Golden Opportunity

Our stake president's challenge for 2007 was to give away two copies of the Book of Mormon. I asked Darren if the one that I gave to the girl in my primary class who didn't have one and whose dad is not a member counted. He said it didn't, so I was 0 for 1 for my placing-the-Book-of-Mormon-count.

Yesterday, I had a medical exam for life insurance, and the gal who came to my house asked me if I was a Mormon after finding out my squeaky clean alcohol and drug history and hearing that I have 7 siblings. When I said I was, she went on and on about the other Mormons her job has put her in contact with in the last few weeks--a recently returned missionary who went to Brazil, a wedding planner who's doing a wedding for an 18-year old friend of the family, etc. She asked me if I got married in the "big temple" and if everyone worships there. I must have looked confused as to what other temple there could be because she added, "the one on Mesa Drive." Then I realized that she must think we call all of our meetinghouses temples. I told that we have other buildings for regular Sunday worship and explained what a ward is. She told me that she lives near the temple and has been to the Easter pageant several times and loves the "festival of lights" at Christmastime. She talked so much about "Mormons" during her visit that when she stood to go I told her I had an extra copy of the Book of Mormon if she was interested. "Thanks so much," she told me when I handed it to her. I was so excited, even if I am a year late getting into the challenge.

The night before my exam, it was my turn for family prayer, and due to Elder Bednar's conference talk, I felt inclined to ask Heavenly Father to help us do our part in helping the missionaries find people to teach. I don't know if I found the golden contact yesterday, or if the gal will ever take the missionary lessons, but a golden opportunity to give someone the Book of Mormon walked right into my house--an opportunity to good to pass up. President Thornock (our stake president) would be so proud!