Dear Family, (Elder Holt’s Weekly Letter)
I know I have written about Cindy and her progression as she
accepted the Gospel, but her story is very unique and I wanted to detail her
conversion for you. These dates and events I have taken from my missionary
journal.
HIn August of 2013, a young single mother of five small
children, moved into her mother’s home. We met Stephanie at Church. She
explained that she had been baptized in South Carolina in July of this year. We
asked her if she had received the new member discussions. She had not, so we
asked her if we could teach them to her because we know how important these
lessons are for the retention of new members. We scheduled the first lesson for
October 11, 2013.
We taught her the first lesson and her mother, Cindy sat in
on the lesson. Afterwards, we scheduled the next lesson for October 14th. Between these lessons, Cindy talked to her
husband, Marshall about what she had learned. Marshall is very much against the
Church and talked to his Baptist Pastor about us and received a lot of
Anti-Mormon information. Marshall shared that with Cindy. This time as we
taught Stephanie, Cindy was in another room. Near the end of the lesson, Cindy
walked into the room. She vehemently, verbally attacked us and the Church
especially over polygamy, and accused us of being liars. Sister Holt was frightened, but I remained
calmed and finally was able to get her to calm down too. I explained the
Church’s beliefs on polygamy and she seemed to accept it. Then Sister Holt said,
“Cindy, your daughter has joined our Church. Don’t you owe it to her and
yourself to find out what the Church teaches from representatives of the
Church? We have lessons that teach the basic beliefs of our Church. Would you
like to take them?” She agreed and we scheduled a time to start teaching her.
She explained that she was a devout Pentecostal, had spoken in tongues, loved
the Savior and was very vocal in her praise of him.
Our first discussion was on October 17th. We taught her
about the Apostasy, the Restoration, and the coming forth of the Book of
Mormon. There was a good Spirit there and she seemed to accept it. She also
told us about a problem with her Pastor at her Pentecostal Church and that she
had been praying that the Lord would direct her to another Church. We assured
her the Lord had sent us to her. We continued to teach her and she came to
Church with her daughter, Stephanie for the first time on October 27th. Cindy has some sight problems and does not
drive, so we were concerned about her Church attendance when Stephanie moves
out. Cindy lives about ten miles from the Church on a county road. Also, we ordered a large print copy of the
Book of Mormon for her.
Cindy had been sick, so we were unable to teach her for
several weeks. Then we taught her on November 21st, and took one of our ward
members, Lisa, with us. During the lesson, Cindy explained that she had been
reading the Book of Mormon and praying. She felt good about what she was
learning, but had not received an answer to her prayers. She explained that
because she was a Pentecostal, she had felt the Spirit before and was expecting
something stronger to happen to her. I was very concerned about what she was
expecting, yet we continued with the lesson. Near the end of our lesson, we
showed her a five minute video on the Organization of the Church. The Spirit
was very strong during the video, and Cindy began crying. After it was over she
exclaimed, “This is true! It’s true! It’s really true! I want to serve in this
Church.” It was a great privilege for
Sister Holt, Sister Lisa and I to be there and witness the Spirit confirm to
this sweet woman the truthfulness of the Gospel. Lisa told her she too had been
a Pentecostal before joining our Church, and she bore a sweet and powerful
testimony. We hadn’t realized she was raised as a Pentecostal, and it was a
wonderful witness to us, that asking her to join us was pure inspiration! Lisa
asked if she could give her a ride to Church, since her daughter Stephanie had
moved out, and to join her in singing in the choir. Cindy was thrilled! And our
problem of how to get her to church was settled.
Sunday, December 1st was Fast and Testimony meeting. Cindy
was there and near the end of the meeting, she stood up and walked to the stand.
Sister Holt and I turned white for fear of what she would do, considering her
Pentecostal background. But, much to our relief and joy, she bore a sweet and
simple testimony of the Gospel, explained that she was learning about the
Church from the Holt’s and asked everyone to pray for her. Our next lesson was
on December 3rd. We challenged her to be baptized and she accepted. Because of
a severe ice storm, Church was cancelled on December 8th. So we moved her
baptismal date forward a week.
On Saturday, December 21, 2013, it was my privilege and
honor to baptize Cindy Ann into the Church. Her husband Marshall came to the
Baptismal service. We have met with him twice and he seems friendly, but Cindy
said that he is very much opposed to the Church. We believe over time and with her
example, his heart will soften toward the Church.
Today December 22, 2013 she was confirmed a member of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Bishop Stewart, and was given
the gift of the Holy Ghost! After Relief Society, Sister Holt asked Cindy how
she felt. With shining eyes she said she knew the Lord had sent us to her home,
to answer her many prayers to find a church! Then she added that she felt
wonderful! Just wonderful!
Love, Dad
