This past week I had the privilege of seeing “… the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey used to say.

Several years ago, I served as the Relief Society president over a branch at a small care facility. As I began attending Sacrament Meetings there I got to know many of the residents, both LDS and non-LDS. It was a very casual group and many friendships were fostered.

I came to know two men, in particular. Ron was maybe 60 or 70. It was hard to tell. His pure white hair was sparse, and stood straight up from his head, and he was missing quite a few teeth. He hobbled around and always had a joke to share. He was actually not a resident, but was often there to visit his best friend, John, who was a resident, but not a member of the Church. John was in a motorized wheelchair. He had a stroke while running track as a teenager, which paralyzed his body. Now, in his 60s, it was difficult to understand him when he spoke, but his heart was all there and people radiated to him. Ron and John were always at Church. In fact, John insisted on bringing the bread used for the sacrament.

This story actually starts with Ron. Because of their close friendship one story cannot be told without the other.

As I got to know these two jokesters, it was hard to take them seriously…ever. They were loud, always cracking jokes, and pulling “loveable” pranks on the aids. But one day, Ron informed my husband and I that he realized he’d made a lot of bad mistakes in his life. He had lost track of his siblings, and his wife and children had left him. He hadn’t been an active Mormon in a very long time.

Well, he decided he wanted to change all that and set a goal to go to the temple. We were thrilled.

I made arrangements for my husband to begin teaching a Book of Mormon class for Family Home Evening and as residents and branch leaders began attending, it was Ron and John who never missed and were so intent on understanding the scriptures.

A short time later, Ron became sick and ended up in the hospital. It was discovered he had cancer. When we went up to visit him, his words brought tears to my eyes. He said, “I’m just glad I promised the Lord I would go to His temple before I knew about this. He knew I was serious and now I’m more determined than ever.” It wasn’t long until Ron was holding his recommend in his hand. He invited all of us to go with him and it was such a privilege to be there and witness his joy. John of course couldn’t join us, but he was waiting to greet Ron afterwards.

John was resistant to becoming a member of the Church. We all knew he had some sort of a testimony. His very being spoke celestial motivation. We thought perhaps it had to do with his being in a wheelchair. He just didn’t have faith strong enough to believe a baptism could be worked out in his situation.

Class continued but Ron became weaker and weaker. He could no longer take his turn reading without having a coughing fit. Right before Christmas he finally moved into the facility, but couldn’t get out of bed to join us. This beautiful man, who had lost everything because of sin, was now overflowing with blessings as his life was ending. The jokes stopped coming and gratitude flowed freely from his grateful heart. It was so fitting that he passed away on Christmas morning that year.

It’s now been almost three years since then. John has continued going to Church. My situation changed, and we were no longer even in the stake, but more missionaries and friends came along. It was a wonderful surprise to get a phone call inviting us to John’s baptism.

Because of John’s special circumstances, he was going to be baptized in a public swimming pool, which had the proper handicapped equipment necessary. Besides an overwhelming amount of family and friends to support him—including the Branch President, the Bishop, the Stake President, and the Mission President, as well as several missionaries—a nurse was there to lift John out of his wheelchair and into the chair that would take him into the pool. And three men were dressed in white, two to hold him up while one baptized him. And we are sure that Ron was there giving him a thumbs up while telling him to not get his tongue wet, or some such silly-stupid joke.

It must have been scary for John. He was dependent on so many people. His faith had finally become strong enough to allow him to do what he always wanted to do. Now all we have to do is get him to the temple.

You know, I told you this was “…the rest of the story.” But in God’s world there is always more to look forward to. His tender mercies just never seem to end.