Slovakia – Investigators

April 8, 2014

Today a family walked into the London Temple Visitor Centre.  There was the Mom (Mya) her two children Elle (6) and Adam (4), her Mom Margaret, and Mother-In law , Veronica.   Mya informed me that she would need to translate for her Moms as they only spoke Slovakian. They also understood Polish.  There was another tour going on with the Sister Missionaries and some Elders so they asked if they could go into the room where the Prophets bare their testimonies.  They looked at all the pictures and Mya seemed to be telling them about the pictures so I left them alone for a few minutes.  I returned to see if they needed help or wanted to listen to one of the testimonies of the First Presidency or the Quorum of twelve.  Mya was concerned that they would talk faster than she could translate.  They wanted to know about Elder Bednar.  The area in Slovakia that they come from has many families with the surname of Bednar.   She looked him up on Wikipedia but couldn’t find any information about his family roots.  I asked them if they would like to see the Restoration video in Polish.  They did so we took them into the arrival center, as the theatre was already in use.  I showed them the video and they listened very attentatively .  When it concluded I bore my testimony of Joseph Smith and that they too could know which Church was true, just as he did.  I also bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel.  I asked if they had any questions, and Elle, the six year old, said I have a question.  Who were those two people that that was in the light talking to Joseph?  She had a light in her eyes like I have never seen. She had a spirit of purity and desire to know.  It told her it was Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I then explained a little more about the Restoration.  She listened with such intent like she couldn’t get enough information.  I then asked if they had a copy of the Book of Mormon.  Elle said “I would like one”. So I told her I would get her one.  I also asked if the two older ladies would like a copy in Polish.  They were very excited and said yes.  I told them it was free and then they were really excited.  I had Elder Cummings go get them from the Mission Office while we visited the Christus.  I explained the Christus very simply and briefly then played the narration in Polish for them. After bearing my testimony again about the love the Savior has for me and for them I noticed that there was a recently returned missionary we knew standing in the Centre. He said he recognized some of the Polish as he had served in Romania and Moldova, and the language was similar He was able to talk to the two older sisters in some of their language.  I took the younger children over to color a Temple at the Temple Kiosk.  It was then while visiting with the mother and helping with the children that the mother shared that she and the ladies with her were Roman Catholic.  She had been reading about Joseph Smith on the internet and they were on vacation and came by to see what they could learn.  I thought she was a member and was bringing her family to share the gospel with them, but she and they were actually there to learn about the Church she had been reading about.  I then asked if she knew where she came from before she was born?, Why she is here on this earth, and where she will go after this life?  She said I really don’t know where I was before this life.  I grabbed a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and briefly explained it to her.  Then I asked if she would like to be with her family forever?  She asked how she could do that.  So we talked a little about the Temple.  She asked if family was important to us in this church.  I told her it was very important. I gave her a copy of the Proclamation on the Family and the Testimony of the Apostles.  She also asked about Genealogy so I shared a leaflet on that as well.  I probably overwhelmed her with stuff and was sorry that I hadn’t asked earlier what faith she was. .  I tried to get her to give me an e-mail address but she declined.  She took the guest card as did all of them in the family. She said she would use it after she investigated and read more. I asked the Elder, after they left , how the Mom’s felt.  He said that they loved the feeling they got there and loved what they had learned.  It was very peaceful there, they said.  I learned a great deal today about things I can improve on.  I hope and pray that Heavenly Father will fill in the gaps I created today and will guide them to the Missionaries when they return home to Slovakia.  I would like to know if Elder Bednar has roots in Slovakia, because that was what really sparked their interest today.  Boy do I have a great deal to learn to be an effective Missionary.  I loved the Spirit that was there when I bore testimony of what I know.  I love this Gospel, and serving at the London Temple Visitor Centre.