Then one day in the middle of May after work, I told Bob I would take and read one of his Book of Mormons as I had finished reading the Koran. He reluctantly gave me one and charged me a dollar which I thought was strange. I think he was still upset that I had read the Koran first. I was strong in my relationship with God and I'm sure Bob realized by then I wasn't going to be pushed into doing anything. I would do things of my own free will in my own time according to the understanding God gave me and not because of the opinion of another man. Perhaps at that point in time I had discouraged Bob enough that he thought me a hopeless cause. In any case that is how and when I came into contact with my first Book of Mormon.
Now as soon as I started to read the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost fell upon me and bore witness to me it was true. My whole experience from my rebirth at Woodstock down to my latest dream and scepter was of Christ. My mission was to bring people to Jesus Christ the Only Begotten Son of God. This book rang true for it wrote and spoke of the very Christ I had encountered. These men in the Book of Mormon had great spiritual encounters with Christ like me. This book was filled with light and was filling me with greater light with each new page as I read. I was overwhelmed with joy for this book truly helped strengthened my testimony of Christ. It backed up my very own experiences and told how God would continue to minister unto the children of men by angels and miracles according to their faith. For it is by faith that God works among the children of men and if miracles have ceased, it is because of their unbelief and woe unto them for they shall perish in darkness.
It was refreshing to drink from this great source of light after having read the Koran. The Koran is a great religious book that witnesses of God's (Allah) greatness but, it only recognizes Jesus as a great teacher and prophet, not the Son of God. The Koran teaches great moral laws and has a history similar to the Bible going back to Abraham. The big difference between the Koran and the Bible is the testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for our sins on the cross to save all mankind. While the Koran teaches that Allah is so great he needs no son. Now the Book of Mormon backs up the Bible's testimony of Jesus a hundred percent. Together both the Bible and the Book of Mormon bear witness that Jesus Christ is the great Messiah of the whole world and the only name under heaven that a man can call upon and be saved. The Bible has Paul and the Book of Mormon has Alma both of which had experiences in putting the calling upon the name of Jesus Christ to the test. My testimony of calling upon the name of Jesus Christ at Woodstock is true and the Bible and the Book of Mormon will back me up. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
The Book of Mormon seemed so different from the religion Bobby was always pushing at me. He was always telling me what was right and what was wrong. He was around my age but, he acted like my parents and seemed to be from a different generation. I knew he meant well but, he seemed totally out of tune with the peace and love generation that I had been in. Our generation seemed to be looking for the answers of life and a way to change the status quo. Bobby was in control of his life and knew what was right. I just had a hard time listening to him preach to me. I guess I was spoiled having been taught in visions by the Almighty. It was hard for me to receive truth from a mortal sinful man.
Bobby couldn't understand why I wouldn't listen to him now that I had started reading the Book of Mormon and knew it was true. I tried to explain my mission and visions but, he seemed very leery of my experience and I doubted he believed me. I felt hurt and thought if he doesn't believe me and I speak the truth, why should I listen to him. He didn't seem to sense my worth so I dismissed his testimony. However, the Book of Mormon was different. I was being taught by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost as I read the testimonies of the ancient America prophets. This was the same Great Spirit that taught me in my visions and dreams. He knew me and the truthfulness of my life. He loved me and knew of my worth and I loved him. He was perfect and I was willing to follow him but, I had little trust in mortal men.
My next big test came at the end of May. Jefferson Airplane was planning a free outdoor concert at Stony Brook University. It was the talk of the town and I could hardly wait to go to this event. Bobby warned me not to go, saying the Spirit of God won't be there and you'll be just like all the other wild godless kids. No way was he going to dictate to me and put down my generation.
I prided myself in going to all the concerts at Stony Brook and dancing to the music waving my God given scepter in my hand. Many times it seemed that I was controlling the music flow. People would notice and ask what is the power of that stick. I would give a simple answer such as "Its the power of God !", or "Its my witness for Jesus Christ !" I was still searching for the fullness of my message.
I told Bobby with pride, this is how I worship God and witness to my generation that Jesus is the Christ. He quickly reminded me what the Bible had to say on the subject of church and worship. He went on about having the proper authority to preach and how we should avoid even the appearance of evil. I ended the conversation by telling him, " Don't worry I'm going to bring a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread and we will celebrate the Lord's supper." Bobby just shook his head in amazement.
The day of the concert came and I did just as I said I would. A small group of my friends and I got together in the middle of the concert ground and broke bread and drank wine to start the celebration. I then started dancing to the tunes of Jefferson Airplane. However, things didn't feel right. Grace Slick was sick and could hardly sing. I felt a little sick myself and found my thoughts returning to my bad experience at Woodstock. Then I seemed to hear in my mind the scripture, Prov 26:11, " As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." Things got worse and then some wild kids knocked me down, kicked me in the head and stole my wallet in which was my pay for the week $80 in cash. What a bummer !
I did some sober thinking after that event and took it as a sign from God that I'd better repent. I already knew the Book of Mormon was true and since it was given to me by Bobby. I finally realized he was speaking the truth. I needed to get baptized by the proper authority and soon!.
Then one day in the middle of May after work, I told Bob I would take and read one of his Book of Mormons as I had finished reading the Koran. He reluctantly gave me one and charged me a dollar which I thought was strange. I think he was still upset that I had read the Koran first. I was strong in my relationship with God and I'm sure Bob realized by then I wasn't going to be pushed into doing anything. I would do things of my own free will in my own time according to the understanding God gave me and not because of the opinion of another man. Perhaps at that point in time I had discouraged Bob enough that he thought me a hopeless cause. In any case that is how and when I came into contact with my first Book of Mormon.