Story told by President Spencer W. Kimball - "At a
distant stake conference one Sunday I was approached after the meeting by a
young man whose face was familiar. He identified himself as a returned
missionary whom I had met out in the world a few years ago. He said he had not
attended the conference but came at its conclusion wanting to see me again. Our
greetings were pleasant and revived some choice memories. I asked him about
himself. He was in college, still single, and fairly miserable. I asked him
about his service in the Church and the light in his eyes went out and a dull,
disappointed face fashioned itself as he said, 'I am not very active in the
Church now. I don't feel the same as I used to feel in the mission field. What
I used to think was a testimony has become something of disillusionment. If
there is a God I am not sure anymore. I must have been mistaken in my zeal and
joy.'
"I looked him through and through and asked him some
questions.
"The answers came as expected. He had turned loose his
hold on the iron rod. He associated largely with unbelievers. He read, in
addition to his college texts, works by atheists, apostates, and Bible critics.
He had ceased to pray to his Heavenly Father. His communication poles were
burned; his lines sagging.
"I asked him now, "How many times since your
mission have you read the New Testament?"
"Not any time," was the answer.
"How many times have you read the Book of Mormon
through?"
The answer, "None."
"How many chapters of
scripture have you read? How many verses?"
Not one single time had he opened
the sacred books. He had been reading negative and critical and faith‑destroying
things and wondered why he could never smile (The Teachings of Spencer W.
Kimball, pp. 128-129).
