I had the privilege of conducting a special interview. It was with a man who killed a couple of guys 28 years ago. I hadn't had a good murder interview for a couple of months, so this was good. He was so repentant. When he talked about the incident his body heaved and trembled as he wept. He hid his face in shame.

All those years ago, he worked in the citrus in Martinez de la Torre. (When you buy limes at Costco, check the label and see if they are from Mtz. de la Torre. Our son, Clay, and his family buy them there and they come to Moscow, Idaho from our mission.) Two men called him away from the crowd and told him that they were going to kill him and showed him a gun. He, however, had a gun, too and shot them both dead. Then, someone shot him in the back, just below where his neck joins his trunk. He showed me his scar. Gosh. What happened to those good old-fashioned pillow fights?) He spent 6 months in the hospital, 2 years in prison in Veracruz and another year in prison in Perote--swine flu country. He said it was self-defense. The court sent him away anyhow, letting him out on good behavior.

I asked him why he wanted to be baptized. First of all, he told me, he couldn't join his father's church. His father is a minister for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He says he couldn't pass their written exam which is required for baptism (I didn't know that!) and besides, he thinks their doctrine is goofy. Second, he had a visitor.

Nine years ago, he was alone at his humble home in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca where he now lives. It was night time. His wife had recently died. His children had all left. He was alone. He had been thinking about religion a lot, not knowing what to do. A person in bright white came and stood beside him. He told me, "I wasn't asleep. It wasn't a dream. It was an angel." The personage told him that he needed to prepare himself to preach the gospel in all the face of the earth. Then, the visitor left.

The problem was that the man's life was a mess. He drank. He smoked. He chased around. He used drugs once in a while, just for fun. But, he started his search. He went to lots of churches, explored many religions. About 9 months ago, he found the LDS missionaries. That was it. By then he had backed off most of the Word of Wisdom stuff. When the elders taught him, he stopped completely and instantly. He has been living life as a member of the Church for all that time. I sent a letter to the First Presidency in his behalf requesting baptismal clearance. The man's name is Job.

A few weeks later, a letter from the Brethren arrived. Job del Toro was baptized into the Church be Elders Esquer and Ricks.