How Close Are You To Christ

How close are you to Christ:

A few weeks ago I mentioned Zueni, who we met while tracting and how she didn't like us because she thought we were JWs at first but then she warmed up to us. Frankly she's been amazing to work with. She's absolutely loved every doctrine we've taught her so far and she loves coming to church. She couldn't find conference in Swahili so she just watched all 5 sessions in English, she had almost no idea what was going on. She's also opened up a ton about her family and life back in Africa. 

We decided it was high time she got baptized so we made a plan to teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ with some members named the Okesola's. Brother Okesola is from Nigeria and was recently baptized, I don't know much about him other than he also recently married a member.

We were teaching the lesson and it was going pretty good. Sister Okesola was using google translate to talk to her in Swahili because she automatically assumed she didnt speak any English. She was bearing her testimony and while some of the translations came out good I could tell by the look on Zueni's face that somethings got a little mixed up in the translation. Brother Okesola said absolutely nothing for the first half of the lesson. We were doing everything we were supposed to and the Spirit was 100% present and working in full force. Then came the moment of truth. We read Mosiah 18: 8-10 and I invited Zueni to be baptized and we held our breath. She smiled, and politely told us she had already been baptized. This was my worst fear, everyone and their dog that says they've already been baptized ends up dropping us. I prayed for a miracle when Brother Okesola who had been lounging back completely silent. Sat up and directly faced Zueni. They were sitting one person apart on the same couch so it was a little awkward for him to turn his whole body toward her, he had half his butt off the couch.

He cleared his throat. I was happy he was speaking up but nervous about how this would play out.

He told her about how he had been baptized before too and he felt closer to Jesus when he did it but when bad things happened he stopped feeling the good feelings that came from his baptism. Zueni stopped him and said she had always wanted to follow Jesus but she felt she was complete with her baptism.

Brother Okesola looked into her soul

"Tell me, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?" He demanded.

"Yes, I believe I do." She replied.

"How close are you with him? Is it as close as you and I are now?"

"Well, no."

"That's why we want you to be baptized, when I got baptized I got this feeling like he was right there next to me the entire time."

He went on and told her that was only the beginning how the temple was the most peaceful place he'd ever been to and how all of his problems just disappear temporarily once he goes inside. 

We asked again and she said yes, she'd like to have that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

I know this gospel is true and that there is no way one can be happy without Jesus Christ. 

Love,

Elder Murdoch