TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Nearly half a century ago, an apostle's willingness to share the gospel with his hotel waiter helped introduce the gospel to an entire nation.

Today that former waiter, a tall man with a dignified bearing, Jose Santos Ortega Flores, 73, looks back with fondness on the early days of the Church in Honduras, and deep affection for Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then an apostle.

In the 46 years since Brother Ortega was baptized, the Church in Honduras has grown from one member to some 82,000 members in more than 20 stakes and eight districts.

In a recent interview at a meetinghouse in Honduras, Brother Ortega told the Church News about his introduction to the Church:

"Apostle Spencer W. Kimball came to the Hotel Prado, where I worked, on Nov. 17, 1952. The next day, as I was waiting on tables, I served them [Elder Kimball and his group] breakfast. I remember that I was going to serve them coffee. Apostle Kimball spoke a little Spanish. He said, "We do not drink coffee. We will have lemonade, or a soft drink."

"I said, 'Yes, that is fine.'

"He continued, 'That is a part of our religion. We belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' Then he gave me a tiny card with the 13 Articles of Faith."

Elder Kimball was accompanied by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, then of the First Council of the Seventy, and several mission presidents. The following day when the party was about to leave, Elder Kimball asked for the waiter.

"He took my information: my name, my address, everything," said Brother Ortega. "They gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. They said they wanted to contact me and send missionaries to visit me and tell me more about the Church.

"Then he put his arm around my shoulder," Brother Ortega said as he began to weep. "Excuse me, but I love Apostle Kimball very much. He told me, 'I think you should become the first member of the Church here in Honduras. We hold the power of the priesthood, and you would be the first man in Honduras to receive it.' "

The group left and the 27-year-old waiter was left to ponder his experience. He began to read the Book of Mormon and when he had questions, he wrote to Elder Kimball and Elder McConkie, who wrote back with answers to his questions.

Missionaries soon arrived in Honduras and found the waiter at work in the hotel. "So it was in January of 1953 the first missionaries arrived. One of them was Elder George W. Allen, tall and blond, from El Paso, Texas. The other was Elder James T. Thorup from California. They began to visit me at home and teach me about the gospel. I was reading the books, and praying, as they asked me to do. I received a strong testimony, and after a little struggle, decided to be baptized.

"At the time I lived in a tiny house, but there were held the first meetings of the Church in Honduras. Five of us attended: myself, the only man; and four women, Alicia Casteneda, Antonita Mendoza de Chajig and her aunt Corina Mendoza, and a daughter 12 years of age. We were the first five baptisms, also."

He said that before long, the group increased and many investigators began to attend Sunday services and many children began coming to Primary. This growth was increased when 10 more missionaries came in April of that year.

Brother Ortega met his beloved Elder Kimball and Elder McConkie on other occasions as they came to visit the Church in Honduras. As the years passed, he advanced in the priesthood and served as first counselor in a branch presidency and in an elders quorum presidency.

"We had 20 families to home [ward] teach, and we worked hard and always visited them."

While he served as a counselor in the branch presidency, another convert was called as branch clerk, Jose Virgilio Ruiz Medina, who was baptized Nov. 4, 1954. Today, he is the custodian of the Fraternidad Ward meeting-

house.

"I have had a very beautiful experience in the Church because it has been marvelous to know the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and be a member of His Church," said Brother Ruiz.

"The early days of the Church were not difficult; they were easy."

He remembers when he used to put on his tie and go to the meetinghouse each Saturday, where he baptized the converts that the missionaries had taught. "This was a good experience, for I was able to magnify my priesthood. Now, the missionaries do all the baptizing."

He also enjoyed being in the choir and singing for special occasions.

"My wife and I always sang in the choir. It was started in 1956, and we sang for the radio and in parks." They also sang for special events, such as when Church leaders visited, he said.

His wife, Lydia Medina Villanueva de Ruiz, was baptized in 1958.

"It was a surprise that the Church grew so rapidly," she said. But, she said, her mother, sister and five brothers were baptized into the Church as well. "I am very happy that we are all in the true Church," she said. "To go to the temple to be sealed was a great experience. All our children but one are sealed, but I have great faith in Heavenly Father that he will return to the Church."

She has served as a Relief Society instructor and Primary and YWMIA teacher.

"I know the Church is true, and that the prophet receives revelation for the Church. This is my testimony."