In 1997-98, I was serving in the Arizona Tempe Mission among Spanish-speaking people. My companion and I had received a promising media referral and set out to deliver the requested item. We found the address and knocked on the door. A tired woman answered the door. She was obviously not Hispanic so we asked her if she was new in the area. The woman's name was Shannon and she informed us that she had just moved into the apartment a few weeks earlier. We had obviously missed our "golden contact."

Since Shannon was at the door, we began to share the gospel message. She interjected at the very beginning, "I know who you are! And I know I should be going to church. I just don't know where to go. I've just undergone a strenuous operation and I don't really have the time or energy to talk right now."

In the meantime, her daughter had approached the door and was begging to go to church. Her mother reassured her that when she felt better they would go. We said, "Oh, you need to know what ward to attend. Well, we can have the English missionaries in this area contact you."

Shannon told us that would be fine. So we contacted the English sisters who proceeded to call the Relief Society president and elders quorum president to welcome the new family. Meals began to arrive to help ease her recovery. An interpreter was found for her deaf husband, and home and visiting teachers were assigned as the ward members took great interest in the new family.

Soon afterward, the Relief Society President stopped by to see how Shannon was feeling and to reaffirm that her needs were being met. As they spoke, tears began to well up in Shannon's eyes. As her tears rolled down her cheeks, she asked, "Why are you doing this for me? You don't even know who I am."

The president explained the importance of service and how Shannon was an important part of the Church. Shannon asked, "But what church is this?"

The Relief Society president was shocked. Shannon was not a member of the Church. However, she had been touched by the spirit of service and love. The entire family was baptized and attends the Phoenix deaf branch.

I have often asked myself, "What made the difference in the excitement to serve among the members? Was it because they thought Shannon was a member? What would happen if we treated all people with such love and concern?"

— Amy L. Parker Mangelson, Marston Lake 1st Ward, Columbine Colorado Stake