Dirkje Derksen, Leuwarden, June 11, 2011
Dirkje Derksen (who likes to be called Dicks) is 88 years old. Many years ago when she was expecting her second child, who is Nic Steinvoorte, she was given a Book of Mormon. She read it during her pregnancy and found it interesting. (Nic says she (Nic) was indoctrinated with the Gospel while still in the womb. Kind of like in D&C 138: where it says.... "Even before they were born, they... received their first lessons... and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard"). Sister Derksen found the book interesting but did not pursue it further. Her daughter, Nic met the missionaries and joined the Church as a young adult. Sister Derksen tells the story that she and her husband had a substantial "discussion" over Nic joining this Church and the end of the discussion concluded that joining the Church was better than Nic turning to a life of drugs and debauchery.
Sister Derksen told us that she did not want anything to do with this religion.... EVER! Nic, on the other hand fervently prayed for her entire adult life that her mother's heart would be softened and that the Spirit would give her a new heart of hope in the Gospel.
When we (Elder and Sister Van Komen) arrived on the scene Sister Derksen was thinking that maybe she might look at this Church as a place for her final repentance before dying. Nic asked us to talk to her mother and see if she was really interested in "The Gospel."
We did. She not only was interested, she became like a little child who is hungry for the truth of ALL things. (It looks like all those years of Nic praying worked). Sister Derksen became an active participant in study and prayer about Gospel principles. We watched the conversion process change even her entire physical appearance. On the day of her baptism, all of her Steinvoorte grandchildren attended the event which was a family miracle. Sister Derksen looked like an angel.
(Written by Sister Van Komen)
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