A few days prior to reception of my own personal testimony, Elder Hansen and I were tracting near the docks of Southampton (our area). As was customary, we would knock on the door at a given residence and await an answer. We knew that observers might see us going from door to door; and avoid answering their door as we knocked. Nevertheless, we’d wait patiently at each door so as to afford each home an opportunity to receive our message (and possibly the Gospel). If the door remained unanswered, we’d wait an appropriate amount of time and subsequently mark our record indicating ‘nobody home’; then moving on to the next residence of the street. In the event that an individual answered our knock, we’d endeavor to engage the adult with our door approach; hoping to spark some sort of interest, and perhaps obtain entrance to the home and a brief presentation. It was amidst our daily tracting that day; that we approached what would later be identified as Thomas Gillespie’s door. As we awaited an answer to our knock, a middle-aged man answered the door. He appeared somewhat disheveled and mildly annoyed that his late morning had been disrupted. He was average height and build for his age. His appearance resembled that of a Pakistani immigrant; displaying dark hair and obvious dark body hair. He might’ve been even somewhat intimidating; had we not been accompanied by a missionary companion. I don't remember whose door it was; but to my surprise, the man appeared to be mildly interested as we engaged him with our door approach. He further changed his demeanor; and opened the door wide so as to invite our entrance into the residence. We entered into the customary hallway; and were then invited into a living room just inside and off the hallway. We were both invited to seat ourselves on hard, straight-backed chairs; which we accepted. He sat opposite us on an overstuffed couch. Following a few identifying introductory remarks, Elder Hansen and I proceeded to present our introductory discussion through the use of our ‘Meet the Mormons’ picture book. Mr. Gillespie, as he’d introduced himself, appeared moderately interested as we progressed through the presentation for about 5 minutes. At that time, we all were made aware of people entering through the front door. Mr. Gillespie became noticeably nervous as several adults and small toddlers passed by the open hallway door. Looking into the living room, they observed us and Mr. Gillespie seemingly engaged in our short presentation. They had a look of surprised concern on their adult faces; and Elder Hansen and I chalked the concern up to our being religiously dressed strangers. Immediately, Mr. Gillespie announced that we’d have to leave. As we exited the front door, Mr. Gillespie explained that he was a recent lodger in some upstairs digs. He further explained that the people we’d seen were the residence’s owners and his landlords. He finally made known that we’d been observed in the living room - which was not readily available to him as a lodger (hence the surprised looks). We offered our understanding of the circumstance; and thanked him for his hospitality. We realized the awkwardness we may have introduced; and apologized for any potential discomfort we may have initiated. Finally, we offered him a Book of Mormon as we departed. He took the book nervously as if to expedite our departure; and we left. We noted the book’s placement, hoping Mr. Gillespie might peruse its pages over the next several days. However, we’d often lend as many as 10 books a day; frequently receiving them back unopened! Hence, our interaction with Mr. Gillespie and distribution of the book seemed only slightly unusual; and did not make a lasting impression on either of us missionaries. The owners of the residence had the appearance of Pakistani immigrants. Their home displayed the stark rudiments of very clean but sparse furniture; and we assumed that the owners/landlords may have exercised strict rules over their single lodger – Mr. Gillespie. Thinking nothing further of the incident, we simply carried on with our tracting throughout the remainder of the day.
A couple of days later, I would be blessed to have the profound experience of receiving my own, personal testimony! (See “How I Got My Own Testimony”) This had made an extremely meaningful impression on me; and yet my companion’s nonchalance had caused me to keep the experience deeply private. I’d been communicated to by deity. Nevertheless, I was not about to dishonor the event by exposing it to those I deemed as treating such overwhelming experiences as trivial and common! Hence, Elder Hansen was primarily oblivious to the impact such occurrence had taken place in his companion – greenie.
The day following my having received my testimony, we were going about gathering up Books of Mormon that we’d lent out previously. It was customary for us to quickly revisit homes where we’d lent Books of Mormon. Revisiting such homes, we’d engage the recipient of the book in order to ascertain whether or not they were interested in learning anything further. Unfortunately, most homes would simply leave the Book of Mormon on their doorstep. Thereby avoiding any additional interaction with us! We’d just observe the book on the doorstep, retrieve it (sometimes drenched from overnight rain); and note such rejection in our record. A year or so later, the missionaries could reference the record; be aware of such behavior; and act accordingly.
That morning, as we approached Mr. Gillespie's residence; we expected to find his Book of Mormon on the doorstep! But we didn't. Stepping out of our bikes; we approached the door and knocked to see if we could contact Mr. Gillespie. Thankfully, he answered the door; and we began conversing with him about the book. Elder Hansen was addressing Mr. Gillespie directly; with me standing immediately behind him. Elder Hansen was endeavoring to persuade Mr. Gillespie to permit our entrance; allowing a greater illumination of the book and its contents. I could see that Mister Gillespie was rather reticent about inviting us in and continuing our discussion. Elder Hansen was attempting to persuade Mr. Gillespie via logic in that it would be beneficial for him to engage a further discussion of our message. To this, Mr. Gillespie did not appear to be responding favorably; and it appeared that he was about to dispatch us - with our book. Having just received my own testimony, I reached forward; grasping Elder Hansen’s shoulder (we were just about the same height and build) and gently pushed him aside. (Such an aggressive act was very outside my demeanor; and Elder Hansen turned his head; looking astonished at me.) Incredulously he stepped aside; allowing me to step forward and address Mr. Gillespie directly. I then addressed Mr. Gillespie with all the fervor I could muster and told him that “it was terribly important that he permit our presentation”. I then intensely bore testimony of the Book of Mormon (a thing Elder Hansen had not anticipated) and told him that he must not casually disregard our presence at his door! Expressing that the contents of this book were vitally important to him; Mr. Gillespie finally relented and opened his door to admit us in once more. We followed him past the living room and down the long dimly lit hallway to a set of stairs leading to an open doorway at their top. We followed hm up the stairs into a somewhat small ‘digs’ where he was lodged. There he gestured to two straight back chairs at his dining table where we took our seats. He sat nearby on the edge of his bed.
As we began our presentation, Mr. Gillespie interrupted us to explain his circumstances. He apparently had been embarrassed by our experience at our 1st contact. He explained that he was just a lodger there; and had not been given privileges beyond his own digs. When the owners discovered our presence in the living room that day; they’d been surprised to learn of our presence in their home and even further regarding our presence with him in their living room. He’d apologized to his landlord for his breach of rules; and had promised not to permit such an infraction in the future. We stated that we understood; and assured him of our intent to honor his circumstance. With our promise to respect his wishes; he seemed to relax; and proceeded to reveal the details surrounding his circumstances. We were somewhat taken back by his candor; but listened carefully as he unburdened himself regarding the unusual circumstances of his residing there. He stated that he was married with two small children. Several weeks prior to the present day, he’d acted on a feeling he’d been troubled with for many weeks. He explained that he could not adequately describe his feelings – only that he’d been progressively troubled leading to about 2 weeks earlier. He assured us that he loved his wife and children and knew that his personal distress invoked anxiety in them. Nevertheless, he stated that he knew something significant was missing from his life. He somehow knew that the ‘something’ was significant; and finally (after deep anxiety) took his leave from his wife and family in order to sequester himself. He’d privately engaged his secluded ‘search’ for what the ‘something’ was that he sought! Since that day, he’d been lodged in his digs; perusing the Bible for some indication that he might detect. Elder Hansen and I were deeply impressed by his willingness to impart such private thoughts to us. Mr. Gillespie had invited us in on that 1st contact because he’d ‘felt’ that we might have something for him. Of course, we’d known nothing of his personal ‘search’. Moments earlier, as he spoke with Elder Hansen; he’d convinced himself that such interaction could be distractive to his special ‘search’; and was about to send us away. But when I stepped forward; expressing personal conviction regarding our message and the Book of Mormon; he’d felt an influence within and decided that further investigation was warranted. It was then that he’d invited us in! Mr. Gillespie then encouraged us to continue our presentation – which we did! As we left him following our 1st discussion; we encouraged him to read the Book of Mormon and pray concerning its truth as promised in Moroni 10:4-5. He said he would; and we departed. Inasmuch as 1st discussions were relatively common, we hoped he’d ‘read and pray’; but did not especially know regarding Mr. Gillespie or the event we’d just experienced.
Upon our return a few days later; he met us at the door. Inviting us in, he exclaimed “Please come in – I know the book’s true!” As we discussed his ‘conversion’ experience, he seemed to recognize us as genuine messengers from God. He acknowledged his coming in contact with the Book of Mormon and us - as the purpose for which he’d sequestered himself. He excitedly expressed a sincere desire to engage the gospel; and become part of the church as quickly as he could. He would then return to his wife and family – whom he now impatiently missed and sought to share his discovery with. We proceeded to teach him the discussions somewhat expeditiously; during the next two weeks as we prepared him for baptism. He hungrily accepted the remaining discussions while devouring the Book of Mormon. Readily accepting the Word of Wisdom and Tithing; we recognized his accelerated acceptance of conversion to the restored gospel.
I had been chosen to officiate Mr. Gillespie’s baptism; and was mildly concerned; inasmuch as I’d never baptized a full-sized adult before. Mr. Gillespie was nearly my size and a barrel-chested man. Would I be able to baptize him without incident? Unaware, Mr. Gillespie anxiously awaited the scheduled date of his baptism! As we both entered the waters of his baptism; I was certainly aware of his size and weight. As I completed the prayer, I wrapped my full arm across his shoulders so as to assure my strength inasmuch I would lift him from the waters. What I’d not counted on was the necessity that his body be fully immersed. As we both bent into the water, I realized that Mr. Gillespie’s chest did not fully immerse. By this point, my head was just above water! Recognizing the need to immerse him deeper, I twisted my head further to avoid immersing my face. By now, my mouth was at the water’s surface. Twisting my head still further, I suddenly recognized Mr. Gillespie’s full immersion. It was then that I applied the full strength of my being; shifting my leg beneath Mr. Gillespie and raising him to his upright position. Thankfully, his baptism was complete; and I had not been required to submerse myself with him. Brother Gillespie was genuinely thrilled at his baptism and entry to the Church. We continued in contact with him for about a week following his baptism. He then removed himself from his digs; and returned to his family in a distant city. We never heard from him again; but were confident in his devotion to the things he’d learned.
I’ve thought of Brother Gillespie since then. I’ve found - his timely sequestering in our tracting area; his intense and private search for his life’s meaning; my receipt of divine communication the day before; and my uncharacteristic passionate expression – all seemed to be instrumental in achieving influence fundamental to assisting God’s children in eternally significant events – amidst temporal surroundings!
Ever since then, I’ve been unable to convince myself otherwise!
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