My Testimony –
By Sonia Clayton – Spring, TX (Houston North Stake)
In 1971, a frightened eight-year-old girl held her
mother’s hand in the middle of a crowd distracted by the confident words of an
American missionary preaching at a street corner in Colombia. Her mother was a strong
and faithful Catholic; however upon listening to the powerful message of the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ, in just two weeks, this abandoned wife and her
three small children became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. The most precious gift they ever received was the Book of Mormon. The power of the words contained in this book
would perform a true miracle for this family.
After their conversion, a miracle happened! Home
teachers and missionary visits immediately filled the lack of a father figure
in the home. Relief Society sisters reached out with love and kindness to
befriend this lonely and abandoned wife. Joy and happiness filled the hearts of
the little children at this home when, for the first time, the missionaries
joined their family for “Family Home Evening”. Together they sang songs, played
games, ate desserts and enjoyed family time on Monday nights. Then they started
learning eternal principles such as the promise that families can be together forever, the importance of following the
commandments and the knowledge that I am a child of God.
With the love and care of church young women’s leaders,
this little girl grew up and developed a passion for knowledge, education and
self-improvement. This young woman grew up in poverty but, she experienced the
riches of God’s kingdom on Earth through the gospel. Many trials accompanied
her life since her childhood but with faith and perseverance she overcame many
health challenges including (CCI) Chronic Cerebral Inflammation, Diabetes, and
Cancer. In 2006 she was invited to the White House to receive a State Award.
She was recognized as “One Amazing Woman in the USA.” She was named “Heroine of the
Community” for providing employment to many Americans in Houston during the recession succeeding 9/11
and for building a successful company during that time. In 2007 she became “The
Hispanic Entrepreneur of The Year” and Fox 26 named her the “Hispanic Honoree
of the Year.” Texas Governor Rick Perry recognized her as a “Prominent Woman in
Technology,” and in 2008 her company became a “Houston Fast 50” and a “Houston
Fast 100 Corporation.”
I am humbled to say that I was the little girl who
received the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in America through
missionary work.
The Book of
Mormon had fascinating stories that made sense to my family, for we had
heard and study the legends of previous generations and folklore in Latin America. These were the stories of the “White God”, a man of pale skin and blue eyes living
among our people in a new world, bringing knowledge of science, engineering,
society, laws, charity, morality and much more. He set down laws that there was to
be no more killing of animals and that the Toltecs would feast off vegetables
and fruits. There would also be no more human sacrifice.
Our family was thrilled to have found the book
containing the stories of the “White God” who had visited the Americas, known
by the Toltecs and Aztecs as “Quetzalcoatl”. The people of the Incas called him
“Viracocha”. The Mayans called him ’’Kukulcan”. The Chibchas called him “Bochica”
and The Aymara from Peru called him “Hyustus”.
It appears that Quetzalcoatl must have had a fast flying vehicle that could
take him from Mexico to Central America and to South America. What kind of ship
could transport a fair skinned god around the country like that? At some point
of time Quetzalcoatl left but promised to all of these tribes that he would one
day return. Thus, they expected him and confused him with the Spanish Conqueror
Hernan Cortez
at the Yucatán Peninsula.
I testify that the Book of Mormon is a true record of
Jesus Christ in America, I testify that this white god was Jesus Christ, our Savior
and our Redeemer. He, who gave His life in pain and unspeakable suffering,
has reached down to lift each of us, including myself, from the abyss of
eternal darkness following death. He has provided something better—Eternal Life.
My gratitude knows no bounds. My thanks to my Lord has no end. He
is my God and my King. From everlasting to everlasting, He will reign and rule
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. To His dominion there will be no end. To His
glory there will be no conclusion.
No other can take His place. No other
ever will. Unblemished and without fault of any kind, He is the Lamb of God, to
whom I bow and through whom I can return to my Father in Heaven.
