The Remarkable Conversion of Manoel

I served my mission in Rio de Janeiro, and after 10 months on my mission I was called to serve in the office as Financial Secretary. This was a difficult assignment. I was not really that organized but I learned how to make the bank runs, pay the bills, exchange U.S. dollars for Cruzados, and work with the LDS officials.

We had but a few hours to serve each night, but during the period the Lord would provide me with one of the truly remarkable missionary stories of my mission:

Drunk, Depressed and Mad at the World

When I think of the great change that I saw in this man, Manoel, my body begins to tremble with awe and disbelief. Manoel was referred to us by a member, who added that he had many problems and really needed a visit from the missionaries. Our first meeting with Manoel was one of the most difficult meetings we have ever had. Elder Kaulle, a 300 lb former policeman was my missionary companion; we met a man who was DRUNK, DEPRESSED, and MAD at the world. He was so belligerent that we could hardly get a word in and he would rant and rave and swear and yell and cry.

Manoel described his situation…He had married a woman 20 years younger than him. He brought into the world two beautiful children–Felipe and Renata. He thought she was happy, but then she began to be unfaithful. She would often times leave the house, the children to fend for themselves, to be with other men. Manoel was distraught—he was depressed–and he was taking it out on us!

Manoel was a beaten man who had turned to smoking and drinking in his time of trial—he was worn down, torn up, skinny, and looked terrible. Manoel was in his late 50's. When Elder Kaulle and I entered into the home of Manoel we had little hope, but we started to give the First Discussion anyways…knowing that if ANYONE needed a message of hope in their lives it was this man.

If Anyone Needed the Fullness of the Gospel, It Was this Man

We proceeded to talk about God and Jesus, but could scarcely get in one or two sentences and then this many started yelling, screaming, and going crazy. We continued the discussion as best we could…at one point, my companion turned to me and said "are you sure we want to go on?" —this was a very good question, it seemed that we were accomplishing NOTHING here…he was drunk and not listening to us.

I stopped for a second to think and pray, I thought to myself: "If there was anyone in the world who needed the fullness of the gospel to enlighten his life it was this man." We shortened the discussion and left a Book of Mormon with him. We promised him that if he would read it he would find answers to all of his problems.

We left discussion with no hope, and no expectations, but at least we felt that we gave it a try.

A Great and Mighty Change

We returned to Manoel's house a few days later, and we saw a different man. Manoel was sober, and he said that he had read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. He spent many long hours with this book and asking hours on his knees asking for the help to overcome his situation. He said that he fought temptation off.

Over the next few weeks we would see a GREAT and MIGHTY change overcome him. He calmed down. He was at peace. He started attending church in his nice suit. His problems seemed to be of less importance. His wife stopped persecuting him and they were able to talk thing through. He got visitation rights to his children, spending every weekend with them. He stopped smoking and drinking. He started a NEW LIFE.

The Book of Mormon Has the Answers to All the World's Problems

Manoel gave a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon…it was tool of his conversion…He said that the Book of Mormon has the answers for every difficult situation in life. He said that the Book of Mormon had wars, riches, wickedness, hatred, unfaithfulness, pride, and evil…but it always discussed how to solve every problem that man will ever face. Manoel said that The Book of Mormon was the most incredible book he had ever read because it discusses the solutions to all the world's problems—"everything" —he said.

We asked him if he wanted to be baptized, and he gave one of the strongest testimonies: "I want to be baptized because this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and that's it." Manoel was baptized on September 1988…almost 25 years ago.

A Most Improbable Conversion

I can picture Manoel in my mind; he had a wonderful nice suit with a vest and coat (somewhat uncommon for Brazil). He carried in his arms the Scriptures (bible and book of Mormon) and they were pinned by his side…inseparable it seemed to me. Manoel now had an amazing light in his eyes and his countenance radiated with the spirit of the Lord. This was one of the most improbably conversions that I experienced on my mission and one of the great missionary stories. Who would have thought that a drunken, belligerent man could make such huge and dramatic changes all because of ONE BOOK which he chose to read in his moment of despair.

In my missionary journal I wrote: "I feel a burning desire to teach the gospel because of my experiences with Manoel…to continue, to push forward–not to stop, but to see the miracles that will certainly happen because of my faithfulness."

May we remember NEVER to judge others, but to accept them, and invite them to learn about the gospel through his church, the gospel principles, and his chosen scriptures. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in LDS Missionary Stories from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Todd Morgan):

Drunk, Depressed and Mad at the World. When I think of the great change that I saw in this man, Manoel, my body begins to tremble with awe and disbelief. Manoel was referred to us by a member, who added that he had many problems and really needed a visit from the missionaries. Our first meeting with Manoel was one of the most difficult meetings we have ever had. Elder Kaulle, a 300 lb former policeman was my missionary companion; we met a man who was DRUNK, DEPRESSED, and MAD at the world. He was so belligerent that we could hardly get a word in and he would rant and rave and swear and yell and cry. Manoel described his situation…He had married a woman 20 years younger than him. He brought into the world two beautiful children–Felipe and Renata. He thought she was happy, but then she began to be unfaithful. She would often times leave the house, the children to fend for themselves, to be with other men. Manoel was distraught—he was depressed–and he was taking it out on us! Manoel was a beaten man who had turned to smoking and drinking in his time of trial—he was worn down, torn up, skinny, and looked terrible. Manoel was in his late 50's. When Elder Kaulle and I entered into the home of Manoel we had little hope, but we started to give the First Discussion anyways…knowing that if ANYONE needed a message of hope in their lives it was this man. If Anyone Needed the Fullness of the Gospel, It Was this Man. We proceeded to talk about God and Jesus, but could scarcely get in one or two sentences and then this many started yelling, screaming, and going crazy. We continued the discussion as best we could…at one point, my companion turned to me and said "are you sure we want to go on?" —this was a very good question, it seemed that we were accomplishing NOTHING here…he was drunk and not listening to us. I stopped for a second to think and pray, I thought to myself: "If there was anyone in the world who needed the fullness of the gospel to enlighten his life it was this man." We shortened the discussion and left a Book of Mormon with him. We promised him that if he would read it he would find answers to all of his problems. We left discussion with no hope, and no expectations, but at least we felt that we gave it a try. A Great and Mighty Change. We returned to Manoel's house a few days later, and we saw a different man. Manoel was sober, and he said that he had read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. He spent many long hours with this book and asking hours on his knees asking for the help to overcome his situation. He said that he fought temptation off. Over the next few weeks we would see a GREAT and MIGHTY change overcome him. He calmed down. He was at peace. He started attending church in his nice suit. His problems seemed to be of less importance. His wife stopped persecuting him and they were able to talk thing through. He got visitation rights to his children, spending every weekend with them. He stopped smoking and drinking. He started a NEW LIFE.