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"All I know is that if it wasn't for Jesus Christ, I would be dead".

For almost half an hour, he had listened politely as a "friend" berated him for becoming a Mormon. He had muttered a few "ums" and "ohs" to indicate that he was still listening and had not fallen asleep.

I could only imagine the barrage of accusations. I had heard them all before. But I watched him as he listened carefully and never spoke back. He had waited patiently for his friend to finish. He was finally able to say more than a mumble.

"Well, I don't know about all that," he said. "All I know is that if it wasn't for Jesus Christ, I would be dead".

I was overwhelmed by the profound simplicity.

I am a "Mormon". I could learn much from this man.

Here is a man who knows nothing of doctrine or creeds. He did not get caught up in the argument about who was right and who was wrong. He did not defend the Mormon church, as volley after volley was lobbed against it. He did not confuse the friend's attack as an attack against himself. He did not know that it was an attack. He did not even know his friend was concerned about his eternal welfare.

He was secure in his knowledge of Christ.

He had suffered a massive stroke at the age of thirty four. He lay in a coma for months. When he awoke he had been nearly robbed of language. He was unable to walk or use his right hand. He didn't even know his name. With therapy and time he regained mobility and developed a vocabulary that allowed for employment in menial jobs. He learned to share some of the thoughts that still flowed freely until trapped without the key of language.

Ten years later he wanted to learn about my church. I thought he was just flirting but, just in case, I got some help from the young missionaries. I told the missionaries that this man was Jewish. I knew that he had been raised in a strong Jewish home but had wandered away from the faith as a young adult. He had recently returned to the synagogue in an attempt to find structure and stability.

They came to his apartment and introduced themselves. They shook hands and took a seat.

"So? Tell us who God is to you, Bruce."

"Oh, that's easy," he said. "He's the guy with holes in his hands."

This man had met Christ! When no one else could understand him, Christ was there and heard him. Before he knew his own name, Christ was there and spoke to him. When he was frightened, Christ came and comforted him. When he was confused, Christ guided him. When he was lonely, Christ stayed with him.

Within weeks he was baptized. With all the joy of any Christian who receives salvation by stepping in and out of the water, he emerged a re-born man. He chose to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thereby he became a "Mormon".

Is he a Christian?

He "doesn't know about all that". He only knows that if it wasn't for Jesus Christ, he would be dead."

Learn more about this author, Sharon Cohen.
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