He Chose to Be Faithful When He Thought Nobody Was Looking (with Elder John H. Groberg)

A 19-year-old missionary sat in a customs shed in Fiji surrounded by pigs and cows and cargo no one had claimed. He had no ticket out. No one knew he was there. The missionaries who were supposed to meet him never showed. The police would not let him on shore. The ship captain would not let him stay on the boat. He was, by every measure, abandoned. That missionary was Elder John H. Groberg, whose service in Tonga would later inspire the movie The Other Side of Heaven.

In a recent episode of Why We Believe with host Nathan Gwilliam, Elder Groberg shares a lifetime of moments where faith was the only thing he had. What makes his story so significant is not the dramatic events themselves but what he did when no one was watching, what he chose when no one would have blamed him for quitting. Those quiet decisions carry a message that reaches far beyond his own life.

A Deacon Stopped Playing Hangman

Elder Groberg's first experience with the Spirit came in an ordinary sacrament meeting in Idaho Falls. He was 12 or 13, sitting in the back row with a friend, playing hangman on a piece of paper after passing the sacrament. It happened to be fast and testimony meeting. An older gentleman stood and bore his testimony about the restoration and the reality of Jesus Christ.

His friend nudged him. It was his turn. He said no. He wanted to listen. Something enveloped him. Not a voice. A feeling. Jesus really did die for all of us and we will all live because of Him. That was it. No spectacular vision. No dramatic miracle. A boy chose to listen instead of play, and the Spirit confirmed truth.

Locked Up, Abandoned, and Found by a Mother's Prayer

Getting to Tonga took three months. A longshoreman's strike delayed his boat. He was dropped in American Samoa with no one to meet him. He built bricks for a chapel to earn meals. He finally made it to Fiji, where he was locked in the customs shed because his ticket had expired and the missionaries never came.

In that shed, he knelt and prayed. A vision opened. He saw his family at home. He heard his mother say: and bless John on his mission. All fear left. He was reconciled that no matter how long he stayed there, the Lord knew where he was. Later that night, a dock worker stumbled onto the two missionaries in town and told them someone who looked like them was locked up in the customs shed. They came and brought him out.

Nine Weeks Without Food on a Tiny Island

About six months into his 13-month assignment on a small island, a hurricane destroyed all the food. There was no forecasting equipment. It hit without warning. Weeks passed with less and less to eat until there was nothing. Elder Groberg could not walk. He could see every bone in his body. After about eight and a half weeks, he realized this could be the end.

But there was peace. Total peace. He told Heavenly Father: if you want me to stay on this earth, that is fine, and if you want me to come over there, that is fine. He was aware of how beautiful it is on the other side. He went to sleep not knowing which side of the veil he would wake up on. In the morning, the boat arrived. Nine weeks had passed. He testifies to the whole world that there is nothing to be afraid of in death, that Jesus lives, and that He is aware of us.

Seven Baptisms That Became an Entire Stake

During those 13 months, Elder Groberg and his companion baptized only seven people. All seven stayed faithful for the rest of their lives. One woman, now the only one still living, married and had 11 children. She has 80 grandchildren and over 300 great-grandchildren. The vast majority have served missions. Elder Groberg calculated that from her faithfulness alone, there are now between 3,000 and 4,000 members of the Church, a whole stake from one woman remaining faithful on a tiny island.

A Quiet Decision on a Wharf That Changed a Family

While serving as mission president, Elder Groberg's wife was in the United States caring for their sick baby. One night on the wharf, a woman approached and offered herself to him. He turned around without saying a word and walked away. He thought no one saw. Years later, a man approached him in Hawaii and told him he had watched that moment from a distance. That one quiet act of faithfulness prompted the man to return to activity in the Church. By the time he told Elder Groberg, his son was serving a mission.

Elder Groberg's reflection on that moment carries his deepest conviction: every action that is true to our faith has rippling effects throughout eternity. Not just on this earth. In heaven as well. Whether anyone is watching or not. He could give a thousand examples, he says, and so could many others. Every time you follow the promptings of the Spirit, every time you keep the commandments of God, something good spreads outward that you may never see in this life.

Staying Faithful Is All He Asks

When Nathan asked Elder Groberg what advice he would give to people who feel their lives are too ordinary for the kind of experiences he has had, his answer was immediate. The vast majority of people who achieve the celestial kingdom will be humble, ordinary, regular people who simply chose to stay faithful. The Savior would say two things: I love you, and stay faithful. That does not require spectacular experiences. It requires making decisions, going to church, saying your prayers, and keeping covenants.

Elder Groberg closed the conversation with a testimony built across decades of service: I have had enough experiences to know, not just believe, but to know that God lives. Jesus is our Savior. He is alive. He knows us. He is our friend. What does a friend do? He helps other people. Who do you turn to when you need help? You turn to your friends. Jesus Christ is our closest friend. Let's be friends with Him.

Key Takeaways

God hears the prayers of those who love you, even when no one on earth knows where you are. Total surrender to the Lord's will can bring peace that removes all fear, even the fear of death. Every act of faithfulness sends ripples through eternity, whether anyone is watching or not. Spectacular experiences are not required to reach the celestial kingdom, and quiet daily obedience is enough. Jesus Christ is not a distant figure. He is your closest friend, and He wants you to treat Him that way.

Thank you for reading this week's blog post inspired by the Why We Believe show. If you are interested in more stories like this, you can check out our other blog posts and episodes at WhyWeBelieve.com. Visit WhyWeBelieve.com and sign up for your free guide, 13 Strategies to Increase Faith in Jesus Christ. Subscribe to Why We Believe on your favorite platform.

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