As natives of a country where the vast majority of people do not embrace Christian beliefs, it's tempting to assume that Elder Koichi Aoyagi and his wife, Sister Shiroko Aoyagi, endured much opposition in Japan because of their church membership. But that wasn't the case. In fact, Elder Aoyagi will tell you his devotion to his faith has been the source of many opportunities.


The recently called member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy remembered once sitting down for a job interview shortly after he completed his full-time mission. The prospective employer asked young Koichi to explain what he did on a mission. Teach others about the restored church of Christ, he answered. His inquisitor persisted, wanting to know what exactly was "restored."

"I gave him a 40-minute discussion during the job interview," remembered Elder Aoyagi, a convert with a generous smile. "By the time I got home, there was a telegram waiting for me with the message: 'You have been hired.' "

The Aoyagis long ago accepted the principles that blessings await those who live and share the gospel. The humble couple battled back joyful emotions as they told the LDS Church News their respective conversion stories and precious memories of service in their beloved homeland.

Elder Aoyagi first learned of the church at age 17 when he enrolled in a conversational English class in his hometown of Matsumoto, Japan. Although his mother was a faithful Buddhist, the young man did not think of himself as particularly religious or spiritual. Still, he was immediately impressed by the young American missionaries teaching the English class.

"The missionaries were so friendly and pure and they were filled with a deep love," he said. "I had never witnessed such things from anyone else in my life. I really wanted to be like the missionaries."

See the full story on ldschurchnews.com.

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This story is provided by The LDS Church News, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is produced weekly by The Deseret News.