Joseph Laflin's Personal Testimony
Joseph Laflin
02/10/1999
Ward/Branch: Bradenton Florida First Ward
Stake/Mission: Brandon Stake
State/Country: Florida, USA
It is my testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true Church of Christ on the earth. I have a sure knowledge of this due to personal revelation and the power of the Spirit of God touching my physical being.
I was raised Catholic, grade school, high school, and college, hence I always have had a knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. I had no desire to change my religion, particularly for one that requires so much change.
But, fifteen years ago, several things happened, the first; a friend gave me a Book of Mormon telling me to read it. I glanced through it and felt offended when I read the part about the "abominable church", I equated that to be the Catholic Church in my mind.
Then, another friend gave me a pictoral history of the Mormon people. I looked through it, particularly the parts about going west to the Salt Lake Valley. I remember thinking how pathetic this group of people had to be, being persecuted constantly. It discussed the excommunication of many of the members because they could not live the gospel, or they denied Joseph as a prophet. Then I read the part of Joseph dying at Carthage. I had no real feelings about this at the time, other than I rationalized that this Joseph Smith must have truly believed in this religion, to put up with all of the aggravation and persecution tied to it.
The third incident, all taking place within a month's time, was that I received a phone call from the wife of my best friend. He lived in Florida and I had not seen him for several years. He was a member of the Latter Day Saints.
His wife informed me that my friends heart had been damaged due to medication he was taking for cancer. He was not going to live much longer and she said that he wanted to see me before he died. I left Ohio that night and drove directly to his home in Florida.
When I arrived, I entered his bedroom and found him in a rather bad state of health. He, in fact, was near death. He called me over to his bed saying, "You probably think that I called you here because I am dying, but the truth is that I had a dream that I am going to baptize you into the Mormon Church on Saturday. You need to take the discussions from the missionaries."
I started to laugh at him, but I did not want to upset his already fragile state. I told him that I had no desire to be baptized and to put it out of his mind.
This was on a Monday. Tuesday, it was the same speach. "Joe, you need to take the discussions, Saturday is not far off." I said nothing.
Wednesday, the same routine.
Thursday, he started again. "Joe, there is not much time, you need to start the discussions today."
I was getting agitated now. I decided to put an end to all of the 'baptism' subject. "I am not going to be baptized, I already belong to a Church, and have no desire to belong to another one, now stop this, anyway, how do you think that you could baptize anyone, you can't even get out of bed."
I started to walk away, when suddenly a voice filled the room. It was not mine, nor was it my friend's.
"LISTEN TO HIM!"
I looked around to see who had entered the room. There was no-one there except us.
Again, I told my friend, "Herb, forget this nonsense and concentrate on getting better."
The voice returned, this time with power and authority. "LISTEN TO HIM!"
I do not know what caused me to realize that this voice was the Spirit of God, but I recognized it immediately. I became more humble than I had ever been. Tears were streaming down my face. I took all the discussions in the two days prior to Saturday and by some miraculous intervention, my friend was able to come to the Chapel and baptize me on Saturday. It was several weeks later that he died.
It is sad to me that the Lord gave me friends, books and missionaries, yet it took the Spirit to intervene before I could accept the most beautiful gift He has placed in my life.
I know this to be the true Church and I could not deny it. All things may fall, but this Church will stand with Jesus Christ at it's head....