Getting the Elusive Second Appointment Ricciardi had this brilliant way of getting in the first discussion and committing new investigators to a second appointment. He would say “If we took that family portrait on your wall and cut it into six pieces, and placed one piece in the frame, would you be able to comprehend the picture? Much like that one piece, we have given you one of six pieces, and for you to truly understand the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we would like to give you the other five pieces and see what you think? ” I actually found the more we loved the people of England and EXPRESSED that love to them; the bolder we could be without upsetting them.
Two Priests Ricciardi was very knowledgeable on the scriptures. I recall street contacting in the town center, when I saw two catholic priests across the courtyard walking up a ramp. I didn’t want to have any conflict on this particular day so I went to Elder Ricciardi and slyly suggested that we had spent ample time in the town center. I was hoping we could leave before the priests noticed us or vice versa. It was while we began to ride out of the main mall area that Ricciardi spotted the two priests. He stuck his arm out to motion for me to stop. Ricciardi turned to me, let out a small Italian chuckle, and said in his thick Italian accent “We must stay, Elder”.
The priests declined Elder Ricciardi’s request and they promptly laughed at him as they immediately walked away
As the priests approached us one of them said “Ah the Mormons! At that point I didn’t even know Ricciardi had a sense of humor. The priests then turned into bashing mode and went on a spiritual tirade that lasted about 15 minutes. The whole time I was waiting for Ricciardi to unleash his scripture “Bazooka”. I did not know much about Ricciardi at this point in our companionship, but one thing I did know; he was powerfully knowledgeable on the scriptures and theological doctrines of other churches, with a particular fondness for Catholicism, which is the religion he was raised in. I had never seen him in action per se, and I was sure he was going to just dismantle their intellect with a tirade of his own.
He agreed and we began to afrointroductions put on our back packs
To my surprise Ricciardi did nothing but listen intently. It frustrated me! Then Ricciardi slightly tilted his head to me and out the side of his mouth whispered, “Watch this. He leaned forward into their faces and said, “Do you believe in the Holy Ghost? Of course we do! May I ask you another question? Do you believe the Holy Ghost knows all truth? Do you believe the Holy Ghost reveals truth to men? Do you think we are fools? Then without warning Elder Ricciardi’s voice took on a powerful tone that I had never heard him speak in before. I could have sworn he had a microphone in hand and that there was an echo to his words. I ask you to open your hearts and have a desire to know the truth, because if you have done these things before we come tomorrow, the Holy Ghost, the same Holy Ghost we have spoken of, will visit you and confirm unto you from within, the truthfulness of the message we will bring.
I also want you to know that what you are feeling now……. I pondered on how the power of the prophets of old caused people to quake, thinking those stories were relegated to a more ancient time and that things like that just don’t happen anymore. I was wrong. The spirit was present and the priests looked really uncomfortable, I thought “Holy cow, they are actually feeling the spirit! Unwilling to admit what they were feeling (perhaps unable to define what it was) I contend to this day they know they felt something that spring day. It was the kind of uncomfortable laugh you give when you are unsure of yourself and you simply want to get out of the situation.