of baptism. He had a life checkered with sin, indulgences of man and a soul racked with un-forgiven deeds. His lifelong quest was to relieve himself of those burdens that weighted his countenance and clear judgment. With Sunday after Sunday attending churches for the pleasing word of God, he fell deeper and deeper into the ways of the world that brought additional shame and disgrace. Married 3 times, divorced 3 times; children who had disowned him for his example, and heaped shame, shadowed this man’s life and existence. Reconciled to a worthless life, he lived among the beggars and thieves. Days turned into months and months into years for Jonathan and his search.
He is a school owner, university educated, prosperous with wealth earned by his mind. He held positions of leadership in the community, yet now was recognized as a man who had lost control of his actions and thoughts. He was the town drunk and most mornings found him lying on the streets before he staggered to his school. The teachers of the school were dedicated to the innocent children who came for teachings that would further them in this life. Jonathan was nowhere to be found most of the time and the monies of the teachers were give directly to them by the government knowing of Jonathan’s condition. It was here on the street, one dry hot day, two white shirt Elders spoke kindness to his heart. Days later they found his home and witnessed of the cleansing power of the atonement, the love of the Father for his soul, and charted a road to recovery for his life. Fighting urges of the flesh, he persisted with the Elders lessons. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and peace began to come to his heart. There were some who praised his improvements and others that continued his ridicule, but Jonathan held the course with help from above and the prayers of the branch members.
He visited with me offering a contrite spirit and a broken heart as he outlined his life of folly, dishonesty, and heavy sin; all that racked his very personality now exposed in our interview. Months of pleading with the Lord; nights of an anguished heart of true sorrow for his sins, and how angels had sustained him through his darkest hours. I testified of the prayers of many that had been offered in his behave and the Spirit was abundant in our midst. As tears ran down his cheeks, we knelt and felt the healing hand of the Savior. It washed our hearts as one. Answers were given to our minds and we drank fully of the living water that glorious afternoon.
This past Friday Jan. 27, 2012, Jonathan was baptized by one holding the power to bind on earth and in heaven. Today he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and completed his cleansing from sin with the pronounced “receive the Holy Ghost”. The members of that small branch could not contain the Spirit and all stood to hug him as he returned to his bench. It was truly a witness of the Hand of the Lord and the loving arms that await those that offer their full repentant heart. I shall always remember this day and the love Jesus offers me and to us all.
(the picture below with the man on the right in front, wearing the yellow shirt is Jonathan of who I write)
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