Missionaries working practically within the shadow of the Salt Lake Temple are baptizing families from many countries in record numbers.

Some 87 people from 18 countries were baptized in February by six pairs of missionaries working in the Salt Lake Temple Zone of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, reported Pres. V. Dallas Merrell of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. He said missionaries expect to increase that number by more than a third in March.Missionaries are finding humble, receptive people from the four quarters of the world who readily embrace the gospel.

"There are so many people who are led by the Spirit to come to Salt Lake City," said Pres. Merrell. "The Lord brings them here to be befriended by a member, taught by a missionary, and fellowshipped by stake missionaries.

"We have entered into a very strong partnership with stakes in the area. We are doing what we can to follow the counsel of the Brethren in this partnership. The outcome has been a high level of enthusiasm and a great spirit of correlation."

As the new converts are welcomed into strong Salt Lake City wards, more than 80 percent stay active, said Elder James Grimm, mission zone leader.

"We have many new move-ins, and about 30,000 non-members in our zone," he explained. "If each set of missionaries baptized 20 people each month of the year, that would still leave 29,000 people to be taught."

He noted that February's converts, for example, came from 18 lands: Canada, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, England, Sweden, Vietnam, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, China, Korea, Italy, France, Puerto Rico, Spain, Germany, Australia and the United States.

The investigators that missionaries in the zone are teaching represent additional countries and all 50 states, said Elder Grimm.

"The converts feel they have been led here," he continued. "Something brings them here, and the Spirit tells them to stay. One of our converts left and returned three times before he was baptized."

As people come into the city, many are given confused versions of the Church and its beliefs by other non-members. But, as missionaries teach them, "they are really receptive," said Elder Richard Hannah of Spokane, Wash., one of the missionaries in the zone. "A lot of people haven't ever been asked to investigate the Church.'

Missionaries said some of the investigators are referred by General Authorities. In fact, missionaries are currently teaching someone referred by President Ezra Taft Benson.

Other investigators are found through new converts or investigators. Some live in humble quarters in the downtown area, while others live in elegant homes in more affluent neighborhoods.

One family that recently joined the Church is Johnny Darty and his wife, Kris, who came to Salt Lake City 14 years ago from St. Louis, Mo. They were baptized two weeks after hearing the discussions. "The gospel is really beautiful," said Darty. He said that everybody in the Meadow Ward, Salt Lake Riverside Stake, of which he is a member, is "really friendly and nice."

Daniel Gonzalez, now a member of the Thirty Second Ward, Salt Lake Pioneer Stake, is a native of Mexico who moved to Salt Lake City from Chicago two years ago. He was also welcomed into his ward.

"My whole life changed," said his wife, Rhoda. "I learned more in the six lessons than I had known my whole life in my previous church."

"My eyes were opened," said Gonzales. "I knew the gospel was true."

Elder Mitch English, from Tampa, Fla., another missionary serving in the zone, told of teaching a Chinese family. "They had never believed in God," he said. "But they were willing to pray and ask for an understanding of the gospel."

He said that in addition to bringing whole families into the Church, missionaries also baptize children or spouses in less-active families. As a result, husbands and wives or parents are being reactivated.

"We teach the basics of the gospel, and they feel the Spirit," he said.

Bishop Richard L. Peterson of the Thirty Second Ward said his ward includes Tongan, Samoan, Hispanic, black, and European members. Many live in the 300 rental units within the ward's boundaries. "We have quite a mixture of nationalities," Bishop Peterson said.

He added that eight converts have joined the ward in the past few weeks.

"We try to make them feel welcome, and we try to keep in contact with them," he said. "We have some really good stake missionaries in the ward."