I believe it was the day after I had a giant garbage can filled with beetles, maggots and Madagascar hissing cockroaches poured on top of my head.
No, really.
I was competing on “Reality Stars Fear Factor” and decided to go out to lunch with another reality star contestant who had just been eliminated.
We were sitting outside underneath a sunny veranda somewhere in L.A. at a private little table when she asked me the question.
“What is it about you?”
Twila Tanner was a sweet, tough, no-nonsense woman from the reality show "Survivor" who I admired and respected. She cheered for me as I climbed down a ladder into an ice-cold well full of carp to find a human skull, army-crawled up a tunnel to face an alligator and jumped out of a helicopter. She was tough as nails and a fierce competitor.
She was also wondering why I didn’t curse like the others, drink, wear a bikini or live with my fiancé.
“Well,” I began. “I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Thus began a sweet conversation about some of the beliefs I have and the values I strive to live up to as a Mormon.
“You have a glow about you,” she said. “You really do.”
I walked back up to my hotel room that afternoon feeling warm and peaceful. I noticed a copy of the Book of Mormon I had brought with me in my suitcase and decided to give it to Twila. I wasn’t sure how she’d respond, but after writing a brief testimony inside I knocked on her door and handed it to her.
“Thank you!” she said.
Well, about four months later I received a phone call. I heard a sturdy, raspy, enthusiastic voice on the other end and knew instantly it was Twila.
“How are you?” I exclaimed. “How’s life?”
We talked about my recent marriage and I thanked her for her thoughtfulness in sending a gift.
“So you’ll never guess who’s been to my house,” she said.
“Who?” I asked.
“Those boys in suits!” she responded. “From your church. They’ve been to my house several times.”
I was astounded. I couldn’t believe she had listened to the missionaries. Well, maybe I could. Twila is just accepting like that.
I don’t know what happened next in Twila’s life. I’ve since lost touch with her. I’ve often wondered why she decided to let the missionaries in. Was it because I shared the Book of Mormon with her? Was it our conversation? Was it other connections she had to Mormon “Survivors” (Neleh Nielson)? I’m not sure, but that experience has been one that has stuck with me.
What is it about sharing a copy of the Book of Mormon that sometimes makes us members of the LDS Church get nervous? We can talk about it freely, but there is something about sharing the book that makes all of our simple discussions suddenly seem very real. It’s an opportunity people have to now discover whether or not they want to know, for themselves, if what we’ve talked about is true. And it all begins with reading the Book of Mormon.
Two sisters missionaries serving in Las Vegas didn’t let their fears — or one rapper’s fame — deter them as they boldly shared a copy of the Book of Mormon with Snoop Dogg this fall.
According to LDS Living, “Sister 'Otukolo got special permission from their mission president to attend a football game at the Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where her brother plays. And when her brother told her that Snoop's son also played on the team, the sisters went looking for him!”
The sisters posted a pic of them with Snoop Dogg on LDS Missionaries Facebook page with Snoop holding the Book of Mormon.
“Sisters Andelin and 'Otukolo met this nice man named Snoop at the football game,” the caption read.
It hasn’t been confirmed whether or not Snoop actually took the book home, but just to introduce themselves and make the connection was incredibly brave. It meant they were not focusing on labels or status. They were simply doing what they were called to do: share the good news.
My husband served his mission in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of St. John and St. Thomas. It was there he met a man and his famous donkey, Oprah. He talked this man and to Oprah for a while and got a picture with her, sitting on her.
It’s a funny story to tell, but also a reminder to me that no matter the places we call home, the lives we live, the mistakes we’ve made, the journey we’ve had, the gospel truly is for “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
Carmen Rasmusen Herbert is a former "American Idol" contestant who writes about entertainment and family for the Deseret News.