Of all the things that relatively recent convert James B. Martino had to set aside to serve a full-time mission in 1970, most troubling was leaving behind his longtime girlfriend, Jennie Marie Baron.

But choosing the right has led to great blessings in his life, said Elder Martino, who was sustained as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy in April general conference.

During a Church News interview, Elder Martino said of the high school girl he would later marry: "She went through my conversion period. She was convinced that I was not making the right decision, to put it mildly."

"That's mild," she concurred.

Friction increased 22 months later when Elder Martino decided to go on a Mormon mission.