“We
will have opportunities throughout our lives to share our beliefs,
although we don’t always know when we will be called upon to do so. Such
an opportunity came to me in 1957, when I worked in the publishing
business and was asked to go to Dallas, Texas, [USA,] sometimes called
‘the city of churches,’ to address a business convention. Following the
conclusion of the convention, I took a sightseeing bus ride through the
city’s suburbs. As we passed the various churches, our driver would
comment, ‘On the left you see the Methodist church’ or ‘There on the
right is the Catholic cathedral.’
“As
we passed a beautiful red brick building situated upon a hill, the
driver exclaimed, ‘That building is where the Mormons meet.’ A lady in
the rear of the bus called out, ‘Driver, can you tell us something more
about the Mormons?’
“The
driver pulled the bus over to the side of the road, turned around in
his seat, and replied, ‘Lady, all I know about the Mormons is that they
meet in that red brick building. Is there anyone on this bus who knows
anything more about the Mormons?’”
“I
waited for someone to respond. I gazed at the expression on each
person’s face for some sign of recognition, some desire to comment.
Nothing. I realized it was up to me to do as the Apostle Peter
suggested, to ‘be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.’ I also realized the
truth of the adage ‘When the time for decision arrives, the time for
preparation is past.’
“For
the next 15 or so minutes, I had the privilege of sharing with those on
the bus my testimony concerning the Church and our beliefs. I was
grateful for my testimony and grateful that I was prepared to share it” (“Dare to Stand Alone,” 67).
