Remember back in December I told you about a man who wandered into the church building and sat in the congregation during sacrament? I felt strongly I needed to talk with him all through sacrament meeting so right when the meeting ended I hurried down from the stand and caught him before he could leave. I invited him in my office and we ended up talking for over an hour. Twenty-nine years ago he had been excommunicated-- he had made many mistakes and ended up losing his wife and many other blessings. After he stepped out on his wife she got bitter and stopped going to church as well. Ten years later their paths crossed and they ended up getting remarried but neither of them brought up the church for 19 years! The last five years she got really ill. He cared for her day and night until the end of December 2019, when she passed away. He said it was the darkest time in his life. He was ready to give up. Then for some reason he opened her closet just staring at her clothes. He saw a nice box with a pretty bow on the shelf. Upon opening it, he saw that it was her temple clothes folded neatly and reverently and placed in the box with a note saying "someday" on it. He just started crying. He had no idea she had an interest in getting back to church. He hadn’t brought it up for fear it would chase her away, yet he had been longing to get back as well. He went to the only church building he knew and walked in. That’s when I saw him. We talked about many things and read many scriptures. I challenged him to do many things. He never missed a sacrament meeting all through January. We finally tracked down her records where his were removed. No one knew where they had moved to. When we got them we realized he was in the Sun City ward now. He refused to go to that ward and wanted to keep coming to our ward. He even met with President Hinton to start the long road back. I promised him that if he went to the right ward that the Lord would bless him. He agreed to meet with the Sun City bishop and start going there. He wanted me to go with him so I did and the meeting went great. He started going to that ward in February. I hadn't heard anything from him until this Sunday. I got a call from the Sun City bishop-- Bishop Smith. He informed me that Brother Eller got the approval to get re-baptized and wanted me to baptize him. What a special, wonderful day and experience. I just left the baptism now. What a powerful and strong spirit that was there. It’s amazing how the Lord is in charge. He gave me a huge hug when I saw him and kept thanking me for taking the time and for the words of comfort and encouragement I had shared with him and for making him go to the Sun City ward. That first day he kind of begrudgingly went there a little late and the only place to sit was by a lady who had recently lost her husband and had a bunch of family there. She was incredibly kind to him and made him feel so welcomed. He was much more eager to go the next week. The same thing happened again and she became his guardian angel and fellow-shipped him back. After many special experiences they ended up getting married! They are so cute together. Her whole family loves him to pieces and were all at the baptism. It’s amazing to see the Lords hand and how He know our needs and what is best for each of us.
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