Living by the scriptures
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And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes. . . . - 2 Ne. 30:6
I was stationed by the U.S. Army in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1971 when I was invited to a single adult family home evening. I was a non-member and after my second family home evening, was asked if I would like to know more. "Certainly," I responded, since I was going to be a minister and was interested in learning about all religions. After several missionary discussions, I began to earnestly pray. My prayers seemed to go unanswered. After more than a week of praying, I still had not received an answer. When I went to bed that Monday evening, I could not sleep. I opened the Book of Mormon and continued in 2 Nephi with chapter 30. When I reached verse 6, I was overcome by the Spirit. I realized that this gospel was a blessing from God and that I had been blind. The Book of Mormon was the word of God. Joseph Smith was a prophet. Almost immediately a verse in Acts popped into my mind:
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. - Acts 9:18
I knelt and thanked my Father in Heaven for answering my prayers and for being patient with me. The Spirit burned within me and I could hardly contain my joy. I was baptized that Saturday. After a year I was ordained an elder and was married a month later in the Manti Temple.
