At our recent conference we heard a beautiful story in the testimonies of two young companion Elders. One is an American Shoshone Indian from Duckworth, Nevada. The other is Samoan from Salt Lake City. Both are "talk dark and handsome." Both are athletic with perfect while smiles. Both are very spiritual and exceptional Elders.

They have been laboring on the island of Udot in the Truk Lagoon, in a village called Penia. They found an older couple who wanted to hear the gospel. Their names are Simon and Nazy Pek. After sitting on hard floors for years many old people suffer paralysis in their hips and legs. Nazy and Simon are partially immobile

After hearing the Gospel they were anxious to be baptized. The missionaries marveled at their strong faith and testimonies and set the baptismal day. Living a good distance from the shore presented a few difficulties. This island is quite hostile to Mormons, having been indoctrinated by their "predominant religion" preachers.

No help from the local people was forthcoming. These two devoted Elders brought their baptismal "whites" and their own cotton dressing robes to put on these two dear "bodies." They sat the man on a piece of discarded wood and carried him between them down to the beach. One missionary returned to get the woman. He hadn't anticipated how heavy she was. But amid the jeers of curious neighbors he got the woman on his back and held her legs tight around his waist. He began to walk to the shore. It was very hot and humid. As he bent under her weight he became faint and feared he would drop her. He said suddenly his thoughts turned to the Savior as He struggled to carry His cross. This good missionary was so strengthened by this visualization that he finished the distance and deposited her on the beach by the side of her husband.

A soft rain fell as they "towed" the couple out into the water. They baptized them and their tears of joy mingled with the rain on their cheeks. They expressed the wish they could just stay in the warm blue water of the Lagoon and not have to return to their house and their unpleasant neighbors.

The Elders comforted them as they carried each one back on the board seat. As they entered the small house the Elders saw that their street clothes were missing and then saw they were scattered all about the yard. They tried not to show their distress as they went retrieving their clothes from mud and bush.

They looked up and out over the place where they had performed the baptism. They saw a beautiful rainbow arching over the water. At this moment the Elders said nothing mattered! Not the things people had said or done to them. Everything was wonderful, just wonderful!

I wish you could have heard it live! This is the way I heard it!

By Erla Young

Note: This is the story of Elder Morago from Nevada and Elder Falo from Salt Lake City.