Dear Daughters of God

Three Promptings That Changed My Life | Missionary Miracle in Seoul, Korea

• Stephanie Eccles • Season 1 • Episode 28

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Three promptings that changed my life — and the miracles that followed. In this episode of Dear Daughters of God, returned missionary Jon Howe shares his powerful story of how ignoring (and finally obeying) a prompting from God led him to life-changing experiences, both before and during his mission in Seoul, Korea.

From a General Conference talk on repentance that completely shifted his priorities, to meeting a Vietnamese man who found faith through an early-morning prompting, to miraculous moments with the Book of Mormon — these stories show how God is in the details of our lives.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the Spirit’s nudges really matter, this conversation will inspire you to listen, trust, and act.


Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv

Jon Howe:

All of a sudden I just got this huge prompting and it said, Jon, you need to turn on general conference right now in your car. It was my first time ever listening to it on my own, and in that moment, it was literally the most perfect talk that I needed. I can remember it was Elder Christensen. he was giving a beautiful talk on repentance, and it struck me so hard. Uh, I started crying. I'd never cried like that in my life, and my car was full of the spirit, and I just knew in that moment that church and the gospel was something that I really needed in my life.

Stephanie:

Welcome to Dear Daughters of God. My name is Stephanie Eccles, and we're thrilled to have you here with us today.

Stephanie test:

I am a retired school administrator

natural storyteller, and I am a daughter of God.

Stephanie test:

Now, I tell the stories

of our lives from the perspective

Stephanie test:

of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Microphone (Samson Q2U Microphone)-9:

Welcome, Dear Daughters of God. I address you that way because that's what you are to Him. To our Heavenly Father, you are dear

Stephanie:

We have a guest. His name is Jon Howe, and he has just returned from a mission. He served in Seoul, Korea. welcome Jon.

Jon Howe:

Hi. Thank you so much. It's great to be here.

Stephanie:

We are so glad to have you. you. I had the privilege of knowing Jon since he was an adventurous primary boy. It's been so satisfying to watch him grow up through the years and mature into manhood and then make the decision to serve a mission for two years to bring people to Christ. I happen to be there as he was giving his homecoming talk. and was so touched by his spirit and by also the experiences that he had with the people in Korea that I asked if he would come and share with us so all the daughters of God could hear and feel of, Jon's spirit and the spirit of God today. I'm going to introduce him so you know a little bit more about him. Jon is 20 years old and the youngest in his family of six. He is still yet to be called an uncle, but he's looking forward to it because his sister Alexis, is expecting the very first grandchild for his parents. And so Jon will be an uncle in August. Now he's just returned home from a mission About one month ago from Seoul, Korea, South Mission, and he loved every second of this mission. He's expecting to go to Brigham Young University in August, he'd like to do the medical school route. So he has a lot of school ahead of him. His dream one day is to open up a dermatologist clinic in Utah. That's a lofty goal, Jon, but I'd say go for it. Jon also has a huge passion for golf, and ever since he was little, he's aspired to play at the college level. In high school, Jon also enjoyed playing basketball. If you ask him, what do you like to do, Jon? He's gonna say, I like spending time with my family, and I like sharing the gospel with those who haven't learned of the great news. He says he's very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the way it has changed his life and many others. That was a beautiful introduction, Jon. Jon, you've got a terrific smile, so keep on smiling. did you say you were playing golf today?

Jon Howe:

Yeah. This morning I went over to Eaglewood Golf course and I tipped and putted to work on my short game.

Stephanie:

Good for you. Okay. I know you've been doing a little bit of reffing with basketball since being home.

Jon Howe:

Yeah, actually my brother, is a really good basketball player

Stephanie:

Oh,

Jon Howe:

been doing some for A A U, which is like.

Stephanie:

yes.

Jon Howe:

Kind of competitive high school players. And so he invited me and I went down a couple times and I got to ref some basketball and make some money.'cause I, don't right now, so I really needed it. Yeah. Yep.

Stephanie:

it's always nice to get some money in your pocket after being gone for a couple of years. Get back into the swing of things. All right. I don't know if you always planned on going on a mission or not, but I remember a story about your senior year and it changing your perspective about a mission. Is that right?

Jon Howe:

Yeah, that's totally right. So my senior year, I. Like we talked about, I love golf and I had the biggest goal of trying to be a college player and in my senior year I worked really hard and exit coaches, and I had one solid coach interested in me. So I thought, you know, this is kind of my way out. My big goal if I do this, I don't really need to serve a mission and I can stay in the US and you know, do what I love. So I had this, but the mission was always in the back of my mind because my two older brothers served, my dad served and I knew that it was, it was the right thing to do. And so in October of my senior year, I was actually, I can't remember vividly, I was driving in Salt Lake just going off of work, and it was a Saturday. I knew it was General Conference Saturday I knew my family would be watching it at home, so I didn't want to go home really fast'cause didn't want to watch and I, I didn't have that love for the things of God yet though, you know, typical high school and yeah, I just had no interest in listening and I wanted to do my own thing and so I was just blaring my music in the car, driving in Salt Lake and. literally couldn't hear anything and the car was rattling and probably wasn't the music I should have been listening to, um, until all of a sudden I just got this huge prompting and it said, Jon, you need to turn on general conference right now in your car. And I was like, that's really weird. You know, I, I don't like general conference. I don't know why I would need to do that. And so, of course I was ignorant and I ignored it and just kept playing music. And then about 30 seconds later, the same exact impression came again, a little bit stronger this time. I was a little weirded out. I was like, okay, strange. Maybe, maybe I should, but, uh, I, I don't want to, so I'm not gonna do it. And so I ignored it one more time. And then I'd say a minute later, I was at a stop sign and I was actually passing by the temple in Salt Lake, and I got the same impression again, said, Jon, you need to turn on conference right now. And so I followed it. Finally, I, I put away my pride and I turned on conference. It was my first time ever listening to it on my own, and in that moment, it was literally the most perfect talk that I needed. I can remember it was Elder Christensen. He was of the 70 at the time, and he was giving a beautiful talk. on repentance, and it struck me so hard. Uh, I started crying. I'd never cried like that in my life, and my car was full of the spirit, and I just knew in that moment that church and the gospel was something that I really needed in my life. And it was what I, something I knew that I was looking for. Something I didn't know that I was looking for, actually something that I had put off and wanted to put second over golf, and I ended up following that little experience into preparing for a mission and taking, you know, my faith very seriously. So.

Stephanie:

Really well, that was quite the experience. So I can see why it moved you to propel towards change. But, then I'm impressed that you were consistent in that change.'cause you kept on with that effort.

Jon Howe:

Yeah, I kept going, Thankfully.

Stephanie:

Yes. What a beautiful experience, Jon. Wow. So three times. Three times, but you got it the third time. Good for you.

Jon Howe:

that's

Stephanie:

you. Yes. Neat. And just in time, it sounds like just in time for.

Jon Howe:

right in time of me needing to make one of the hugest decisions ever. So it was, God knew where I was and knew that I needed to hear that talk.

Stephanie:

Yes. So repentance, that's the topic was that struck you so strongly in that talk, right?

Jon Howe:

That's right.

Stephanie:

That's right. Ah.

Jon Howe:

I needed to change.

Stephanie:

Yeah. That, can be a hard principle to come upon and to be taught because we can so often think of that I did most of my life as a negative.

Jon Howe:

Yeah,

Stephanie:

now I'm finally learning. And our prophet President Nelson, has helped us see this as, I think his words are, repentance is sweet. And, that's how I see it now because It, really makes me feel so satisfied and empowered when I repent daily and I'm ready to just go on forward and, be the better me. It's very empowering.

Jon Howe:

exactly. Just doing our best to become better and like Christ. So be the happiest thing that we can actually do, and that's something that I learned on my mission for sure.

Stephanie:

Ah, yes. I'm sure you had plenty of opportunity to face repentance with many people.

Jon Howe:

Yeah.

Stephanie:

Yes. Okay. So from there you ended up serving a mission and was it right after high school that you left or did you wait a little bit? What was that like?

Jon Howe:

Yeah. So I left the summer after I graduated,

Stephanie:

Oh,

Jon Howe:

yeah.

Stephanie:

that's really soon.

Jon Howe:

Mm-hmm.

Stephanie:

That's, really quick. But you were ready

Jon Howe:

Yeah, I attended mission prep from actually, I think that weekend on. From

Stephanie:

Really?

Jon Howe:

on until I left, so it was as prepared as I could have been. I'd say as prepared as I

Stephanie:

Good for you. Okay. So now you're out on the mission and you had so many incredible experiences. One that comes to my mind is a man that you met that was not from Korea, he was from Vietnam. Does that sound right?

Jon Howe:

correct.

Stephanie:

Yeah.

Jon Howe:

that's right.

Stephanie:

Tell us that experience. Are you okay with that?

Jon Howe:

yeah, of

Stephanie:

Okay.

Jon Howe:

So yes, he was from Vietnam and he was about 25 when he decided that he wanted to move from Vietnam to Korea. And so he did. He did the move alone and left his family and Vietnam and he was working for a tech company. Smart guy. And he said that. He moved to Korea and he got his first apartment and about a month went by and he had no friends. Was kind of lonely in his area. You know, typical things for moving to a new place. And if you know him, you know that he doesn't love to like exercise or run. Just not, not his thing. He doesn't have to wake up early for work. And actually Vietnamese people, they have that kind of sleep schedule. They have a nap in the middle of their day though'cause it gets really hot in the afternoon. So he slept a lot and you know, wake, wake up till about nine in the morning. And also as missionaries, we wake up at six 30 every morning. And one night he told us that he had a prompting. That he needed to wake up at six 30 and go to the nearest park from his house. And he said, oh, that's really weird. I don't, I don't ever wake up even close to six 30 and I don't work out. So it was two really weird curve balls for him. But he said for some reason he just had the feeling, you know, maybe I'll, maybe I'll do it and see what happens. And funny enough, two missionaries woke up at six 30 that morning and did their 30 minutes of exercise and they met this man at the park in about five minutes of him leaving his house. He said it was the most bizarre thing ever. And he met those missionaries, they became really good friends and he started to, you know, learn the gospel with us. And I was blessed with the opportunity to teach him and see his progression. And one thing he would always mention was you know Elder Howe I don't believe in your church yet. I don't have a faith and my family doesn't believe in anything. That's just how I grew up. But after this experience, there's no way that I can doubt that God was the reason that I met you guys. He's the one who got me up at six 30 and put me in your path. I, I know that because I would never have done that and I can see what happens when I listened to that prompting. And from then on he started to progress so much and he just talked about how he found faith in God and he was so happy that he met the missionaries and we were able to help him change a lot of things in his life. So it was a really, eye opening experience for me.

Stephanie:

Oh, I bet, It reminds me of, of your story that you really had no interest in watching conference and kept getting that inspiration. Just like he had no interest of waking up early in the morning. That's not something he did. And then, like you said, he is not one that wanted to exercise and he's going to the park to exercise.

Jon Howe:

Yeah,

Stephanie:

That's, really bizarre, behavior for him.

Jon Howe:

Yeah, both of us

Stephanie:

Yes. For both of you. All because of a prompting from the Holy Ghost. That's remarkable how that must have been so thrilling to be a part of this change in his life. To help him recognize that there is a God in heaven and to bring him, to Christ. That's so exciting. Yeah.

Jon Howe:

Very, very neat experience that I was able to have and

Stephanie:

Yeah.

Jon Howe:

for it.

Stephanie:

So, okay. Well, I can't help but be curious what became of him.

Jon Howe:

So When I was in the area, he attended church every single week and

Stephanie:

Okay.

Jon Howe:

read the Book of Mormon here and there wasn't super consistent with it, but know, he knew that he needed to be at church every week. He hasn't, by my knowledge, he hasn't been baptized yet, but I believe that he will. He, definitely works at a slower pace and he's not in a huge rush himself,

Stephanie:

Yeah, yeah,

Jon Howe:

I know that he is attracted to the light and to the spirit, and he keeps coming back to the church. So

Stephanie:

yeah.

Jon Howe:

will one day accept.

Stephanie:

And in the meantime, he has what so vitally important, and that is faith in God. Is that right?

Jon Howe:

the beginning. Yeah,

Stephanie:

He's got the beginnings of it. Yes. Yeah. Oh, thank you for sharing that story with us. Oh,

Jon Howe:

course.

Stephanie:

okay. Well, I also remember you talking about your companion getting sick in the mission field, and it humored me as to what you guys did at that point, or, the way, you said it, because it, definitely showed A difference in culture between the United States and Korea. So tell us that story.

Jon Howe:

Yeah, so. I mean, everyone takes care of their health. I mean, we all, know, take care of our bodies and we wanna be healthy, but the Koreans are like next level. They are so on top of it. And if you get a sore throat or a runny nose, you know, the first thing you do, you go to the hospital. is very different from how I grew up and because I mean, healthcare there is really cheap, so they can do that and it's, you know, it's a really big blessing over there. as the, the Koreans do, my companion a sore throat and our mission mom said, Hey, you guys have to go to the hospital.

Stephanie:

The hospital. Okay.

Jon Howe:

Hospital for a runny nose we're both kinda like, okay, Sister Park but we'll be obedient, we'll go to the hospital. and see what they have to say. And so we, walked to the place and it was like 10 minute walk in. We get there and we get seated in a room with one doctor and he was a really cool guy. Me and my companion, we just started to hit it off with this guy really well. Had a good conversation going and then he told us about this book that he wrote to help people foreigners learn Korean. And so he, introduced his book and he gave us a sign to copy of us and said, study this and you'll be a better Korean speaker. That he was trying to help out my poor Korean skills, super nice, super nice guy. So was really touched that he gave me this book for free

Stephanie:

Uh.

Jon Howe:

I just thought instantly, you know, got an even better book that I'm actually in Korea to share Sharing the Book of Mormon was like one of the funnest things for me to do on my mission. So it's kind of like a routine habit, but I kind of like froze up and I, I just didn't, I didn't do it. I didn't give it to him and still our checkup went on and. He got prescribed his medicine and the doctor told us to come back in three days for another checkup on his runny nose, and we leave the doctors and me and my companion like, well, there's no way we need to go back for a second visit. I mean, take the medicine, we'll be fine. We'll be back out on the street tomorrow. But then on the way back home to the church I had a huge prompting again. I was like, you need to go back and you need to give him a Book of Mormon. And I was like, okay. I told my companion, he's like, well, maybe we'll go back in three days, like he said. And so I was like, okay. And in those three days, me and my companion got at least 10 more promptings that this doctor needed a Book of Mormon. So yeah. And so we're like, okay, well we're locked in. We, can't unhear those promptings. So we'll go back in the day. And we woke up three days later, we planned, okay, we're gonna go to the doctor. And we prepared to Book a Mormon, especially for him, and we said, set a goal that we're gonna find him. And we prayed over it. We left the apartment and we got there. No one was in the hospital. just us, and we got seated right away. And this is where it gets really crazy. Um, before I could even share this Book of Mormon that I was waiting three days to share, he starts to tell us about his English teacher and they meet every week. He said, I think three times. And this man lives in the Philippines, so they meet over Zoom they've been meeting with him for 10 years to learn English. And he said, you know, yesterday I met this, my English teacher for our regular class, it was so weird. He just started to teach me about Joseph Smith and these gold plates and the Book of Mormon, and me and my companion were just We were like thrown back and we're okay. Yeah. he goes, yeah, I, I didn't know I've heard about your church, but I didn't know that about this book and this other testament of Christ. And he is like, I really want one of these books. And I, the feeling that I had is literally undescribable. I whipped out my Book of Mormon that I was waiting to give him. And I, I showed him, I said, this is the Book of Mormon. And his face lit up. And he said, no way. That's, that's what I need. That's what I want. We gave it to him and he was so happy. And it was just an amazing experience of God being in the little details and preparing people. I know that he used that. That English teacher to prepare this doctor before we could go back, and he also prompted us to go back. So I mean, God always works through other people he certainly did that day and it was a crazy experience.

Stephanie:

Oh, well, it, it sounds like it worked out exactly as it was supposed to, even though you felt like you were freezing up in the beginning and did not give him the Book Mormon. It sounds like it wasn't the ideal time because it was after that, that his English teacher told him about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Is that right?

Jon Howe:

exactly. I mean, because 10 times outta 10, I would've instantly just, I mean, I loved showing the Book of Mormon to anyone. Just, you need to hear this. And yeah, shut me down and I was like, okay, well that's weird. But it was definitely what God wanted and he wanted his teacher to teach and testify to him first then for me to, to give it to him. So definitely divine design, if I'd say.

Stephanie:

Yes, that is a miracle. That's a miracle. That's amazing that this man from the Philippines who's teaching him English, who he's been working with three times a week for quite some time, what was it, three years did he say?

Jon Howe:

He had been learning for about seven to 10 years and meeting three times a week, so

Stephanie:

Oh my.

Jon Howe:

a long, long time. Yeah.

Stephanie:

and it was finally time for this teacher to introduce the gospel to him, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wow. Like you said, you can't even describe the feeling you had at that moment. I can understand why. What a miracle to be a part of.

Jon Howe:

yeah,

Stephanie:

Yes.

Jon Howe:

they just had that set up meeting in between three days that we met, so. After that visit, me and my companion were literally almost in tears. I think we rode the elevator down and we were just praying and in awe, and it was something that I will never, ever forget.

Stephanie:

Oh, that's amazing. That's amazing.

Jon Howe:

Could I share another experience or story?

Stephanie:

Yes, you bet. We'd love to hear another story.

Jon Howe:

Okay.

Stephanie:

I.

Jon Howe:

So I'd like to end by just another story that's kind of similar to these that we've shown and how, God is aware of where we are in each circumstance, where we are in life, and what we need in that moment. On my mission, I was serving in a place called Suan, which is about an hour from Seoul, so an hour south, we were an hour bus ride from our mission office at the mission office there was a big library of all types of Book of Mormons and different languages and the things that you might need as a missionary. And we had a really, awesome friend that we were teaching and he really wanted to study the Book of Mormon in Russian

Stephanie:

Russian.

Jon Howe:

yeah. He wasn't Russian, but he said because his family was really Catholic, that he couldn't bring home a Book of Mormon or else they would throw it away or hurt him. And so he's like, if I do it in Russian, they won't be able to understand and they won't know what book it is.'cause he was really interested in our church and he had a really strong testimony to begin with. So we searched the church first and in our missionary teaching room. there's a bunch of Book of Mormons, but we searched and there was no Russian one. after our meeting with him, we said, you know, tomorrow we have a meeting that we're going to, we can grab you one at the mission office and we'll bring it back tomorrow when we meet. And so we go for our meeting and we'd set reminders on our phone that, okay. Don't forget the Russian book, And the meeting goes on. We had a good meeting and I. Time goes on, the meeting ends and we're on the bus headed back to our area we realize we forgot the Russian Book of Mormon. And we'd already, he was, we were meeting him in 30 minutes right as we arrived. He was gonna be there and we were gonna meet him with the Book of Mormon.

Stephanie:

Oh no.

Jon Howe:

yeah, we're. Down on ourselves. We're freaking, we're just sad and we're like, I don't know how we're gonna break the news to our friend that we don't have what he is been looking for. And we didn't know when we could get one next. So it would've been maybe a week or two, probably two weeks. So we were pretty disappointed. And we get off the bus and we meet him in front of the church. And we go in together and we go into the missionary teaching room and in the middle of the table there is a wrapped brand new Russian book of Mormon on the table.

Stephanie:

What.

Jon Howe:

And we were just shocked. We were like, no way that not possible. And we were ecstatic, we're like, okay, we got the book a moron for you. We hadn't told'em that we forgot it yet. And I'm like, oh, yep, it's here. It's right here. We got it for you. So we gave it to him and we were, honestly, I didn't even know what to think. a lot of things, everyone in my brain, you know, who put this here, where did it come from? And, and, but it was a great lesson. And he loved the Book of Mormon. That Russian Book of Mormon. And he took it home, he studied it, and he just kept sending us pictures of him studying in it. And we were really happy and, and it was exactly what he needed. We even like accused the sisters, we called them, we're like, Hey, did you put a Russian book of Mormon in there? And they're like, no, we didn't. We didn't do that. We called the ward. We're like, okay, who put that book there? And one, no one owned up to it. So we knew it was God, and I don't know how he put a book there, but he knew that this friend really needed it in that moment and what he needed for him to progress and accepting the gospel. So. He worked a miracle and he got us that Book of Mormon when we needed it. And it was one of the craziest experiences that I still can't even really fathom myself. It's just,

Stephanie:

Yes.

Jon Howe:

I mean, it is a,

Stephanie:

It's just, it just seems unbelievable. It just seems unbelievable. It happened. And, and the fact that you, that, that you tried to find out, well, how'd it get there? How did the Sister missionaries put it there? But you couldn't, no one had, no one would put it there. That's

Jon Howe:

No, no,

Stephanie:

wow.

Jon Howe:

no one even has access to that room. So it

Stephanie:

Ooh,

Jon Howe:

definitely God, and it was exactly when we needed it, when we

Stephanie:

ah.

Jon Howe:

were in a little bit of a pickle. So we were super grateful and we can only thank God for it. So.

Stephanie:

Oh, that's amazing. Well, that man was definitely supposed to have that Book of Mormon that day,

Jon Howe:

Yes,

Stephanie:

right? In Russian,

Jon Howe:

in Russian.

Stephanie:

in Russian.

Jon Howe:

he was really funny guy, and I know he was actually referred into the other mission in Korea, but I have kept in touch with him I know that he. Either was recently baptized or he is on baptismal date, so

Stephanie:

Oh,

Jon Howe:

that is without that pivotal moment, I don't know. I could say that he would've been there, God definitely had his way and he was in the designs of it, so he got it to

Stephanie:

that's, that is remarkable.

Jon Howe:

to see. Yeah.

Stephanie:

Hmm. you have been part of some incredible miracles. Yes. And I think it's in part because of your faith and your willingness to follow that impression when you were in your car and it came three times. Turn on general conference and you listened. You listened. And as a blessing, not only were you blessed, but then you were a part of other people's blessings and miracles as they found and came unto Christ. Oh, Jon, thank you. Thank you for sharing these, these miracles with us. It's been a pleasure having you. I know that, you're gonna be very popular, BYU I'm sure of it.

Jon Howe:

I'm excited to get down there.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I bet. Yes. Well, we wish you the very best. We wanna hear about it. You'll have to let me know how things are going, and I'll share it with everybody. How about that?

Jon Howe:

Sounds good.

Stephanie:

Okay. Well, you have a wonderful rest of your week and we will talk again soon. And for now, I'll say farewell Jon, until we meet again.

Jon Howe:

All right. Thank you so much.

Stephanie:

You are welcome, Jon. Bye-bye.

Jon Howe:

Bye.