Every Tuesday Jonathan and other members of the Elders Quorum presidency go out and do visits to less active members of our church. About 6 months ago, as they were making their visits, they came to a house of a young man named Mike. He is a married man about the age of 26 and grew up in a family that was not active. He was baptized at 8 but that was about it.
At first he was very friendly but just not interested. They sat and talked to him for a few hours and got to know him. At the time he was a guitar player in a band. He loves music and is very talented at playing the guitar and base. He and his wife fully lived the rock and roll lifestyle.
The next Tuesday the group was out making visits again and saw Mike on his front porch playing his guitar. So they went and talked with him again. They became his friend. It wasn't about lets get him to church. It was about being a friend to him. So, that is what Jonathan and the Elders quorum President became to him.
After a few months Mike had decided he really wanted to change. He surprised everyone and quit smoking cold turkey. He started coming to church. The hardest decision he had to make was to quit his band because he knew he could not stay clean while playing with them.
2 months ago, he received the Melchezidek priesthood and was ordained to the office of an Elder. He started temple prep classes 3 weeks ago and has decided he really wants to be able receive his endowments.
Yesterday Jonathan got a call from Mike who was very upset. His wife had just served him with divorce papers the night before and told him she wanted him out that night. She said he has changed and become to religious. So he packed up all his stuff in the back of his Jeep and headed to his parents home. He got a call from them saying that their house had just flooded and he would not be able to stay there. So, while he was trying to find a place to stay, his Jeep broke down on the side of the road. He left it there and went to get a part at the store for the Jeep. When he got back, the Jeep was gone with all his stuff. Someone had it towed and he had to figure a way to get it out. This is when he called Jonathan for help.
This morning I woke up early and as I was coming into the kitchen Mike was sitting on a chair reading his scriptures. Through all of this, he is still relying on the Lord.
What an inspiration it has been to me to see him. It reaffirms a few very important things to me. The temple and the work that is done there is vital to our salvation. Mike could have just said "this is to hard." But, he has not done that. He still has the desire to finish the temple prep classes and receive his endowments.
It also reaffirms to me that without my testimony of Jesus Christ I have nothing. Things can get really hard but I know in whom I can trust. How blessed I am to know Mike and have his example in front of me to help remind me of what really is important in life.
