Several weeks ago we had a
person in our home and we played for him Elder Bednar’s Conference talk from
this past conference. Well, Elder Bednar was the last speaker and when he was
finished, I was about to turn off the television, and the Tabernacle Choir came
on and this person wanted to hear the Choir.
After the Choir finished, I
shared with him this story that Elder Gerald Lund tells. I believe it is in his
book “Divine Signatures”.
Elder Lund said that while
serving his mission in Wyoming, someone in the ward suggested to him and his
companion that they should go and try to visit with his mother who lived alone
out in the country on a ranch. He explained to the missionaries that she had
her own Church and probably would not be open to their message, but they should
try anyway. Elder Lund explains that they made the drive and finally find the
ranch. They go to the door, knock, and she answers. They explain why they are
there. She tells them she is not interested because she has her own Church, but
since they made the long drive, they might came in and visit a little bit. He
said that they visit and finally the curiosity gets to him of what Church she
might belong to way out in the country. So he asks, “What Church do you belong
to?” She replies, ”I belong to the Church of Evans!” Now he is really curious and he says,” I have
never heard of that Church.” She says, ”Well, they have this really beautiful
Choir and this man, Mr. Evans, speaks every Sunday.” He then
says, that’s our Church. The Choir is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the
person that speaks is one of our apostles, Richard L Evans”. He said that
initially she was pretty sceptacle and he just happened to have a picture of
the twelve apostles with him and was able to show her the picture and point out
Richard L Evans. He said that once the lady was convinced, she told them that
she wanted to give them something. She went into the back room, came out with a
jar full of money, and said Here, I want to give this to you. Mr. Evans said
that we are to pay tithing and here is my tithing.
He said that she ended up
joining the Church. (Note: that is my recollection of the story. I don’t have
the book out here on the mission, but hopefully that is pretty close. I guess
if you want the exact account, you will need to get a copy of the book.)
