`Hearts were touched'

Our hearts were touched with the desire to find someone to whom we could present the gospel after attending a special missionary meeting with missionaries in the Tahiti Papeete Mission and their president, Steven L. Graham.But as president and matron of the Tahiti Temple (from 1983-1987), our association with non-members was limited as our weekdays and nights were spent in the temple and our Sundays in ward meetings.

We knew, however, that prayer and fasting would help us find those who were prepared by the Lord to receive the gospel.

We set a date to find someone in the next month and we began to pray and fast, making a promise to the Lord that we would do all in our power to take the gospel blessings to anyone who was ready. The date we had set arrived and we had not found anyone, but we were not discouraged.

Several days later, a piano string broke, which impaired my wife's work as choir director in our ward.

A piano store was quickly located, owned by Miguel and Florence Pedron. Miguel was also a professor of music and a well-known entertainer in Tahiti. An appointment was made to have the piano inspected. It was found to be in need of much work.

Before leaving our home, Miguel asked a question about predestination, and a friendly discussion ensued. We felt he was sincere and was the person we were looking for.

The Pedrons were later invited to a family home evening. Miguel raised the same question, and another discussion lasted late into the evening. There was no doubt in our minds that the Lord had prepared this family.

The family was invited to a stake open house the following Sunday, and was touched and wanted to know more about the gospel. A time was set for the full-time missionaries to meet in our home with the Pedrons.

The testimony of the Pedron family grew and a baptismal date was set. Miguel, Florence and two children were baptized. About a year later, they were all sealed in the Tahiti Temple.

The Pedron family will always be very dear to us and are considered part of our family. What a great blessing it is to be able to bring the gospel blessings to others and see them grow in the Church. - Joseph E. Childers, Aspen 2nd Ward, Orem Utah Aspen Stake

(Another in a series of "Missionary Moments." Illustration by Deseret News artist Reed McGregor.)