M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

Birth of a Testimony
by Charles M. Sakai

I was brought up in a Buddhist family with no strong religious convictions; however, from the age of eight I became dissatisfied with the faith of my ancestors, when I started asking questions such as, "Why am I praying to this dumb idol who never talks back to me?" My quest, stretching over a period of twenty years, was filled with many disappointments. Instinctively I felt that the truth must lie in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but was baffled by the spectacle of hundreds of churches contending against one another, each with their own interpretation of the scriptures.

Several times members of other churches attempted to entice me into becoming one of them, but my frustration and confusion were so great that I could not commit myself to becoming a member at that time. During my college years, I sadly concluded that the reason for this confusion was because mankind had strayed from the original teachings of Christ, and that we were left to our own devices ever since.

Invitation to Family Home Evening
By the time I was twenty-eight, my heart had become hardened and steeped in worldliness, until a wondrous sequence of events caused me to submit meekly to the will of God, and led me gently into his Church. It all started rather innocently, in the second half of November, 1976, when my neighbor, Joseph P. Haroldsen, invited me to "Family Home Evening." I accepted, mostly out of curiosity, since he did not explain the meaning of that term.

On the evening of November 22, 1976, imagine my utter astonishment when, a few minutes after my arrival, two LDS missionaries entered his apartment! Elders Wallace W. Booth and Kevin H. Coleman stood before me. We played parlor games, watched a film about Joseph Smith ("The First Vision"), engaged in a brief discussion and agreed to meet a week later. Little did I realize then that Joe Haroldsen was planting the seed of faith in my heart when he made the following request, in all humility, "Won't you please say a little prayer once or twice a day?" I consented to do so out of friendship, and the missionaries coached me in my first halting attempt.

The second meeting with the elders was livelier than the first, as we knew each other a little better, and could afford to be more frank and open. I confronted them with over two dozen questions on church doctrine and history, and freely admit to feeling a sense of smug superiority when they couldn't answer two of them to my satisfaction, namely their former practice of plural marriage, and the fact that black members could not hold the priesthood back in 1976. It took a considerable amount of investigation, soul-searching and prayer on my part, and a personal revelation that the situation regarding blacks and the priesthood would soon change, before these lingering reservations were swept away.

An Unusual Dream
Even at that early stage I could not help but be impressed by their sincerity and dedication to their cause, particularly the powerful testimony of Elder Booth. Joe's remark that these missionaries were teaching the gospel at their own expense also left a deep and lasting impression. That very night (November 29-30), I had a dream quite unlike any I had before, and to this day I can distinctly recall every detail of it. I beheld myself standing on the shoulder of an Interstate freeway, hitchhiking in the dark, with only a duffel bag and backpack for baggage. A gentle but persuasive voice told me, "You will go down to El Paso, Texas, as soon as possible." I was also made to understand that I would know exactly what to do and say once I arrived there. This dream struck me with such compelling force that I could not help but interpret it as a commandment from the Lord, and a test of my faith.

Although I could scarcely afford to travel just then, I decided to undergo the journey, convinced that I had been presented with a rare opportunity. For once I understood how the merchant of old must have felt when he saw his chance to obtain the pearl of great price. A day or two later I revealed the contents of this dream to my neighbor's wife, Bonnie. Instead of laughing at me, she promptly reported it to her husband. Within three days Joe called his bishop, whose wife referred him to L. LaVon Cardon, of the El Paso Second Ward. He then telephoned Bishop Cardon at his own expense and persuaded him to take me in for one weekend as a guest. This in itself was a shining example of how far-reaching the LDS brotherhood can be, since Bishop Cardon knew virtually nothing about Mr. Haroldsen and even less about me!

A Journey to El Paso
On Thursday I set out on the long journey to El Paso, and drove the 700 miles in one day. Bishop Cardon told me that he had served as bishop for five years before being released, but that it was still proper to address him by that title. The next day he led me and introduced me to the local missionaries, Elders Giles and Waite. They were most eager to answer my questions concerning the LDS Church, and gave me several pamphlets to read. Around 6:00 that evening Bishop Cardon returned, and I followed him to his home.

The Cardons live in comfortable circumstances, but more importantly, they extended their wholehearted hospitality to this investigator of modest means, and I solemnly testify before God and my fellow men that they were the perfect family to introduce me to the LDS way of life.

For three nights and two days they placed a spare bedroom at my disposal, supplied all meals, patiently answered my questions, and took me on guided tours around El Paso and Juarez. What impressed me about the Cardon family?------ I believe it was the gratifying discovery that there existed a Church which still retained the moral authority to inspire its members to lead righteous lives seven days a week, without fear and without compulsion.-------The faith of Bishop and sister Elois Romney Cardon, in particular was sufficient to melt the hardest heart. Their gracious hospitality contributed materially to making my stay in El Paso a pleasant and memorable experience. I agreed to accompany the Cardon family to church on Sunday (December 5).

Something more than the laws of chance operated in my behalf that day, for this, the first Sunday of the month, was Fast and Testimony meeting. Although I now know that the Spirit is with the Church at all times, it somehow feels more intense on Fast Sundays. I received a favorable impression of their morning priesthood meeting, as I was cordially welcomed by the brethren, and not made to feel like an alien, even though I was the only Asian present. Throughout the day I couldn't help but notice how happy many of the families were, and how quick they were to credit the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the harmony in their lives. I also noted a refreshing absence of graven images in and around the church building itself.

A Testimony Meeting
The single event which convinced me that I had finally found the true church took place during the afternoon, during the testimony meeting.---Being unaccustomed to fasting, I agreed to skip breakfast only, and after lunch we returned to church. As soon as the sacrament of the Lord's Supper had been blessed and passed, we settled down to hear various members of the congregation bear their testimonies. Each speaker declared publicly his faith in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and also in the sacred mission of the American prophet, Joseph Smith. Never before had the Spirit of the Lord uplifted and inspired me as it did that afternoon. People of all ages eagerly awaited their turns, and each of them spoke without notes. How could I help but be impressed by their quiet sincerity?

I had not planned to address a roomful of strangers when I walked through the door, but now felt impelled to bear my testimony. I humbly acknowledge that it was only through the power of the Holy Ghost that I could bring myself to talk for five or six minutes. I had always considered myself slow of speech and dreaded ever having to appear before an audience, no matter how small. This incident was sufficient to convince me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly God's own church.

Even on the return trip it seemed that the Lord was watching over me, since only two days after I arrived safely home (December 9), I heard that the very same roads which I had traversed in Texas and Oklahoma were covered with ice and snow. Upon returning I started attending Sunday services at the LaSalle Chapel, with the Colorado Springs Fifth Ward. I originally planned to investigate the church for several months before making up my mind, however, it took only a casual conversation with Joe Haroldsen to accelerate my immersion into the waters of baptism.

Joe and I were heading home in his car from Manitou Springs when I asked him, rather hesitantly, "Since Christmas is coming, and since you and your family are moving at the end of the month, what would you like to receive from me?" His answer was brief but inspired: "The greatest gift you could ever give is to be baptized, - in fact, I'd be honored if you would let me perform the baptism." In less than ten minutes we agreed on most of the details of the baptism.

The day of my baptism - Saturday, December 25, 1976 - shall always be engraved upon my heart as a beautiful and spiritual experience. Joseph and I agreed to fast that day, and the baptism was set for 4:00 p.m.

After a short lesson with the missionaries, we proceeded to the LaSalle Chapel and changed into white clothing. Brother Haroldsen performed the ordinance of baptism. ----- I actually felt clean on the inside.----- I invited all Melchizedek priesthood holders to participate in the laying on of hands while Elder Booth confirmed me a member of the church. About a dozen men stepped forward. If there were any lingering doubts in my mind concerning the power and the glory of the Holy Ghost, they vanished in an instant during confirmation as all those palms pressed down upon my head, I could feel it getting lighter and lighter, and the Holy Ghost descended upon me in the form of a shaft of light illuminating a barren wilderness.

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I wrote the first draft of this conversion story on April 2, 1977. Some time later I showed the manuscript to a Korean investigator, Bok Ja Moon, later known as Bok Kim. After she and her sister translated the account into Korean, Bok Kim was baptized on December 25, 1978. She started using the translation as a missionary tool. Over the years she has helped bring not less than 30 Koreans into the Church, and her two sons have served missions, graduated from Brigham Young University, and married in the temple. Many of these events are recorded in the book, "The Stone Rolls Forth: A History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southeastern Colorado 1846-1986," compiled and published by the Colorado Springs North Stake in 1988.

In writing this simple account of my conversion, while it is still fresh in my memory, I wish to bear witness to the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints genuinely possesses the authority to act in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; that for a small amount of faith on my part, unmistakable signs were manifested unto me. The Lord has been a great source of strength to me in many times and places as I served a full career in the military, and it is a great source of comfort to know that no one can take away from me what I have seen, felt and experienced. I only hope and pray that on this solid foundation my testimony can continue to grow. I seal the truth of these words in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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