What began as a simple effort to meet a finding goal became one of the most remarkable conversion stories witnessed by missionaries serving on the Chuuk island of Udot, where 18 members of the same family recently entered the waters of baptism together.
For Elder Watts and Elder Thompson of the Micronesia Guam Mission, the journey started when they passed a home while looking for people to teach. The family lived nearly an hour’s walk from the small branch meetinghouse, and the missionaries did not initially expect much interest.
“We started by teaching a few of the mothers a short lesson and invited them to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it,” Elder Watts recalled. “When we came back, they hadn’t read it, and the lesson fell kind of flat.” After another week and a half, the missionaries returned and found many more family members gathered together. This time, the message was different.
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Elder Watts and Elder Thompson teach family members in their home in Udot, Chuuk. 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“The lesson went great,” Elder Watts said. “We talked about exercising faith in Jesus Christ and using our agency to follow Him.” During that visit, Elder Watts felt impressed to extend a specific invitation. “I told them, ‘We’ll be here on Sunday to walk to church with you. Be ready so we can go together.’” The family was surprised when the missionaries actually showed up. “They weren’t planning on coming,” Elder Watts said. “But when we arrived, about 11 of them started getting ready. We all walked together to church.”
For the family, attending church required a significant sacrifice. The walk took approximately an hour each way, but they came nonetheless. President Chris Williams, president of the Micronesia Guam Mission, remembers hearing the elders describe the experience. “They taught the family that coming to church was an opportunity to show Heavenly Father their faith and love for Him,” President Williams said. “From the next Sunday onward, they started making that one-hour walk to church every week.”
The family’s first visit left a lasting impression. Members of the small branch warmly welcomed them with donuts and drinks, helping them feel at home. Although Udot’s branch is small, the Spirit touched their hearts. “They really enjoyed church,” Elder Watts said. “I was worried because it’s such a small congregation, but the Spirit always pulls through.”
As the missionaries continued teaching, they invited the family to seek their own answers through prayer, just as Joseph Smith’s family had sought God’s guidance. When the missionaries finally extended the invitation to be baptized, they asked each family member individually. “One by one they said, ‘My name is _____, and I want to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’” Elder Watts said.
Elder Thompson said the family’s sincerity stood out immediately. “It was the first time in my mission that I had seen people with such a strong desire to follow Jesus Christ,” he said. “They connected attending church with showing faith in Him. They just kept coming every week.”
As the family prepared for baptism, they demonstrated their commitment to the gospel by making significant changes in their lives. Family members faithfully lived the Word of Wisdom, and four couples chose to be married so they could fully qualify for baptism. The marriages became a special blessing for the family. Elder Watts, who also serves as branch president, performed the ceremonies. “They were excited,” Elder Thompson said. “It brought their families closer together.”
Among those preparing for baptism was the family grandfather who had smoked for many years despite suffering from asthma. He accepted the invitation to stop and faithfully prepared alongside the rest of his family.
In the days leading up to the baptism, the family faced an unexpected trial when a relative passed away. Initially, the funeral was scheduled a few days before the baptism, but then it got changed to the same day as the baptism. However, the family wanted to participate in the long-anticipated ordinance so they were baptized the day before the funeral.
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Sister Williams said the baptismal service was one she will never forget. “It reminded me of the Waters of Mormon in Mosiah 18,” she said. “When Alma invited the people to be baptized, they ‘clapped their hands for joy’ because it was the desire of their hearts. This sweet family was filled with that same joy.”
One of her most cherished memories was watching the grandfather enter the ocean. “He often has difficulty walking long distances and getting around” Sister Williams said. “Yet he walked out into the ocean to be baptized. He was glowing with joy. He carefully watched as his children and grandchildren were baptized. After he was confirmed, I will never forget the smile on his face and the light he radiated.” She added, “I will long remember all 18 of them following Elders Thompson and Watts down into the ocean. It was a beautiful example of disciples entering into a covenant relationship with God.”
The impact of the family’s conversion is already being felt throughout the branch. Attendance on Udot, which was approximately five to ten people in December, has recently grown to more than 50 each week. “The elders have done a wonderful job,” Sister Williams said. “They teach with love, diligence, and obedience. It has also been beautiful to see children who were baptized earlier become missionaries to their own parents.”
For Elder Thompson, the family’s example continues to inspire him. “I’ve never seen more faithful followers of Jesus Christ,” he said. “They come every week. They live their faith every day.” Looking back, Elder Watts calls the experience the highlight of his mission.
What started as a chance visit to a home along a remote path became a testimony of faith, sacrifice, and the power of simple invitations. Through their willingness to walk an hour to worship, overcome personal challenges, and follow the Savior together, 18 members of one family found lasting joy in Jesus Christ—and strengthened a growing branch of Saints on Udot Island.