I have gone back and forth wondering if I should share this event that transpired last Friday. However, I feel like the message in it is so much more important than the story itself. I hope you all can read it and feel the power of Christ's love for you personally.
"There is a pretty busy road that runs straight through the heart of Searcy. Right off of the road there are some pretty run down apartments. Every day for 5 days I had noticed a man sitting on curbside by the apartments. Every single day when we would drive by it the spirit would nearly say to me "look at that man." I never felt no other prompting accept to simply notice that he was there."
"Then on the 6th day, we were driving back to our apartment after an appointment and I noticed the man again. The spirit whispered to me to turn around and go talk to him. So I did just that, and I flipped around as soon as I could. We pulled into the apartment parking lot with a sense of urgency. Right as we pulled into a parking space the man got up and started to walk towards the road (he was obviously intoxicated). I called after him but he kept walking. He walked straight through the busy road as cars braked and swerved around him to avoid hitting him. Just as he had passed the road, he threw himself back into the road in an attempt to get hit by a passing car. He only glanced the back of it, however, and miraculously got up. The man walked off the road to a near by store. We got in our car and bolted across the road in pursuit. I pulled in next to the building, somewhat blocking off his pathway back towards the road. He sat on some stairs outside the shop and buried his face in his hands. I got out and started to talk to him. I asked him who he was, and what his name was. I got nothing but vulgar language and threats in return. I handed the phone to my companion and told him to walk a ways away and call the police."
"As I was alone with this man, I did the only thing I could think of to help his troubled soul. Because of how medicated he was, I am unsure how much of my testimony he heard. I testified of Jesus Christ, that his atonement was powerful and real. I told the man that I knew who he was, and that I had seen him daily and said a prayer for him in my heart every time I did. The man remained sitting and would refuse to look at me. Whether out of bravery or stupidity I approached him. I opened the Book of Mormon to the page that depicts the savior, then I layed the Book at his feet. I expressed my love for him as well as our savior. The police arrived shortly after and told us we could leave. The rest of that night my heart was filled in humble prayer, asking my Father in heaven to send His angels to minister to my brother. I do not know his name or the life he has lived, but I do know that he is a son of God and of infinite worth. I'm thankful that even for a moment I was able to see him in the way Christ sees us. I'm thankful for my Redeemer and my Savior. He comforts troubled hearts and fixes broken men."
I know that God is very real. He is not an abstract being of spirit, rather is a physical God with infinite power and love. He sent us His son, to physically and spiritually save us. I'm so thankful that Christ suffered for my sins, and that he knows me so personally. It is my hope that you all have the chance to reflect on this great gift. Have a blessed day
Love you all,
Elder C.R. Anderson
(Picture is of a demonstration we did for missionaries in the area of how to teach in every situation)
1 Nephi 19
7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.
8 And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.
9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.
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