A Wonderful Missionary Experience

[Bernard Gui]

A very long post, but perhaps of interest and worth to some.

I have often referred to my friend Bob Erickson on this board. Sister Gui and I met him in Afton, WY, in 1973. We were returning to Provo from Yellowstone NP, when a frightened young man jumped into our back seat. Bob was hitchhiking from Michigan to California to celebrate his high school graduation. A man picked him up in Wyoming, but then refused let him out of the car. When he slowed down in the town Bob jumped out of the car and ran to the gas station where we were refueling our car. We had placed a Book of Mormon under our windshield in hopes of giving it to someone as we travelled.

When Bob saw the book he felt he could safely ask us for help, so he jumped into our car and begged us to take him to the nearest airport so he could go home. We were shocked to have this young man in our car, but he quickly explained his circumstances and we agreed to take him to Salt Lake City. 

During the drive we conversed and soon realized the Book of Mormon was intended for Bob. We arranged for him to stay with some guys we knew in Helaman Halls at BYU, and for several days we showed him around the area including Temple Square. He decided to finish his journey to San Francisco. On returning home, he joined the Church. Eventually we last touch.

Decades later, Bob miraculously reconnected with us on Facebook. He had served a remarkable mission in Virginia, but because he was gay he had unfortunately suffered a lot of mistreatment at the hands of other missionaries and his mission president. When he returned home, he left the Church and fully embraced a gay lifestyle. Sadly, Bob contracted AIDS and his health deteriorated dramatically.

One morning, after reaching the bottom of despair, he looked in the mirror and the thought came to him that the person he saw was not who he really was…he was indeed a child of God. He returned to Christ, was rebaptized, and though suffering horrendous health issues, has been an active and faithful member ever since. His life has been one of constant, devoted, loving service to others as his health permits.

Today, Bob posted this on Facebook  Even though it is lengthy, I strongly encourage you to read it.

 

Quote

For some time now, I have been getting the prompting to share this with you. I took the photo and the letter out of my missionary binder. I've set it here and there, always with the, "But you need to share this story!" So now is the day and time I'm going to follow through with this prompting. I hope that this story is of benefit to you in your testimony of how aware Heaven is of each of us.

*********************************

The date is in February 1978. I was serving in the Virginia Roanoak Mission assigned to the Blacksburg, Virginia Ward. Blacksburg is in the northern Blue Ridge Highlands region of Virginia. My companion and I Elder Koon were on bicycles all year round. Needless to say, riding bikes around town was freezing cold.

 

We had just left a teaching appointment. It was after 9:00 at night, dark, cold, and a good amount of snow. We walked over to our bikes and began to unlock them, ready for the ride back to our apartment. As I was wrapping up the chain lock I heard the Spirit whisper, "What are you doing?" "I'm unlocking my bicycle." "Why?' "Because we're getting ready to ride home." "What time is it?" "I don't know." Looking at my watch, "It's 9:20." "Your Mission President has asked you to work until 9:30. Will you go knocking on doors for 10 minutes?" "No. It's late. We're cold. It's too late to go knocking on people's doors!" "Will you go knock on doors for 10 minutes?" "Ok, I guess you really want us to do this."

 

Not explaining to my companion the discussion I had just had arguing with the Spirit, I simply said, "Elder, we have to knock on doors for 10 minutes." We proceeded to lock our bikes back up and took out our "tracking cards". We kept 3 x 5 cards of every area we had already knocked doors in, to know which doors no one answered. We began knocking on those doors. There was again no answer on these doors until finally, one door opened.

 

The woman who answered the door was obviously ready to turn in for the night as she had on her house coat. I gave the usual door approach, "Hi, we're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We realize that this isn't the best time to share our message with you but could we set a time to return and share this message?" "Sure" was her reply. So we set a return visit and began teaching Judy Milbourn. Judy explained to us that she was a history teacher and was often at after-school events so we'd of probably not found her art home had we not knocked when we did.

Throughout the following months, we taught Judy the discussions and invited her to be baptized. She accepted and in June of 1978, just before my return home, I was privileged to baptize Judy. Soon my two years were concluded and I returned home to Ypsilanti, Michigan. We kept in touch but after a few years lost contact with each, other. I had never shared with Judy how the whisperings of the Holy Spirit instructed us to knock on doors for "just 10 minutes" that cold dark February night, enabling us to find her.

 

The years passed by and in October of 1996, I received the following letter from Judy:

 

12 October 1996 St. Petersburg, Florida

Dear Elder Erickson,

Hopefully you are the Elder Erickson that served part of his mission in Blacksburg, Virginia in the winter and spring of 1978. This letter will be written assuming that you are, and if you are not, please excuse the intrusion.

 

You may not remember teaching me the gospel - it has been a long time ago. I have often thought of you and Elder Koon and wanted to write to thank you, but procrastination and the lack of an address prevented it. Finally, the Spirit penetrated so strongly that I decided to make the attempt.

I was teaching a high school, history class when one of my students asked me a question about the Mountain Meadow Massacre which was mentioned in the text. Unable to answer the question, I was unsuccessfully researching it at home that evening when you and your companion knocked on my door. It took me years to realize that Heavenly Father had set me up. I thought the timing was just a coincidence. You patiently and diligently taught me, and then after my baptism you were either transferred or perhaps your mission had ended. I went to church through the summer, but with the resumption of school in the fall, I quit going. I imagine that when you left you assumed that your efforts hadn't born fruit. Not true - it just took the fruit a few years to ripen, by which time I had lost touch with you.

 

If you had any idea how often I have told that story in Visiting teaching workshops, while encouraging missionaries, and in bearing testimony through the years you would be amazed. Each time a talk calls for the topic of "you may not think that the seeds you have planted have fallen on fertile ground, but...?, the story of two Elders and a Home and Visiting Teacher who never knew the results of their work is repeated.

 

I have often thought of the effort you put forth on my behalf. The tangible gifts such as the Easter basket left by the "Mormon Bunnies", the loan of your album, "My Turn On Earth", and a gift of a conference issue of the Ensign meant a lot. But of even greater impact was your spiritual influence that was so crucial in my conversion. Thank you for giving up those years of your life to knock on my door that cold winter night. (And it was cold!!) Often when I see our Elders dying in the Florida heat I tell them that the only reason I let you two in that first night instead or talking to you through the door was that you looked so miserably cold and had such red noses. I am so sorry that you had to suffer so that my heart would be softened. But I am so grateful that you did.

 

How often I wanted to tell you of the difference you made in my life. I can't imagine existing without the happiness that comes through knowing about the Savior and the plan of salvation. And it wasn't only my life you impacted! Thousands of my family members on the other side of the veil must have a cheering section for you. You have been gratefully thought of as I took my ancestors through the veil, as I was set apart for wonderful callings, as I traveled for three weeks in Israel and Jordan with a BYU group, and as I sat in the celestial room of the Orlando Temple while it was dedicated by President Hunter. I can't begin to thank you enough for making those spiritual times possible. Last week I was able to attend all four sessions of General Conference seated in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. My gratitude continues...

 

Through the challenges in my life I have been grateful that I always had the certain knowledge that what you had explained to me about the church was true. My testimony has never waivered, although my strength of commitment did. But that was years ago. My testimony is one of the spiritual gifts that I have been given and I cherish it and am grateful that it continues to grow. I wish I could find the words to adequately thank you for giving two years of your time and talents to find and teach those like me. While no one can be compared to the Savior, we have been taught that we can be "Saviors on Mt Zion" for others. You have been that for me, and I will truly be eternally grateful,

Sincerely,

Judy

***********************************************

 

Since this letter arrived Judy and I have kept in touch. When my family traveled to Orlando I was privileged to meet Judy at the Orlando Temple. She was serving in the Temple, assigned that day to the Celestial Room. Later in a letter, Judy would share with me something from her Patriarchal Blessing she received in 1983. Remember not until after receiving her letter in October of 1996 did I share with her my struggle with the Holy Spirit that cold February night in 1978, to "Knock on doors for 10 minutes". In her blessing it says, "and on that night when the Spirit directed the Elders to bring you the Gospel of Jesus Christ..."

 

Now in sharing this with you, I want no misunderstanding that I am seeking accolades of any kind for having been privileged to serve my Savior and represent him knocking from door to door. My mission was brutal. The rejection from the other missionaries was intense. Being subject to name-calling like sissy, queer, faggot brought me to my knees in tears begging to know why. But through all of the torment and pain I was determined to serve out my two years. Sometimes I felt like I had lasted long enough to have just survived.

 

But I want you to know that I'll do it all over again! I'd go through it all over again! I'd suffer the rejection and name-calling all over again if it meant that I could be used as an instrument in the hands of Jesus to reach out to those like Judy. I'd gladly leave the 90 and 9 in search of the 1. The 1 in this case is Judy. Nothing could ever make me wish that I hadn't fulfilled my commitment to serve Jesus for those two years. Again, I am in no wise attributing bringing Judy the Gospel of Jesus Christ to any strength of my own. Only because Jesus gave me permission to represent his name, his church, his gospel, his salvation, his eternal life, was any of this possible.

 

Ten minutes of following the voice of the Spirit was all it took on that night to be there for the one. I thank my Heavenly Father, my elder brother Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for bringing me out of the darkness and into his marvelous light, and that I might share that light with the world.

 

And I do so in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen!

Amen, Bob. And thank you Lord for letting us be a small part of his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26 by Bernard Gui

[Dario_M]

Yeah i know him as well because you made us meet each other on facebook 2 years ago. He called me filt because i was gay and i told him about my experience about being gay. 

Edited October 26 by Dario_M

[MustardSeed]

Thank you for sharing this powerful story of love, connection and testimony. What an honor it is to be chosen as the safe place to fall.
 

It’s a shame that he experienced such hatred. We miss out on beautiful souls when we nurse our own fears.

 

 

 

[longview]

Thank you Brother Gui for making this profound post.

I have been thinking of having the love of God in our hearts and our need to share that love with those around us. Like how Thomas Monson so energetically served others with such incredible devotion day in and day out. Acting on that love brings great joy.

[JVW]

Thank you for sharing this message with us.

[Bernard Gui]

2 hours ago, Dario_M said:

Yeah i know him as well because you made us meet each other on facebook 2 years ago. He called me filt because i was gay and i told him about my experience about being gay. 

Sorry that you have this perception. I think you may have misunderstood him or perhaps haven’t told the whole story. From my experience, Bob would never call anyone filth. It’s not within him.; however, I have seen him be quite impatient with government and health care bureaucrats.

I can’t make you do anything, Brother Dario. You don’t know him. I suggested that you might connect with him because I thought you and he could share your faith, testimonies, and experiences as gay members of the Church. He is a faithful member who has has been through the fiery crucible and emerged a wonderful person.

Nevertheless, please don’t disrespect my friend here, but rather rejoice in his life as those who know him do. 

 

Edited October 26 by Bernard Gui

[Dario_M]

6 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

I can’t make you do anything, Brother Dario. I thought maybe you and he could share your faith and experiences.

Sorry you have this perception. I think you may have misunderstood him or haven’t told the whole story. From my experience, Bob would never call anyone filth. It’s not within him. I have seen him be impatient with government and health care bureaucrats, though.

Nevertheless, please don’t disrespect my friend here, but rather rejoice in his life as those who know him do.

 

I was kinda hurt. That's all. Sorry that i was disrespectfull against Bob. 

[Dario_M]

Thank you for your downvote @Raingirl 🫤

[Pyreaux]

14 minutes ago, Dario_M said:

Thank you for your downvote @Raingirl 🫤

Don't feel too bad. Sometimes you can say what you feel and people won't like what you say. I've gotten downvotes in my time, too.

Edited October 26 by Pyreaux

[Dario_M]

11 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

Don't feel too bad. Sometimes you can say what you feel and people won't like what you say. I've gotten downvotes in my time, too.

Really? I can't imagine that people have downvoted you in the past. You're always so kind and respecfull on the board i find. 🫂I just have upvoted your post. 

[Malc]

1 hour ago, Dario_M said:

Thank you for your downvote @Raingirl 🫤

Yeah - I have to admit I wondered about that - or should I say that it surprised me that anyone would downvote your comment.

However, it's not the first such surprise I've had here, and I doubt that it will be the last.

You & I clearly disagree about a lot, but I see you as genuine, open, and compassionate. I may not have read every word of all of your comments here, but I don't see anything to downvote in what I've read.

[Dario_M]

56 minutes ago, Malc said:

Yeah - I have to admit I wondered about that - or should I say that it surprised me that anyone would downvote your comment.

However, it's not the first such surprise I've had here, and I doubt that it will be the last.

You & I clearly disagree about a lot, but I see you as genuine, open, and compassionate. I may not have read every word of all of your comments here, but I don't see anything to downvote in what I've read.

I also have doubts about my words because of this. I really can remember that Bob was not that nice to me on facebook and that he even blocked me after i made clear to him that i am gay always will be gay and that i was active with dating men at that period. After i told him that he blocked me and that offcourse hurted my feelings. 😞 (And no! I don't wanna talk disrespectfull about your friend @Bernard Gui. That's not my intention)  

So... i also ask myself why Raingirl needed to downvote my post. Allthough this is not the first time she spontaneously downvoted something i said on the board. 🤷‍♀️

 

However...i'm going to bed now. I'm death tired oh my. 

Edited October 26 by Dario_M

[Dario_M]

 

Edit. Thank you a lot @Malc That was very nice of you. 🩵

Edited October 27 by Dario_M