He acknowledged his brother, who was in the audience, and said, "This is the first time he has heard my testimony. Hopefully I can bring my family to a truth. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. It was restored by a young boy, Joseph Smith, who in a field saw God the Father and Jesus Christ."

McDowell continued, "Take the time to research and find out for yourself.
Take the time to pick up The Book of Mormon. Ask whether it is true. If you want to see a miracle, just think that Gladys Knight is running a choir in the Mormon Church."

He then introduced his wife as "Gladys Knight McDowell," and she sang a song to which Brother McDowell wrote the lyrics - "He Lives." It was a very moving song about the Savior that Knight sang to a misty-eyed crowd.

"I have to give this testimony of mine," Knight said. "I have no other choice. Sometimes the truth is right before you and you don't see it."

Knight said that it has sometimes been difficult for her to tell people she is a Mormon. "But this is the true church. It has the 12 apostles, just like Jesus' church. Just like the people in Jesus' day, we need to look farther for the truth. The people in those days got the same ridicule we get today. I was willing to risk that for the honor of serving him."

She asked non-members in the audience, "At least see for yourselves. At least be obedient to that end." She then went into the audience to shake hands and give hugs to the many people who adore her.

Mission President Noel Reynolds said his missionaries received 425 solid
referrals from the event.

"The missionaries from the Haitian branch brought 17 people, and one young lady asked to be baptized right away after hearing Gladys Knight's testimony," President Reynolds said. Another ward mission leader had been asking his father, a Baptist, to hear the discussions for year. His father finally agreed with enthusiasm after attending the Gladys Knight event.

Geoffrey Biddulph is a member of the Homestead stake

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