Peter’s conversion — 1972
PETER’S CONVERSION — 1972
I served with Elder Brent Bowden in a wonderful area in Dunedin, New Zealand during my mission. We served together in this area during March, April, and May of 1972. Our area included most of the student housing for the University of Otago. This always made tracting an exciting adventure, to say the least. One day in April we knocked on the apartment door of five male students who were boarding together in a run-down house. The knock was answered by one of the young men who had a can of beer in his hand. He invited us in to present a discussion, but it soon became apparent that he had invited us in for some afternoon entertainment at our expense, not because of a burning desire to hear our message. He called his to his roommates to join us. Two or three of these young men were mildly inebriated, and evidence of the liberal use of alcoholic beverages was everywhere present in the house. When we asked concerning their religious affiliation, they snickered and told us they were avowed Buddhists. We struggled through the first half of the first discussion, enduring their taunts, jeers, and irrelevant questions. We would have just ended the discussion and left, but we noticed that one of the young men, Peter, had ceased to snicker and had lost interest in his can of beer. He was actually listening intently to what we were saying. We were able to direct the rest of the discussion to Peter and we could feel of his spirit and humility. As we finished the discussion, we were elated that Peter followed us out of the house and asked if we could return another time to visit just with him, without his roommates present. That was a rather easy question to answer. A return appointment was made.
Our second discussion with Peter was held in his own bedroom, without the annoyance and distractions of his roommates. The spirit was strong and Peter eagerly absorbed the message of the Restoration. He accepted a challenge to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about its message. He quickly gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ; the other discussions followed in rapid succession, all of which he accepted and rejoiced in. Peter’s wonderful spirit literally drank up the gospel truths as they were presented to him. He attended the Dunedin Branch and felt the love of the Saints. As anticipated, Peter met incredible resistance and ridicule from all directions as it became known that he was seriously investigating the Church. Roommates, friends, and especially his parents vehemently voiced their opposition to his actions. Peter’s parents insisted that he cease all contact with us and anyone affiliated with the Church. However, Peter now had a burgeoning testimony of the Gospel in his heart, and his devotion to this witness was so strong that it overrode loyalty to even family and friends. He had grasped the “iron rod”, and he was no about to let go.
The day of Peter’s baptism was a day of rebirth for Peter and also for all who participated in his baptism and confirmation. Peter was aglow with the spirit, basking in the almost tangible love of the Savior. Seldom have I felt greater spiritual edification and uplift.
An equally great spiritual thrill associated with Peter occurred in May of 1975, two years after I had returned from my mission. I received a phone call, with the person on the line saying, “Hello, Elder Taylor!” I recognized Peter’s voice and his distinctive Kiwi accent. During the initial moments of the phone conversation, I was amazed at how clear and crisp Peter’s voice was, and I mentioned to him that we were very fortunate to get such a clear transoceanic phone connection. He laughed and told me that the connection was clear because he was calling me from the Missionary Training Center in Provo. He had accepted a mission call to serve in Germany and was in the Provo Missionary Training Center. Tears welled in my eyes and joy filled my heart as I later met with Peter and reflected on the magnificence of the missionary work and the working of the spirit in the lives of missionaries and the converts to the gospel. Peter would now carry the great missionary spirit and zeal with him to Germany to bless many lives, just as it had been brought into his life. It was a joy to correspond with him during his mission and share with him his successes and growth. A few lines from one of his letters speak volumes: “I want to tell you how much the Church means to me. I have you and your companion to thank for sowing the seeds of opportunity in my life. I really feel I owe my decision to go on a mission to you and your companion, as a repayment of what the Gospel has meant to me.”
I was able to see Peter again as he completed his mission and returned to New Zealand via Salt Lake City. I was able, in a small way, to tasted the delicious fruit of the Savior’s gospel as described in Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 – “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”
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