"Today I'd like to bear you my testimony of the power of friendship in sharing the gospel. Last summer I had the privilege of going to work at a camp in Eastern Township for adults & children with disabilities. Little did I know that this camp would change my life in some significant ways. Over the course of the first day I met three people, Courtney Wilson, Rachel Desjourdy, and Guillaume Lussier-Houle. To me they were just three individuals, Courtney and Guillaume new to camp like myself and Rachel who had been there for 6 summers. I didn't know they knew each other. I knew nothing about them but there was a light or positive energy that said, "I want to be friends with the."
The summer wet on and we got to know each other, and became closer, and yet I couldn't figure out this amazing positivity that streamed from them and in my naiveness I chalked it up to, "well gosh, they have so much camp spirit!" Still I had no idea that they knew each other from someplace else. Guillaume had once mentioned that he knew Rachel from Church but nothing registered for me until about 3/4 of the way thru the summer another counselor said to me, "Well, you know they'r Mormons right?" Ohhhhhhhhh, well that's interesting, I thought. As curious as I was, I wanted to respect the fact that none of them had told me themselves-and so the summer ended and a few weeks went by and as anyone who's worked at summer camp will know, one becomes restless and homesick for camp and the people that make it. But then one Monday I received a text from Guillaume saying, "Hy want to come play volleyball with some friends of mine?" Cue that Wednesday I emerged from the Laurier metro with Guillaume. I looked up and saw printed on the outside-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ohhhhhhhhh!
That evening I was introduced to many of the YSA, surprised both Rachel & Courtney by my presence there, met Sister Howard and of course the missionaries. I left that evening overwhelmed by the kindness and welcome I had been shown. A few weeks later after playing my first game of gator ball, I was standing on the platform of the metro thinking to myself, I want to know more. I have so many questions and sure enough I turned to my left and there was Elder Baker & his companion. And, one of his first questions to me was, so what religion are you part of?
In looking back on last summer I know that the energy and light that radiated from Guillaume, Rachel & Courtney was not just 'camp spirit', but it was the fact that they are shining examples of the love of the Savior; what moved me to befriend them was the Spirit prompting me into the fold, and coming to the YSA that night in September and encountering the missionaries on y own weeks later was truly the hand of our Father in Heaven. I stand today, a member of the one true Church. I know this gospel is true and I know that my faith has found it's everlasting home. This is in many ways because of the friendship and acts of kindness and selfless love of friends within the YSA which now goes beyond those original 3. In Luke 22, verse 23 it says, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." I am so truly grateful for all the friends that I have in the Church, particularly among them for the Elders that taught me, and because of all of them for the friend I have always in my Savior & the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
If my experience can testify to anything it is that acts of kindness and friendship, of service ad of selflessness can all hep someone who is searching to find the light; if we are humble and open to standing as disciples of the Lord, we can make a difference in someone's day, spark their curiosity to ask questions, and to help them find their faith. Small acts of kindness is all it takes.
In Doctrine and Covenants 88, verse 133 it reads, "Art thou a brother or a brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant receive you to fellowship, in determination that is fixed, immovable and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all commandment of God blameless, in thanksgiving forever and ever, Amen."
I leave this testimony, most gratefully, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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