As a full-time missionary in Eastern Canada, one of the most amazing people I met was a lady named Greta. Greta and her husband and three children were taught by many wonderful missionaries early in my mission. A dear missionary friend of mine was one of those missionaries, I will never forget how he raved about Greta and how wonderful she was and how receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Greta was really introduced to the church through the commercials on television. She said when she saw the commercials she felt the spirit and would reflect on them. When the missionaries knocked at her door, she immediately felt the same spirit. She lit up when the missionaries said they had a message about families.

Greta loved going to church, hearing the missionaries, and feeling the spirit. She was in no rush to be baptized as her husband at the time was slowly warming up to the idea. In her own words, she really had been searching for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through her feelings and being taught she came to know that God knew her personally and loved her. She had never known that before, despite being raised in a Christian church. She literally felt the hand of God rescue her from her past feelings and past experiences.

I was transferred into her area about nine months after she had met the missionaries and by this time her husband had softened and he felt ready to be baptized also. My companion and I taught Greta and her husband. For my companion and I, it was amazing to teach someone so receptive and so humble and so desirous to follow the will of God. She was so spiritually sensitive. Greta and her husband were both quickly baptized this time. Her husband, a good man, seemed to have reasoned his way into a testimony of the church, while Greta had been deeply converted by the Holy Ghost and the tender feelings she had in her mind and heart regarding the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She truly was one of those elect who “hear his voice” (D&C 29:7).

I finished my mission and went home to Arizona shortly after this wonderful experience. I spoke to Greta last year after more than 30 years and it was wonderful to hear her voice and feel of her spirit. In many ways she sounded the same, so full of life, hope, and faith. We talked for a few minutes and I quickly realized she had more than her share of trials and adversity. She literally had her own liberty jail type experience. I was both grateful and amazed to hear that for the last thirty years she had been valiant and faithful to her Savior. A few major trials included her husband leaving her. Her now five children, becoming less active in the church. Contracting ovarian cancer. In addition, a list of other struggles that would be too exhaustive to cover.

It seemed Greta had been tried again and again in the furnace of affliction. She shared with me this remarkable thought in our conversation that literally struck a chord in my heart. I asked her what it was that caused her to remain so faithful throughout her life, despite such adversity. She said, “you know I have just always known the church was true.” Wonderful Greta is now married to a fine man who honors his priesthood. Greta, like the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s, was “converted unto the Lord, (and) never did fall away.”