Fourteen-year-old Hong Qi Liang was walking home from school with his backpack slung over his shoulder when he responded to a greeting from two missionaries serving in the Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission. Above the din of the busy street, and despite the distraction of the rainy day, Hong was intrigued enough with Elder Andrew Mitchell and Elder Alan Beal to accept an invitation to learn about the gospel.

Twice a week for the next half-dozen weeks, Hong met with the missionaries in the only meetinghouse in the southern city of Kaohsiung. The missionaries were impressed with Hong's awareness though, at first, he seemed merely curious. Hong attended the missionary discussions dutifully, but with only casual interest. But soon after he read the Book of Mormon with missionaries, a fire of commitment began to flare. He accepted invitations to attend Sunday meetings, walking the mile distance between home and church.

Hong's parents, noticing a change in his attitude and behavior, granted the missionaries permission to meet in their home — though they kept a guarded distance. Following discussions, Hong would share his newfound treasures with his family, particularly two younger brothers who often joined the discussions.

In a short time, the parents liked what they saw and gave written consent to Hong's baptism. In October 2007, he was baptized in the presence of missionaries and members and, more especially, his father, who also attended Hong's confirmation in sacrament meeting the next day.

Transfers came the next week, sending the missionaries to the far reaches of the mission. A year-and-a-half passed with no contact. There were other investigators to teach and new contacts to be made.

Then, in April 2009, just two weeks before Elder Beal was to return home, Hong reported in a letter how richly his life had been blessed since joining the Church. He spoke of the joy of his mother's baptism, and how his two younger brothers soon followed. He told how his father was a serious investigator and approaching baptised after exercising months of exhaustive faith. For Hong, his father's baptism would be the crown jewel of the family fortune.

Elder Beal boarded a plane bound for home with Hong's testimony still ringing his ears: "This Church is true," he said.

— Shaun D. Stahle