This story started thirteen years ago. In August 1996 it started to end, or should I say began a new chapter. Read it and enjoy the Spirit. Miracles do happen. I have a big smile in my heart and you will know why.
In 1983 I was not a member in the church and was living a life filled with all the things you shouldn't do. I had a friend whom I was hanging out with quite a lot. We were getting high on hash almost all of the time. Suddenly he started meeting some Mormons. I felt that I had to save him from these nerds, as I felt then, so I visited him and converted him back to the real thing as I saw it. We went on doing drugs until my friend was moved out of town by the social service and sent to a juvenile prison.
As for me, I became a convert in November 1985. I went to drug treatment in a treatment home connected to the Pentecostal church. There I met a guy who testified about the restored church. He had excomunicated himself from the church because of his alcoholism. He didn't feel worthy to be a member, so he left the church, but last year [1995] he was rebaptized.
We left the home and I went home to my place and was taught by the missionaries and got baptized. My friend Michael was totally lost in the criminal world and didn't have any wish to repent. In 1987 he lived in Norway, and when I visited my parents' house close to the border, the spirit prompted me to go to look for him in Halden. So I brought my wife and son and went to Halden in Norway. There after some research we found him in an apartment. He was involved in smuggling and dealing drugs from Denmark to Norway thru Sweden. We went up to the castle in Halden and sat down to talk. I asked him if he knew that the Book of Mormon was true, and his answer was, "Yes, I know it's true, but I've got other plans so I'm not interested." Could you imagine the frustration I went through hearing this? I felt: how can somebody who knows it's true deny living after it?
Well, we went home, but during the journey home the Lord spoke to me and said in due time he will come. I asked the Lord, How long, so I know when to look him up again? The Lord answered, In about 7-10 years from now. Why so long? Because he has to be humbled. That I could understand, so I said to my wife, "Within ten years he will come."
Time went and we moved around several times, and I went through some really hard trials, to get humbled by the Lord myself. This summer [1996] the Lord told us to move back to my old home town where I used to do drugs. I got scared but decided to do what the Lord told me to, so I took my family and moved here. My wife is not from here. Three days after moving here I was on my way home from town when the Spirit told me to go looking for Michael. I asked some addicts downtown where I could find him, and they told me.
He had lost everything: home, furniture, and he owned but one pair of shoes. He had been in prison two years and was very depressed when I found him living in a house run by the city for homeless people. He was truly happy to see me and we went home to my place. When we sat down and started talking I told him what had happend to me and the joy the gospel of Jesus Christ had brought into my life. He saw the change I had made and I asked if he wanted to put his life in order. He said yes, and then he told me that he had prayed to God three days ago having suicidal thoughts. I then asked him if he would take the discussions again, and also asked him about his testimony, and he said that it was still there. He also agreed to having the discussions. Imagine the joy i felt!
So we called the missionaries and decided when to teach him. He got the first discussion in church after priesthood meeting that following Sunday. After being commited to baptism already during the second lesson he said yes and the missionaries said, "Is four weeks from now OK?" He said yes, but then the Spirit prompted me to propose two weeks instead of four, so we decided two weeks.
The 14th of September I had the honor to baptize him. It felt so good. On Sunday he was sustained and ordained a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. He was also called to serve as an assistant Scout leader for the Cub Scouts. When he was ordained the bishop called me in to take apart in the ordinance. I thought I was simply being a part of the brethren around him in the circle, but the bishop asked me to ordain him a priest. To me this was a great honor. It was also the first time I ordained a priest.
It was a great weekend for me. I can't express how happy I am. One thing I learned from this is to work with the perspective of time, and that it's OK that it takes time sometimes. I want to thank God for being so good to us. I see a great leader in my friend. I am sure that he will use Michael like he uses me.
By the way: The person who found Michael was a convert since three weeks, and he was called as a stake missionary as a new member. He found Michael and then lost him. He was always asking me about him. Today he is my and Michael's bishop today, and he confirmed Michael after his baptism. Imagine the happiness we all felt.
Another thing in this story is that there had been no baptisms [in Trollhättan] for two years, and this day three people were baptized. Michael was the first one. I felt that it was time for our ward to do some harvesting and that these baptisms were the starting gun.
I love the good Lord. I testify that he cares for evry soul on the earth. He doesn't care if you're rich or poor, an addict or not; black or white doesn't matter to him. All that matters is that we find the way back to him, and that we obey him as good as we possibly can. And when we don't, that we admit to ourselves when we are wrong, and change that. I testify that he lives and that he was sent to redeem for our sins. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
Why do I know this? I asked the Lord himself and he answered me. I heard his voice as a man speaks to a man, therefore I know. I seal my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Story: Mats Jakobsson
September 29, 1996
