3 Nephi 22:13 states:  “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children.” During times when I ponder I would often wonder how my life would have been if I had answered “No” to the challenge of the full-time missionaries to be baptized 32 years ago. Would I have been taught of the Lord? Would I experience peace? The answer is a resounding “No”.

Before I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like the 14–year-old Prophet Joseph Smith, I have been looking for a religion that could change my life.  I attended various meetings of churches around town.  I read religious books and magazines but nothing really made an impact on me.  I have never thought of the LDS church but what impressed me the most are two sister missionaries, namely Sister Yuchom (now Sister Nancy Andreason) and Sister Clegg.   They were so determined to teach me and my family the gospel.   One day I challenged Sister Yuchom that if she can teach me at 10:30 in the evening after my night classes (was studying law at that time) then I would listen to them. Appointment day came and Sisters Yuchom and Boridor came to our house to teach the first lesson.  After our lesson, Sister Yuchom informed me she has a slight fever but since she has committed to teach today she made sure that she was present. That commitment and diligence struck me and I said to myself that this is the religion I was looking for.

I had the best Christmas eve of my life on December 24, 1978. It was the day my family, together with my in-laws, were baptized at Bakyas, Bacolod meetinghouse. A total of 12 family members were baptized that day.   That day signaled the start of my daily scripture study, service in the church and diligent gospel learning. The whispering of the Holy Spirit was so strong in telling me that if I continue to be active in the Church then I will be taught of the Lord, and great will be my peace and that of my family as promised in 3 Nephi 22:13.

When I was called as a stake president on September 6, 2009, I cried. I was overwhelmed by the task at hand. But I realized that the Lord will help me if I rely on Him. The Holy Ghost is guiding me in every decision I make. The knowledge that our family could return to the kingdom of our Heavenly father gives me great peace and joy.

By Benjamin S. Candari, Jr. - Bacolod Philippines Stake