Pulling in the Gospel Net

By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

of the Quorum of the Twelve

(Adapted from a general conference address. See Ensign, November 1986, pages 59–61.)

In Funchal, Portugal, there lived a lady named Asencao Frango. A nun for twenty years, she was a Mother Superior at a home for poor children and orphans. When her church decided to close the children’s home, she maintained it herself for four years, using an inheritance she had received from her deceased parents, until the children there either were adopted or were raised and on their own.

Hearing of a new religion, she became curious and attended her first meeting of our Church with a friend. It was held on the dirt floor of a member’s garage, but the spirit of the meeting impressed her. The elders began teaching her the discussions and challenged her to be baptized. She declined, saying that she had already been baptized. The elders persisted, saying, “If this book [the Book of Mormon] is the true word of God, then Joseph Smith is a true prophet and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. If so, you need to be baptized into God’s true church by those who have the authority to baptize.”

Asencao Frango read the Book of Mormon and gained a strong testimony of its divinity and requested baptism. Just one year later she obtained her temple recommend and entered the Swiss Temple to make sacred covenants with her Heavenly Father.

Such experiences keep our faith burning brightly. The gospel of Jesus Christ is more enduring than fame, more precious than riches, and more desirable than any other kind of happiness.

Illustrated by Larry Winborg