When we invited the Sniders to be baptized and confirmed, Sister Snider was ready, but Brother Snider said, 'Don't get your hopes up, Elders. I don't know if I can ever do this!' Although Brother Snider accepted what we taught and was always warm and friendly, he was deeply concerned about how his family would react to his joining another church.
After several weeks of watching Brother Snider struggle, my companion and I felt impressed to again read 3 Nephi 11 with the Sniders. I will never forget what happened that night. As we opened the Book of Mormon, my companion explained, 'This chapter, as you might recall, recounts the Savior's visit to the people in the Book of Mormon. Here we read about the Savior's love for these people and what He taught them.' We each took turns reading a verse or two. After reading through verse 5, my companion interrupted and said, 'I have always been impressed with the description given here of the voice they heard. The voice was not harsh, it was not loud, and although it was a small voice, it had a powerful piercing effect on them. This voice was not only heard with their ears, but it spoke to their hearts.' I watched the Sniders as they listened intently to my companion.
After some discussion about prayer and listening to the Spirit, it was Brother Snider's turn to read: 'And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: Behold my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him.' Brother Snider paused, looking intently at his Book of Mormon. Then he looked up at me and said, 'Heavenly Father was really proud of His Son, wasn't He?' 'Yes,' I said. Brother Snider looked back at his book again and stared at the open pages as if deep in thought. Finally he said, 'I would want Heavenly Father to be proud of me too. I wonder how He would introduce me. I guess, if I ... well, if I want Him to be proud of me then I had better do what He wants me to do.' 'Yes, I think that would be important,' I replied. 'Well,' Brother Snider continued. 'I think I've been worrying too much about what everybody else thinks and not enough about what God thinks.' After a brief pause Brother Snider nodded and with a determined look said, 'I think I had better be baptized.' His response was so unexpected that my companion and I looked at him with blank stares. Finally, my companion said, 'Yes, that would be the right thing to do. In fact, later on in this chapter the Savior teaches ...' As my companion talked I felt a burning in my heart and gratitude for the power of the Book of Mormon.
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