Editor's Note: This article is the print equivalent of movie outtakes. These are the quotes and facts that ended up on the cutting room floor. Read the final published story 'Stake President has no room in life for prejudice.'
Lina Malolo was an outgoing person with many friends. At BYU-Hawaii she tried everything. Volleyball. Tennis. Cheerleading.
She and Tony Parker spoke a short time, but wouldnt meet again for another month.
In the meantime, Tony enjoyed visiting the campus in his time off. Although he was bold and friendly, he didnt have many friends.
By chance they met again at the Polynesian Cultural Center where Lina was a performer.
Tony remembers, I asked for her number.
Lina remembers, I didnt want to give my number to him—and I did not answer his calls.
But Tony was not dissuaded, She was a very attractive lady. Oh yes!
He went back and walked around Laie, asking everybody he met if they knew Lina, until he found out where she lived.
I got up the guts and went over to her house, he said. Linas sister answered the door. The reception was cool—but he did get to speak with Lina.
Tony was a gentleman. If he said he would have Lina back by 10 p.m., he had her home at 10 p.m. As they began to be more serious, Lina made it clear she would only accept a marriage that could be sealed for time and eternity in an LDS Temple.
Tony began to investigate the church. Even now he is honest that his motivation at first was based on his interest in Lina. Sister missionaries came to his army barracks lobby. He came to church a few times. But he didnt feel he could join the LDS Church unless he knew it was true.
I thought it went a little slow, Lina said about his progress. It took three years.
Ive had people say Youre token, Tony said. I dont even give it the time of day. Others have said they had to choose one. Weve heard it all. But unless you forgive them you will be the one having to ask forgiveness of your Heavenly Father.
Lina kept sending the missionaries while being cautious of applying too much direct pressure. If she had done it any other way it would have been negative. She allowed me my agency, Tony said.
At one point, Lina visited Tony—with her little brother Malcolm as chaperone.
I asked him if he was ready, she said. He said No.
But he continued to investigate, but only because I was interested in Lina. I didnt know anything about why she was different. She had high standards and a special countenance, and every time I was around her I felt good. But I didnt know if that was just her or because of the gospel.
Lina, however, was getting a little frustrated. In her experience, people usually took only a month or two of investigating before they made up their minds. But Tony kept on reading and going, she said. I was persistent.
Her father, however, was losing patience and told her he wasnt a member of the LDS Church and she needed to move on.
She was my motivation, Tony said. Lina wanted to be married in the Temple and wouldnt back off it. It would have been easy for Tony to give in. Instead it took three years.
As Sister Janice Heiner taught the lesson, 14-year-old Candy Schriber would jump in and explain what the missionary was teaching.
Tony said he had heard many explanations over the years, but that he didnt need a grown ups sophisticated version, he needed the simple and pure version of a little girl. She was my ministering angel, Tony said. To me, it was one of the most important nights in my life.
When the lesson was over, the missionary gave Tony an assignment to read in the scriptures. Candy then explained what Tony was going to read. For the first time, Tony followed through with a commitment to read that very night.
I was so impressed! Im getting it now, Tony remembers thinking. He prayed that evening, Lord, if this is true—just touch me—walk me through it.
Tony knew he was going to be transferred in just a few weeks. He made up his mind what he was going to do. He called Linas father and asked him if he would baptize him.
This same guy who kicked me out of his house! Tony said. Do you see how the Spirit works with us? I knew there was no way he could say no. He had to put these things aside and exercise the priesthood.
Tony didnt tell Lina about this conversation when he told her he was coming up to Independence to see her. It was a very different meeting than when the door was slammed. But this doesnt mean there werent a few obstacles.
Tonys plan was to get baptized and marry Lina before he reported to his new assignment.
In two weeks.
The family conversed with him for hours about his timetable. Some of it was in Samoan—leaving Tony to speculate. Tony, however, was amazed at the change in Linas father.
Ultimately, it was Linas mother who settled the matter, Its ok. We have to go with her heart.
Tony went home to spend a week with his family before returning to Independence.
He arrived on Friday. The next morning, Saturday February 26, 1983, he played basket ball from 9 to 11 a.m. with Linas brother, was baptized by Linas father at Noon, and was married by Linas Bishop at 1 p.m.
The next day was Sunday, and Tony received the Aaronic Priesthood.
Tony is strength, Lina said. I thought I was strong in the church.
At one point her father told Lina, Tony is growing so much and you are at the same level.
Tony is not afraid to talk about the church, Lina said.
Lina is a very, very caring, giving and family-orientated lady, Tony said. She needs a lot of friends. She is outgoing.
Lina raised our family in a home where love was always important and where the Spirit can reside, Tony said.
The Parkers have raised five children and have four grandchildren. I love my grandchildren, Lina said. I adore my grandchildren.
They are all good kids, Tony says.
Because Tony was often deployed around the country and overseas, it wasnt until 1988 that he and Lina were sealed together in the Oakland California Temple.
In 1993, they moved back to Tonys home town, Atlanta. He thought this was his last assignment. His older children were in High School, and he did not want to move again. So when the military asked him to go to Colorado, he decided to leave the military and find a new job.
A real vacation for Tony is to take some time alone and relax.
This church is true, Lina said. No matter who you are—if your heart believes it is true, it doesnt matter what others say.
The only calling I havent had is the Bishop, Lina joked.
The church branch in Atlanta at that time was a house and a trailer. The only pretty thing was the sign in front, Lina said.
I am glad I moved to Atlanta, Lina said.
People will remember us by our service, Lina said, not by the color of our skin.
The Atlanta Georgia Stake has 6 wards and 3 branches. Two of the branches are Spanish language and one is Vietnamese language. One of the greatest needs, in fact, is that the Spanish growth is so rapid.
Tony was glad to see his own mother join the church in 2002. His father had died in 1992. He was sealed to his parents after his mothers baptism.
Tony sees that having more black missionaries serving in the Atlanta area has made a significant impact. We are being brought out of obscurity now, he says. It shows that the Gospel is for everyone, no matter what your race, creed or color.
Tony claims that the military, molded me into a leadership style where the task is to get it done. He points out, however, that the military is authoritarian, but that the Gospel is the opposite and allows others to exercise their agency.
He commands great respect,
Tonys second counselor in the Stake Presidency, Stefan VanSant, said, but he doesnt demand it.
The stakes goals have progressed over the last few years. The first year they focused on individual enrichment, the next year it was family enrichment. This year, the focus is on community enrichment.
We can partner to do good things, Tony said. We are stepping outside our comfort zone. When you work shoulder to shoulder a special spirit resides there."
The Parker's youngest boy, Antioni, returned from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission about a year ago.
Tonys youngest son, Antioni, is currently a student at BYU. He says he didnt really notice anything unusual about the service of his family in church. Its what Im used to. I would just see him later in the day.
Antioni says his father would try to make up for being gone other times by holding Family Home Evenings, going to games and coaching. In retrospect, Antioni said, I dont know how he could do it.
Likewise, Lina would take the kids along to Relief Society activities. Now I know she just wanted to spend more time with us, he said.
He is the most down to earth funny people I know, said Antioni. He is very confident.
Tonys first counselor in the Stake Presidency, Jack Beals, calls him Mr. Detail.
Beals says that Tony is very sensitive if someone else has been hurt or offended, He is able to listen to criticism without being defensive.
He keeps us on our toes, Beals said. He is very in tune with the Spirit.