Robert Anthony

India Bangalore Mission

1995-1997

As an 18 years old boy I was on my way to college when I was met by some missionaries (not of our church) at the bus stop. They invited me for a spiritual meeting in the. I definitely could have said yes and not gone, but in the evening I was somehow moved upon to go to that meeting.

Near the Methodist church (outside) I met the guys who invited me and several others. In that group were two young men who were dressed in white shirts and neckties. They introduced me as missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. My understanding is that they were members of the congregation which invited me to attend the meeting. We were taken to one member's home, where there was something that was spoken about the last supper. After some discussion we were all offered a big glass of tea. Now somehow I sat next to the missionaries, perhaps they were dressed so neat. But I was surprised to see that they wouldn’t drink tea. I asked myself “They all belonged to the same church. How come the head of the church in whose home we had this meeting serve tea but a member of their church wouldn’t drink?”. Confused, I asked why they dont drink tea. They said they would come home and explain why they don’t drink tea. Now I am in my first year engineering college. My parents wanted me to be a medical student but I insisted I do engineering because I loved to find out how things worked or why something was done the way it was done. In this case I was very interested to see the scientific side of things, why young men don't drink tea. They looked like some college going guys.

I gave them my home address. But only now I understand why (since I also served a full time mission, what golden such contacts are to invite you to come home). The missionaries came home the very next day. My mom found somebody unusual and invited me to come downstairs. It was the strangers I met the previous day. They told me that they came to tell me why they dont drink tea. Now you also got to understand that in 1991, the church in India was part of the Singapore mission. There was no formal MTC for the missionaries. The two missionaries were Elder Braganza and Elder Beesa. I was all primed to hear about the tea story, but the brethren were reading out to me something from a book.

I remember vaguely that they talked about a boy going into the forest. Now as they were trying to read from the booklet I made up part of the story in my mind- was this young boy, Joseph Smith, a scientist who went to pick some tea leaves to experiment with the downside of it? They spoke about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing- wow the scientist had a great vision to tell him about the harmful effects of tea? But after some 1.5 hours of discussion which I hardly understood except imagining all sorts of things, there was not a point made on tea. I asked them not to tell me anything about why they dont drink tea. They replied that I got to be patient and that they would tell me in their subsequent visit. What ? So were they going to come back again? Yes, they asked me when they could come back again. Of course they also gave me a new book- The Book of Mormon. For the first time I held that book in my hands and I had no idea what that book was all about. But oh my what a powerful BOOK I was holding in my hand!

I said they could come back the next day, but they said that they would allow a couple of days for me to study from the Book. Well promptly they were in after a couple of days. I hadn’t read the chapters assigned. So they read the introduction, and 3 Nephi 11. Now I don't know that they were coming to present me a new gospel that has been restored, nor did I know that they wanted me to accept the new truth and accept Baptism into the true church. Co Conversion of Robert Anthony to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All I am biased is an explanation on tea.

They kept coming and kept telling me that the “tea” answer was still in the future. I surely had no idea that there were 6 standard discussions and that they wanted to teach all the principles of the discussions Finally, in the fourth discussion (which actually took several visits) they made a statement that “Among God's other commandments is a law of health that forbids us to take Tea, coffee, tobacco and other harmful drugs.” And they looked up and said that is why we don’t take tea. That is it!

I said thanks but they asked when they could come to share other truths. Now each of the discussions should take about 45 minutes to one hour ( I mean the entire 6 principles) but about 3 principles took about an hour or so. Now you gotta understand I was a very, very staunch Catholic Church guy. I was being trained by my uncle Prakash who as a self-imposed Catholic priest was a minister and prayed for all members by going to their homes and at the church etc.

I shared my concern with my uncle that these elders weren’t leaving me alone but that they kept coming and teaching me things I hardly understood. He pondered and said that he would get back and the next day he gave me an answer that they were so insistent because “for each baptism into their church they got about 1 lakh.” The foreign funds are pumped into the country for such conversions. My response- “oh poor boys they wait so long for me to come home from college so they could teach me the discussion. I used to love going to the swimming pool. So why not get baptized by going into the water so that the elders can get the needed money and leave me alone.

I told the elders on their next visit that I had decided to get baptized and they were so excited. Now throughout the several months of teaching it was the same two elders. They completed the remaining discussion though it took away my precious cricket time that I used to play outside our home. All they said was they needed only 15 minutes but by the time they finished it was very dark outside and for the most part my team lost the game.

On the 21st of April, 1991 I came to the church for the first time. Those days you came in the first time and got baptized there were no requirements that you should have attended the church for a few weeks before baptism. The very same building that we met today! Well after the meetings, upstairs I was baptized in a steel tank by Elder Braganza and confirmed immediately (again those days the baptism and confirmation happened in the same service) by Elder Beesa. So how did my conversion happen?

But here are the couple of pictures that the Elders gave me, which they had taken on the day of baptism. My friend (rather Jacob’ classmate Ravi Shankar came in for my baptism and he is in the picture)

After a few months I was asked to give a talk which stunned me. After a lot of pondering and seeking help I prepared a talk and memorized the talk and when I was called to speak following Brother Thomas, I spoke freely. The brethren on the stands were impressed. They asked that I meet them in the evening.

Evening I was met by the district president and given a call to be the branch clerk. I was called to be a branch clerk. I was asked to wear a white shirt and a tie and sit in the front (the clerks sat in the front on the stand as well) Somewhere during this time, the announcement was made that Elders Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson of the council of the Twelve Apostles along with John K. Carmack and others were visiting Bangalore. At the fireside I felt the power of these brethren. I knew they were men of God! There was something different in them. The thought came to me, why would these brethren so prolific in their Career would want to leave all that to be a witness of Christ? isn’t that great to have men of such calibre represent Christ? How much I love Christ and I feel now that the name of Christ is magnified!

Why would the 50 thousand odd missionaries leave their families and come on a mission? I know getting 100,000 rupees is not true. There must be something in here that I need to find out and not continue like what I have been doing- (outwardly acting that I knew the church was true but inside I don't believe.). I still continued to go with my parents to the Catholic Church every evening on Sundays. It was during such awakening I remember picking up the Book of Mormon and deciding to really read from it to find out if it was correct or not. I remember going into my room and committing myself to read for 15 minutes. I reckon the time was around 8:45 PM. But after some reading when I looked up at the time it was 9:30PM or so! This continued on. The time went by so quickly and finally it was around 3:30AM or so. I had read almost 30% of the book or so. I was sweating yet it was so cold outside. I could feel warmth near my chest. I knew there was something powerful about this book. I placed it close to my heart and said that I will read from this book every day of my life.

Since then I have read from the book cover to cover several times. My testimony began to take root in my heart. In the meantime for the first time a Seminary program was introduced in India. It was being tried out in Bangalore first. I was asked to be the first Seminary teacher along with Brother Samson Raj. I taught the New Testament. Wow what knowledge I gained. This course was for me to learn and understand the grand truths in the Bible. I read a quote from Various Prophets- President Kimball, Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham young etc. Now these names were becoming familiar to me.

I also picked up a book called My Kingdom shall roll forth (I tried searching online) but that book basically was church history. Wow what great knowledge I gained. Who was Joseph Smith, what persecutions did he go through? The pioneer story and much and much more began to bring about the mighty change of heart. Every night I stayed up till 3 AM. My love for gaining gospel truths took precedence over my secular learning. I memorized all the scripture mastery from the Seminary study. I still can quote my first scripture mastery- Matthew 5:14-16

Well I can remember having very great spiritual manifestations in my room as I went through the Doctrine and Covenants Seminary course. Oh what a great program the Seminary and institute courses are for conversion into the church.

I now decided with this knowledge I cannot be restrained from not serving a full time mission. In 1995 November I was called by a Prophet of God to serve in the India Bangalore Mission. I know with all my heart that this Restored Gospel is true! I know it without a speck of doubt. God is witness to that. I know God the Father, the Creator Lives! He has become that person in my life to whom I go every day and Morning. I know one day I will meet Him. I know Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer and Saviour of Mankind. He indeed walked the roads of Palestine- Healing the sick, causing the blind to see, raising the dead. I know He died for all mankind. How I love Him. It is through Him that I reach the throne of my Father.

I know the Holy Ghost the Revelator is real. He can speak to us and confirm the truth of all things restored in these latter days. I am grateful for all the truths revealed to me by the Holy Ghost. He has been a great companion to me!

I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Oh how much I love my brother Joseph. It was not an easy mission for Him. Yet knowing the grand mission he was accomplishing he went like a sheep to the slaughter. He was martyred upholding the truth he restored. I am grateful to all his successors and today for President Thomas S. Monson. I know President Monson is a Prophet of God, the presiding High Priest on this earth. Significant Events since my baptism (inclusive) :

1. My Baptism on the 21st of April, 1991. Confirmation the same day.

2. Perhaps the Aaronic priesthood the first week of May or so.

3. Melchizedek Priesthood on the 4 April 1993.

4. Patriarchal blessings on 5 June 1994.

5. Mission call November, 1995.

6. Salt Lake temple- Endowment 1st March, 2003

7. Marriage 03 September, 2007

8. Caren’ birth on the 27th September, 2008.

9. Chelsea’ birth on the 10th October, 2010

10. Feb, 2011 visit to the Hawaii temple.

11. 15 November, 2015- Ordained a High Priest by Elder Gerrit W. Gong.

The Events that brought about my conversion-

1. My meeting of Elder Maxwell and Elder Nelson.

2. My first reading of the Book of Mormon all through the night that I explained above.

3. My calling as a Seminary teacher and all that I read in my seminary course.

4. Something else I did every day- A chapter from the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and

covenants. Until I finished the books a few times cover to cover. Then I started to read more

from the Book of Mormon.

5. I remember reading in two sittings the entire gospel principles that helped me feel the spirit

and understand in brief about all the principles of restoration.

6. The Book- My Kingdom shall roll forth, wow what a great and spiritual reading that was. I

mention about the same above in detail as well.

7. My Patriarchal blessings.

8. My endowment in the Salt Lake Temple

And so forth, including my marriage and children and the formation of Stake!