Mormon Direction

In 1994, I began a spiritual path on my own. I did not belong to any church and in fact at that time, I shunned churches all together. During that time, I began to journal my spiritual experiences and learned to “reflect” on myself and my life which led me to many insights. While at the same time, my life as I knew it, began to collapse bit by bit. (These insights provided divine truths that began to build my understanding of God and later his gospel).

Over the subsequent years from 1994, much occurred in my life, where my life had collapsed completely and I had lost everything. Those were dark times for me, because I went through major personal changes and afflictions. As much as I suffered those dark times, I also received many visions and impressions of angels who impressed me to endure and carry on. If it wasn’t for these encouragements, I would not be here giving this witness and testimony.

Over those years, God did provide his guidance in many things, which also led me from Delta BC, Canada, to Kelowna BC, then to Vernon BC (The area of Kelowna and Vernon is called the Okanagan, a serene interior country-side with many lakes and forested areas). Not long after arriving here, I received a message to become a student of Melchizedek. At that time, I had no idea what this meant since I was not involved in any church, not even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). I had no scriptural knowledge at all. After receiving that message, I tried to search for information on “Melchizedek”, but only found a few entries within the Bible. Not much occurred until I moved to the town of Vernon. It was here that I experienced the most impressive life changing event.

As I left my bank to walk home (I had no car, I lost that as well), two sister missionaries approached me on the street. As I looked at both of them, I felt a “connection” with one of them as she addressed me and handed me a copy of the Book of Mormon. As she spoke, I randomly opened the book to a page where the picture of the old prophet Moroni knelt beside a set of plates, looking up to the heavens in prayer.

As I looked at the picture of Moroni, the Holy Ghost touched and filled my entire heart and mind. The experience with the Holy Ghost confirmed to me that this book of Mormon and the picture I just viewed held importance to my life. The impression was very clear, a surety with no doubt. It was as if a person was speaking to me, giving me an assurance and knowledge of what I was viewing.

(Before I continue, I wish to make clear on this point. The image of Moroni, in and of itself, held no special power, it was only a picture, but it was an object of importance, something chosen and used by the Holy Ghost to bring my attention to, and help me identify an important spiritual matter, and this the Holy Ghost did effectively. Now to continue…)
Tears came to my eyes, my heart lit up 10 times, my mind became very sharp in clarity and I instantly knew that this “chance” meeting was by the hand of God. I had many past spiritual experiences with the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost, therefore, by the experience of it, I knew, as I had said, this was an important connection. It affected me so much, that my focus was centered on the picture of Moroni, that I could not hear the missionaries speech. She was just a mumble of words in the background of this spiritual experience.

When the missionary finished her speech, she asked if I had any questions about what she had said. My first immediate response, while still in the “Spirit”, was to ask her if there was anything like the “Melchizedek” in her church. The missionary was shocked at the question, and while in her surprise, she managed to answer “Yes”.

Remember, I knew nothing of any church, let alone the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, except for remote comments I overheard in the distant past. I gave the missionary my telephone number, and we went our own way. About 6 weeks later, the missionaries began their visits. I had no idea where this was to take me. All I knew was that this was part of that important connection and to carry through with it. All I had to do was follow the promptings of the Spirit.

The visits with the missionaries were preparatory lessons. After many visits with them, they asked if I would accept the Church and enter into baptism. I immediately said that I wish to ask God in prayer first. They gladly accepted that answer and left.

That night, I went to my knees and prayed, “Dear God, please tell me, am I to be baptized by this Church at this time?”

Next morning I got up and turned on the computer, as I had promised a friend in Turkey we would meet on AOL Messenger. I walked away from the computer and heard three distinct sounds that normally indicates someone is “on line” and sending me messages. I attended the computer and read the screen to see my friend logged on and wrote “Hi”. The third message was written in something like this “Melchiz”. I asked my friend as to why that was written, and my friend replied “I did not write it, you did.” I looked again to see that abbreviation of Melchizedek was beside my AOL ID name, as if I wrote it, but I did not, I was not even at the computer when this came through.

Then it hit me, like a shock wave of realization, and I truly felt humbled. It was clear that my prayer was answered, that I was to enter into baptism by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was no doubt, no concerns, no fear, all of that was erased. The message was a clear and peaceful.

After a short visit with my friend on AOL, I telephoned the missionaries and told them “Yes”.

The night before the arranged time of baptism, I was preparing dinner when I felt a subtle prompting, an impression to stop and fast. I shrugged it off and continued. The prompting returned and was a bit stronger. I realized that the Spirit was impressing me to listen. The message was to “fast” and the purpose, as I felt it, was to prepare for the baptism. The message did not command me, it impressed me that was the best course to take and provide the feeling of goodness and rightness in that direction. I chose to listen and stopped making dinner. That night I fasted in the manner that I understood fasting, which was to not eat or drink. Despite the understanding imparted to me by the Spirit, I knew little of what this all meant, but I knew enough to listen to the Spirit as his guidance has not failed me and, by experience, I knew it was for my benefit.

The next day, just prior to my baptism, I was interviewed by a male missionary, who asked me if I had any questions. I asked the missionary if fasting the night before, was their practice prior to baptism. He was shocked and surprised. That question caused him to stumble a bit as he said “Yes”. He showed me the scripture in the Book of Mormon that related to my question and said that the practice with new converts is not to ask them to fast for baptism. Obviously by his reply that my question had showed I had some knowledge of the scriptures, yet I had not studied the scriptures at all. This experience showed me that the prompting to “fast”was truly from God and that I was moving in a correct and true direction with this baptism. This showed me that God was watching and helping me feel secure and assured of where I was going with all of this.

I was baptized by full immersion into water, unto repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

To jump some time, during the ordination into the Aaronic priesthood by three members of the Melchizedek priesthood, by the laying on hands, I again felt the Holy Ghost fill my heart and with that came a “vision of Jesus Christ”. The face of Jesus Christ appeared in my mind, and he reached out with his hands to cup my chin. It was his Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. My eyes teared as I felt the great peace and assurance that I was doing the right thing. I felt his love, support and sturdy direction of his Spirit. This was truly Jesus Christ as the one in the Bible.

I knew, by that experience alone, the Lord Jesus Christ lived, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is his true Church. I knew, without doubt, that I was blessed by the Holy Spirit of Truth, and that the Lord Jesus Christ did create this restored gospel called the Book of Mormon. These were revelations which God imparted to me, and these filled my heart and mind.

There were many other experiences from that time on, that reconfirmed and deepened my root in the Lord and his Church, removing doubts, fears and “issues” I had about churches. I soon realized that I am here, in his true Church, for him. I realized that I did not enter into his Church by belief alone, neither by trying to compare doctrines between churches. I received and followed the sure and true course given directly by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Truth.

These were not only blessings, but great honours bestowed by God who made it a personal effort to help and provide “personal” direction to me. It honoured me and humbled me that God would view me, an individual of no important worldly stature or wealth, as important to him, that he would take the time and effort to stand beside me as he led me rightly. I say to you that there is no honour greater, than to be with the Lord in his one and true Church, and by the hand of him, none can move me to leave, or go against the Lord and his Church. By mere belief alone, I can falter, but by the Spirit I stand true and rooted. Therefore, this is not only a testimony and witness of Jesus Christ, which came by revelation as per the teachings of the apostles, but it is a testimony of rooted faith which is in spirit and in truth!

In all this time up to now, I have had many experiences within the Church that would cause others to leave in frustration and anger. These experiences could of promoted a doubting spirit, an angry spirit, a resentful spirit, and at times those experiences nearly did, but the surest thing that kept me sure, true, and on his strait and narrow path, was faith and the Holy Ghost. This means that the gift of the Holy Ghost which was given to all who are baptized in God’s true Church is true. That gift was the constant assurance that the Holy Ghost will guide and help us in our troubled times and during affliction. All I had to do was learn to increase my ability to discern his Spirit and “listen”. Just as the old prophet Moroni said that those who ask the Lord with a sincere and contrite heart, they will receive an answer. This I testify are true words from Moroni and he too was at true prophet. For it was proven to me through study and by the Holy Spirit. How can anyone doubt this?

All of this, because I sought the counsel of the Father in heaven during my trials and tribulations, realizing that any negative experiences in the Church, are the same as in life itself, and are “human and mortal experiences”, used by the Lord to test, chasten and cleanse us. That these experiences are no reason to doubt that this is his Church. I learned early, to never use mortal experiences to judge the righteousness of his Church. No never, for if I followed mortal weakness and experiences to judge his Church or any person in it, I would loose the guidance of the Holy Ghost until I repented again.

These experiences with God through his Spirit has shown and proven to me that even his Prophet erred from time to time, and that is the blessing, in which compassion, understanding and grace is given by the Father unto the prophet. Since the Father does this for his prophet that has erred, being mortal, then how much more will each of us receive the same grace when we seek the Father and his counsel, in our good and dark times?

As per the words of the Lord, and by the example of the Saints in times past, “endure, endure”, remain faithful, obedient and do not blame the Lord’s Church for ill feelings. As I say to you and others here who read this, I have had ill times that could scare anyone away, yet I remained true and faithful. For how could you know the work of God until you seek him to find out during your darkest times?.

I say that this testimony and witness is true, as the Father has given me this spiritual testimony and witness, through his Holy Ghost.

I say this in the name of his only begotten Son, who is our Saviour, Jesus Christ. ~Amen.

Mark Warbinek