Missionary Experience of Erwin and Genevieve Farnsworth

 As told to his daughter, Sharon Goodwin
     Recently the Desert News ran a General Conference special edition on the 50 year anniversary of the world's fair and the "Mormon" pavilion showing of  "Man's Search for Happiness."   One of the articles talked about a woman who attended the fair, and watched "Man's Search for Happiness"   When she left the showing, she was "preceded by a flock of Roman Catholic nuns, white handkerchiefs fluttering against black veils as they wipe away their tears."
     This brought to Erwin's mind an experience that they had while serving in the Bronx area in the New York, New York mission.  When they first arrived, they had dinner at the mission home.  A counselor in the Mission Presidency told them to look up Mary Ann DeMarco when they got to the Bronx.   She had joined the church and he was her bishop.  He told them the story of her conversion.   Mary Ann DeMarco had been studying to be a nun in the Catholic Church.  She and a group of nuns had gone to the world's fair and watched "Man's Search for Happiness."  She felt something there and returned again and again.  She eventually left the Catholic Church and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
     She attended in the ward where the counselor in the Mission Presidency had been the bishop.  The ward changed and Mary Ann was assigned to attend the Bronx Branch.   She did not like attending with the 'Black' people, so she drifted into inactivity.
     One day, Erwin said to Genevieve, "we need to go find Mary Ann DeMarco today."  They got her address, and drove out to find her.  They came down the street, and parked the car.   When they stopped, there was a large group of people coming down the street.  It was a group of Jehovah Witnesses.  They knocked on the car window and said they had some pamphlets they wanted to give them.  Erwin said he would like to give them some pamphlets, and a Book of Mormon.  
      They found the address, and knocked on the door.   After waiting a few minutes, they decided that Mary Ann was not at home.  They turned to leave and the lady down stairs called out, 'Are you looking for Mary Ann?'  They said yes.   She told them they could come into her apartment and wait for her, as she had gone to the market, and should not be long.
      They accepted and went in to wait.  After some time, Genevieve said they should go, as they had been there a while.  Erwin said  "NO, we need to wait."   When the lady said, "Here comes Mary Ann,"  they went outside onto the driveway to meet her.  They were standing on the driveway when Mary Ann saw them.  She looked surprised and asked  "What are you doing here?"  "Looking for you"  was the reply.
Mary Ann invited them inside.  When they were inside, Mary Ann told them that she had been very confused, and trying to know if she should attend church.  The neighbor downstairs and her son, who was a minister, had been pressuring her to attend their church.  She was confused and had prayed the night before that if Heavenly Father wanted her to attend the Church of Jesus Christ, he would need to send her a sign tomorrow. " So," she said,  "When I came up the driveway today, I didn't  get a sign,  I got two!"