Healed at Once: A Priesthood Blessing That Opened Masinloc, Zambales, to the Restored Gospel (1986)

In 1986, Elder Ranzel D. Ganzon was serving in the Philippines Baguio Mission. On his third area, he and his companion were assigned to reopen Masinloc, Zambales — a hard assignment: years earlier missionaries had labored there for three years with so little success that the mission had closed the area. Knowing the challenge ahead, the two missionaries prayed: "Heavenly Father, please lead us to those who are prepared to receive the gospel."

One day they came to a small community on the outskirts of town, where an elderly man (Brother Garcia) welcomed them into his home. Lying on a mat on the floor was his teenage grandson, who had been sick for a long time. Doctors could not determine what was wrong with him and had eventually given up trying to treat him. The missionaries asked if they could give the young man a priesthood blessing, and the grandfather agreed.

After the blessing, the elders continued deeper into the community hoping to find people willing to hear their message, but no one would listen. Discouraged, they turned around and started walking back toward the highway to catch a bus home. On the way, they unexpectedly saw the grandfather again and asked how his grandson was doing. The old man smiled: "As soon as you left, my grandson asked for food. Then he got up, ran outside, and joined his friends playing basketball." The missionaries could hardly believe what they were hearing.

The next day everything was different. People welcomed them into their homes and listened to their message. One by one, families accepted the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to be baptized. In just three months, Elder Ganzon and his companion baptized thirty people. The grandfather, Brother Garcia, became the branch's first branch president, and the new branch soon had a complete organization — priesthood leaders, Relief Society, Primary, Young Men, and Young Women serving together. Today, where once no one would listen, there is a beautiful two-story chapel. And the boy who received that priesthood blessing grew up and served as a full-time missionary himself.

While not every blessing results in physical healing according to our hopes or timing, this young man's life stands as a powerful witness that miracles still happen according to God's will — and that sometimes one miracle can open the hearts of an entire community.