It's Elder Leo Johann Stiffen Castillo's Birthday today!
Elder Castillo is one of President Turk's Assistants. He is from Bogota, Colombia. He's a great missionary and has many talents. We have appreciated his leadership and diligence in serving the Lord.
Here is his conversion story....
His conversion story
begins with the story of his mother, who met the missionaries and was baptized
at the age of 13; ... After she married she left
the church for a few years. During this time she had two children, Leo Castillo
and Allan Castillo. Occasionally Elder Castillo's father would attend church
with them, but never made the decision to join the Church. When Elder Castillo
was 14, the missionaries in his ward began to work with the ward lists and
realized that the only member of the family was his mother. They went and visited
their home and shared the message of the Restoration with the family. When the
missionaries would come to his home, Elder Castillo was at a point where he
thought the subject of religion was almost like a political issue, intended
only to fill the churches with people. What was the key that led him to his
conversion? When he heard the message of restoration for the first time, he thought
it was something simply amazing and unthinkable that a young man of only 14
years saw the Creator of all things and was presented with a message and delivered a book by an Angel... this was too incredible. But the answer came to him in the chapel when he
was walking down a hallway and overheard a conversation between the Bishop and
a ward member with doubts, the bishop said: "Brother, if you really want
to know if this is the true Church, then read the Book of Mormon, set aside
everything you know, then kneel beside your bed and ask God in prayer if
everything is true". After listening to this conversation, Elder Castillo
made a resolution to do so. He began to read random sections of the Book of
Mormon by just flipping through pages and reading wherever he felt like
stopping, through this method he came upon Ether 12:4 –This scripture impacted
him and he was baptized the following Saturday.
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with a surety b hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which c hope cometh of d faith, maketh an e anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in f good works, being led to g glorify God.
This is a sweet story... and one that has happened millions and millions and millions of times to individuals as they pray to find out for themselves if this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Then when they ask and find out it is true... their lives are blessed and changed forever as they follow and live the Gospel plan.
Happy Birthday Elder Castillo... We Love You!
Happy Birthday Elder Castillo... We Love You!
