Excerpt from Yoshihiko Kikuchi, “Heavenly Father Has a Special Plan,” Ensign, May 2000, 78

You Have a Loving and Kind Heavenly Father

She said, “I don’t know why I should have to fly to a cold place like Utah at Christmastime to visit my grandchildren. I hate to leave sunny California.”

She went on to say, “Besides, there are strange and weird people in Utah. They call themselves ‘Mormons.’ My daughter married one of them.”

I said, “I am sorry, but before you go any further, I should tell you that I am one of them.”

Then she said, “I am sorry—I didn’t mean that.”

I said, “Oh, you really meant that, didn’t you?”

Our conversation went on until we were above Provo. We knew we would soon be landing in Salt Lake.

“Patti”—that’s her name—“you have been talking for most of the flight. I feel like I have known you from the pre-earth life. Before we land in Salt Lake City, I’d like to ask you a few questions if I may.”

I asked her sincerely, “Patti, your deceased husband—do you know you can see him again?”

She said, “Oh, is that possible?”

“Do you know your deceased son, Matt, who died as a baby—you will see him also in the future?”

Her eyes became moist, and her voice was shaking. The Spirit of the Lord touched her. I sensed she had missed them so much.

Then I prayerfully asked her, “Patti, do you know you have a loving and kind Heavenly Father, who loves you so dearly?”

She said, “Do I?”

“Patti, do you know your Heavenly Father has a special plan for you and that your family can be forever?”

“Can we?” she replied.

“Have you ever heard the plan before?”

She said, “No.”

Very sincerely I asked her, “Would you like to know about it?”

“Yes, I would,” she responded.

The Spirit of the Lord touched her deeply. And the Lord promises us, “For mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.”

The missionaries taught Patti. Three weeks later, while she was staying in Utah, Patti called me: “Brother Kikuchi, this is Patti. I am going to be baptized. Would you come to my baptism services?”

My wife and I went to her baptism. Many members were kindly fellowshipping her. Oh, I shall never forget her joyful countenance as she came out of the water!

I shall never forget her sweet tears at the sacred altar in the Salt Lake Temple a year later. I remember her peaceful and celestial glow when she was sealed to her deceased husband and son and living daughter who had become a member of the Church. She now knows her family is forever in the Lord. My friend Patti Louise Donaldson found the Lord Jesus Christ. Now she lives in Utah.

A few years ago, right before Christmas, I had a stake conference assignment in California. On the flight back to Utah, I decided to take a short nap. My seat was C, near the aisle. Just before the cabin door closed, a beautiful lady in her mid-70s stood beside me and said, “May I have my seat?” I said, “Yes, ma’am.” That was the end of my nap. She loved to talk.