Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the January/February issue of LDS Living magazine. The theme for the issue was teaching and learning the gospel, especially in the home.
I am a big fan of our local university football team. So I was happy to learn that a new player was coming from Hawaii; I served my mission there in the ’80s, and the Hawaiian people took such great care of me.
When I saw this new athlete’s father, Kai*, on social media, I messaged him and said that if his son ever needed anything while he was away from home, I would be here to help. Our own son had departed on his mission to Argentina at the same time, and I appreciated how kind the people of that country were to him. I also knew how tough it was to have a son far away from home.
Kai responded positively and we occasionally communicated through the fall, mostly about football. Then on Easter Sunday in 2023, Kai told me he was going to start reading a chapter in Proverbs a day. I thought that was terrific and asked to join him.
Every morning, we would text back and forth about the verses in Proverbs. Then we read the book of Matthew together. Then Kai, who is not of our faith, suggested we read “one of your Mormon books.”
I happily told him a little bit about the Book of Mormon. Our son received permission from his mission president to teach Kai and his wife a few lessons over Zoom. (My wife and I also joined the lessons, which was a double blessing: seeing our son teaching and our friends being taught.) Kai downloaded the Gospel Library app, and we have been studying the Book of Mormon together ever since.
If he has time, we read a chapter a day. Otherwise, I send the Gospel Library app’s “Verse of the Day” to him, and we each make a quick comment about it then wish each other a great day. We are now almost through 3 Nephi.
Kai has become a great friend who motivates me to be better. We’ve met up with him and his wife when they’ve come for football games. It feels like we are old, longtime friends; being with him is like being with a brother. I believe God connected us because Kai was at a time in his life when he was searching for more.
Studying with Kai has reminded me not to take the gospel for granted. I think just by human nature we can get complacent with what we have. But sharing the Book of Mormon with Kai has helped me see how precious and truly helpful the gospel is in our lives. Sharing what I believe has also reinforced to me the truthfulness of the Restoration.
With technology today, we can open our hearts and minds to opportunities anywhere in the world to share our faith and testimony. I never would have thought years ago that I would be studying the scriptures every morning with a new friend who is 2,000 miles away.
Regardless of what Kai chooses to do in the future about baptism, our friendship is a treasure. What a blessing.
*Name has been changed.
Other articles for you:
▶ What Elder Bednar said to a young adult that helped her commit to living the gospel
▶ The Hebrew word for joy you’ll wish you knew sooner
▶ This hidden gem in Doctrine and Covenants is the ultimate comfort scripture
Read more in the LDS Living January/February magazine
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