Adopted In

With a title like this, you might expect an exposition on the Abrahamic Covenant. Perhaps I will disclose deep doctrinal secrets about bloodlines and the manner in which Gentiles receive the lineal rights of Abraham. All of my anthropological knowledge will be presented in a calculated lecture on gospel adoption.

No sir! Today I must tell you about a glorious affair, punctuated by a joking comment from our bishop. He called us after a 2 1/2 hour visit with Ann and Tom Wilkes*, our library security guard member and his darling Pentecostal wife.

"You'll need to set up an interview because she's getting baptized tomorrow," he said. Obviously a joke, but a hopeful missionary heart can't be sure.

"Wait, you're kidding, aren't you Bishop?"

He laughed and said yes. "But they sure love you two. I think they're halfway through the adoption paperwork already."

Well, I have a loving set of parents at home that I will be glad to return to in May. But dear Ann and Tom Wilkes, I will gladly claim you as my Oklahoma grandparents!!

I am positively jubilant! Our Mission President's wife visited Ann with us on Wednesday. We read the Book of Mormon and she responded to the questions in a most genial manner.

Then on Friday, Hermana Dupape's mom sent a surprise for Ann - her very own quad! She has been wanting her own set of Mormon scriptures, and soon Tom will have a set as well. The gift was given anonymously, so the entire ward is now suspect as benefactor and friend in Ann's mind.

But best of all was Sunday morning. After sacrament meeting, we found Ann in the women's restroom. As I washed my hands, she casually mentioned that God was answering her prayers. "I told Him that I needed an answer," she said. I stopped messing with the paper towels and listened. She explained that she had woken up at 5 am. She turned to her scriptures for guidance, and where did God take her?

Ephesians 4:11.

She opened up her quad to read it to us, but there were already tears in Sister Dupape's eyes, and I was grinning like an idiot. Every missionary know what Ephesians 4:11 says - PROPHETS!!!

God is beginning to teach Ann Wilkes that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. We have prophets on the earth today. It is the greatest age since the beginning of time, and she can be part of it.

Ah. There aren't words enough to capture the feelings of my heart. I have the greatest thing in the world, and I get to share it with the greatest people in the world. God loves Ann and Tom Wilkes, and He shares them with me!!

*Names changed. But I get the idea that they'll be part of my life forever, so you might just discover their true identities someday.