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Look out! The Old Geezer Has Arrived!

Crossborn

By Crossborn
in Introduce Yourself

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Crossborn

Crossborn

Posted
Posted

Hello everyone,

I am an old geezer. I will be 72 tomorrow. I have been active LDS since 1952. At that time we had 1.25 million members worldwide. David O. McKay had just become the President of the Church. I was raised in the General Baptist Church but, at the age of nine, I learned that it was not the church that Christ started during his mortal mission. Two years later, I sought baptism by a baptist minister but I refused to join any church. The ministers assured me that the church that Christ started no longer existed. I felt strongly that it did and I began a diligent search to find it. During the next six years I attended many denominations and questioned their ministers and read their books. I began attending the Assembly of God because they believed in the Gifts of the Spirit and personal revelation. This experience did prepare me for what came later. In about December 1951, I read the scripture in Matthew Chapter 7: "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." To me, this was the Lord's Contract that he would lead me to the truth I was seeking but I first had to commit myself to accept what the Lord would show me.

There followed, during the next seven months, a series of very personal and sacred experiences to include a prophetic vision that was fulfilled to the letter seven years later. When the answer was fully given me that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored through Joseph Smith, it was not what I wanted to hear, but I accepted it. The previous Sunday I had asked a United Pentecostal congregation to pray for my poor misguided aunt who was a Mormon. On Friday, I asked the Lord if he was guiding me to the "Mormon" church. I immediately received that affirmative answer. As soon as I got off my knees, the telephone rang. My aunt told me that two missionaries were traveling through our town and had stopped to visit her. She wanted me to talk to them. I told her I would because I wanted to be baptized. The elders interviewed me that afternoon. When they asked me a question, I would say, "If that is what your church teaches, then I know it is true. Next question, please" I was baptized in a river the next day without ever having a lesson or reading any LDS literature. The day after that I attended church for the first time; less than fifteen people in a room at the city jail.

I was a sand hill hick from the boot heel of Missouri in 1957 when I took a train to SLC with the idea of becoming a missionary. I walked into the Church Office Building and looked for someone with whom I could talk. I saw a secretary right away. I thought a secretary was not too threatening. DUHHH! His name was Gordon B. Hinckley. Secretary of Missions. With his help, I was called, interviewed, set apart and entered the mission home all within five weeks. I served two and a half years in the Spanish American Mission.

Eighteen months after that, I began serving a very successful two year part-time mission to the Kuna Indians (also known as the San Blas Indians) in the Republic of Panama. I graduated from BYU while I was in the Army Military Intelligence.

I have served the Lord in His church for fifty one years in many places and in almost all ward and stake positions except for bishop and stake president. I have been a student of protestant evangelical teachings (I used to be active in Baptist and Assembly of God churches and have continued to study protestant theology); but, more importantly, I have been a student of the scriptures, the prophets and the Holy Ghost for a long time. I have had a lot of experiences from the boring to the miraculous. I would be very happy if I could be helpful to anyone regarding the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Well, that's who I am and that's enough about me. Now, how about you?

Love y'all

Crossborn

Wingnut

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

The elders interviewed me that afternoon. When they asked me a question, I would say, "If that is what your church teaches, then I know it is true. Next question, please" I was baptized in a river the next day without ever having a lesson or reading any LDS literature. The day after that I attended church for the first time; less than fifteen people in a room at the city jail.

The good old days, huh? :)

Welcome to the site!

Crossborn

Crossborn

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

You may have noticed that I have not learned how to respond to a particular post. I thought that the reply button at the bottom of a post would show up as a reply to that particular one. I guess I need to quote the post when I reply to it. AARRGGHH All this modern stuff!!

So. Thanks to everyone for your kind words. I appreciated the comment "What is your point?" That was funny. But the truth is: I am known for my dull points.

And, yes, I have been around for a long time and I may have learned a great deal; but I don't know. I can't remember.

Edited by Crossborn
It was not clear to whom I was responding

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