FARMINGDALE, Maine — As a result of George McLaughlin's prayerful efforts and his obedience to spiritual promptings, more than 600 people joined the Church in two years.

Photo by Jonathan Dickey

Construction of new wing will accommodate growth in Augusta Maine Stake. Many joined in 1960s because of missionary effort by Farmingdale Ward.

His efforts are among the dramatic missionary experiences of modern day, highlighted by Elder M. Russell Ballard in his April 2003 general conference address.

There were five branches of the Church in Maine when Brother McLaughlin and his wife, Karline, joined in 1951. They were among 10 members who attended a branch in Litchfield, near Augusta, Maine.

Nine years later in 1960, when Brother McLaughlin was called as branch president, membership had swelled to only about 20.

The mantle of his calling as branch president weighed on him, and two years later, after the branch moved to new accommodations in Farmingdale, Brother McLaughlin fasted for two days to learn the Lord's will concerning the growth of this branch that covered a vast area in central Maine.

One day, while making his rounds as a milk delivery man, he stopped his truck alongside a country road and found a secluded spot where he poured out his desires in prayer to the Lord. While returning to his truck, thoughts entered his mind detailing what he and the members needed to do.

Brother McLaughlin recounted his thoughts to the branch the next Sunday in a talk that Sister McLaughlin later described as the most inspiring and Spirit-filled talk she had ever heard. Following the meeting, Brother McLaughlin called three families to serve as "proselyting families." Each family was asked to invite a non-member family to join them for a special meeting in the meetinghouse.

Ten days later, on the appointed Wednesday, each family had brought another family. Brother McLaughlin called it "U-Night." Here he showed a movie about the Church and gave a brief talk that concluded with a testimony.

George McLaughlin

Karline McLaughlin

During the next few days, missionaries visited those non-member families in their homes. The following Wednesday, the families were hosted in another U-Night.

This process of two weekly visits was continued until the families either joined or chose to discontinue their investigation. The proselyting families then began the process again by inviting another family.

Brother McLaughlin called each newly baptized family to serve as proselyting families. They invited their friends and sat through the U-Nights and missionary discussions a second time, which reinforced their knowledge.

On one occasion, President Truman G. Madsen of the New England Mission attended a baptism.

"George," he said, looking at 28 people sitting in their white clothes waiting for baptism, "I'll never see anything like this again in my life."

"Yes, you will," said Brother McLaughlin.

As more people were baptized, the proselyting pool of families also grew. That year, more than 450 people joined the Church. The next year, nearly 200 joined.

"My job as branch president was to teach them how to give talks and teach lessons in Church," said Brother McLaughlin. "I had to teach them how to teach the gospel to their children. My counselors ran the branch. I trained the new members to become strong members."

Five years later in 1968, President Harold B. Lee, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, organized the Augusta Maine Stake. Many of the leaders in the stake where chosen from these converts.

Now in failing health, Brother McLaughlin is confined to his bed in their home in Gardiner, Maine.

E-Mail: shaun@desnews.com