diff --git a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.h b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.h
index 002a95218..31d7841c1 100644
--- a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.h
+++ b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.h
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSUInteger, ConversationViewAction) {
 
 @property (nonatomic, readonly) TSThread *thread;
 
-- (void)configureForThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action;
+- (void)configureForThread:(TSThread *)thread
+                    action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+            focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId;
 
 - (void)popKeyBoard;
 
diff --git a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.m b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.m
index 861314ec2..55f436262 100644
--- a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.m
+++ b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/ConversationView/ConversationViewController.m
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
 
 @property (nonatomic) NSUInteger lastRangeLength;
 @property (nonatomic) ConversationViewAction actionOnOpen;
+@property (nonatomic, nullable) NSString *focusMessageIdOnOpen;
+
 @property (nonatomic) BOOL peek;
 
 @property (nonatomic, readonly) OWSContactsManager *contactsManager;
@@ -426,11 +428,16 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
     [self hideInputIfNeeded];
 }
 
-- (void)configureForThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+- (void)configureForThread:(TSThread *)thread
+                    action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+            focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId
 {
+    OWSAssert(thread);
+
     _thread = thread;
     _isGroupConversation = [self.thread isKindOfClass:[TSGroupThread class]];
     self.actionOnOpen = action;
+    self.focusMessageIdOnOpen = focusMessageId;
     _cellMediaCache = [NSCache new];
     // Cache the cell media for ~24 cells.
     self.cellMediaCache.countLimit = 24;
@@ -698,13 +705,43 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
     return nil;
 }
 
+- (NSIndexPath *_Nullable)indexPathOfMessageOnOpen
+{
+    OWSAssert(self.focusMessageIdOnOpen);
+    OWSAssert(self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition);
+
+    if (!self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition) {
+        // This might happen if the focus message has disappeared
+        // before this view could appear.
+        OWSFail(@"%@ focus message has unknown position.", self.logTag);
+        return nil;
+    }
+    NSUInteger focusMessagePosition = self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition.unsignedIntegerValue;
+    if (focusMessagePosition >= self.viewItems.count) {
+        // This might happen if the focus message is outside the maximum
+        // valid load window size for this view.
+        OWSFail(@"%@ focus message has invalid position.", self.logTag);
+        return nil;
+    }
+    NSInteger row = (NSInteger)((self.viewItems.count - 1) - focusMessagePosition);
+    return [NSIndexPath indexPathForRow:row inSection:0];
+}
+
 - (void)scrollToDefaultPosition
 {
     if (self.isUserScrolling) {
         return;
     }
 
-    NSIndexPath *_Nullable indexPath = [self indexPathOfUnreadMessagesIndicator];
+    NSIndexPath *_Nullable indexPath = nil;
+    if (self.focusMessageIdOnOpen) {
+        indexPath = [self indexPathOfMessageOnOpen];
+    }
+
+    if (!indexPath) {
+        indexPath = [self indexPathOfUnreadMessagesIndicator];
+    }
+
     if (indexPath) {
         if (indexPath.section == 0 && indexPath.row == 0) {
             [self.collectionView setContentOffset:CGPointZero animated:NO];
@@ -1066,6 +1103,7 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
     [self startReadTimer];
     [self updateNavigationBarSubtitleLabel];
     [self updateBackButtonUnreadCount];
+    [self autoLoadMoreIfNecessary];
 
     switch (self.actionOnOpen) {
         case ConversationViewActionNone:
@@ -1081,8 +1119,9 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
             break;
     }
 
+    // Clear the "on open" state after the view has been presented.
     self.actionOnOpen = ConversationViewActionNone;
-
+    self.focusMessageIdOnOpen = nil;
 
     self.isViewCompletelyAppeared = YES;
     self.viewHasEverAppeared = YES;
@@ -1557,7 +1596,7 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
     // Don’t auto-scroll after “loading more messages” unless we have “more unseen messages”.
     //
     // Otherwise, tapping on "load more messages" autoscrolls you downward which is completely wrong.
-    if (hasEarlierUnseenMessages) {
+    if (hasEarlierUnseenMessages && !self.focusMessageIdOnOpen) {
         [self scrollToUnreadIndicatorAnimated];
     }
 }
@@ -1634,9 +1673,20 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
     
     if (self.lastRangeLength == 0) {
         // If this is the first time we're configuring the range length,
-        // try to take into account the position of the unread indicator.
+        // try to take into account the position of the unread indicator
+        // and the "focus message".
         OWSAssert(self.dynamicInteractions);
 
+        if (self.focusMessageIdOnOpen) {
+            OWSAssert(self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition);
+            if (self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition) {
+                DDLogVerbose(@"%@ ensuring load of focus message: %@",
+                    self.logTag,
+                    self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition);
+                rangeLength = MAX(rangeLength, 1 + self.dynamicInteractions.focusMessagePosition.unsignedIntegerValue);
+            }
+        }
+
         if (self.dynamicInteractions.unreadIndicatorPosition) {
             NSUInteger unreadIndicatorPosition
                 = (NSUInteger)[self.dynamicInteractions.unreadIndicatorPosition longValue];
@@ -1649,7 +1699,7 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
             // We'd like to include at least N seen messages,
             // to give the user the context of where they left off the conversation.
             const NSUInteger kPreferredSeenMessageCount = 1;
-            rangeLength = unreadIndicatorPosition + kPreferredSeenMessageCount;
+            rangeLength = MAX(rangeLength, unreadIndicatorPosition + kPreferredSeenMessageCount);
         }
     }
 
@@ -2473,6 +2523,7 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger {
                                           dbConnection:self.editingDatabaseConnection
                            hideUnreadMessagesIndicator:self.hasClearedUnreadMessagesIndicator
                        firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp:self.dynamicInteractions.firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp
+                                        focusMessageId:self.focusMessageIdOnOpen
                                           maxRangeSize:maxRangeSize];
 }
 
diff --git a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/ConversationSearchViewController.swift b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/ConversationSearchViewController.swift
index 46f5b99b0..a68001c76 100644
--- a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/ConversationSearchViewController.swift
+++ b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/ConversationSearchViewController.swift
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ class ConversationSearchViewController: UITableViewController {
             }
 
             let thread = searchResult.thread
-            SignalApp.shared().presentConversation(for: thread.threadRecord, action: .compose)
+            SignalApp.shared().presentConversation(for: thread.threadRecord,
+                                                   action: .compose,
+                                                   focusMessageId: searchResult.messageId)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.h b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.h
index a19c94488..d86824b5b 100644
--- a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.h
+++ b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.h
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 @interface HomeViewController : OWSViewController
 
 - (void)presentThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action;
+- (void)presentThread:(TSThread *)thread
+               action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+       focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId;
 
 - (void)showNewConversationView;
 
diff --git a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.m b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.m
index 5a858829e..fb4d3c048 100644
--- a/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.m
+++ b/Signal/src/ViewControllers/HomeView/HomeViewController.m
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ NSString *const kArchivedConversationsReuseIdentifier = @"kArchivedConversations
         ConversationViewController *vc = [ConversationViewController new];
         TSThread *thread = [self threadForIndexPath:indexPath];
         self.lastThread = thread;
-        [vc configureForThread:thread action:ConversationViewActionNone];
+        [vc configureForThread:thread action:ConversationViewActionNone focusMessageId:nil];
         [vc peekSetup];
 
         return vc;
@@ -1000,6 +1000,13 @@ NSString *const kArchivedConversationsReuseIdentifier = @"kArchivedConversations
 }
 
 - (void)presentThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+{
+    [self presentThread:thread action:action focusMessageId:nil];
+}
+
+- (void)presentThread:(TSThread *)thread
+               action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+       focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId
 {
     if (thread == nil) {
         OWSFail(@"Thread unexpectedly nil");
@@ -1008,11 +1015,11 @@ NSString *const kArchivedConversationsReuseIdentifier = @"kArchivedConversations
 
     // We do this synchronously if we're already on the main thread.
     DispatchMainThreadSafe(^{
-        ConversationViewController *mvc = [ConversationViewController new];
-        [mvc configureForThread:thread action:action];
+        ConversationViewController *viewController = [ConversationViewController new];
+        [viewController configureForThread:thread action:action focusMessageId:focusMessageId];
         self.lastThread = thread;
 
-        [self pushTopLevelViewController:mvc animateDismissal:YES animatePresentation:YES];
+        [self pushTopLevelViewController:viewController animateDismissal:YES animatePresentation:YES];
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/Signal/src/call/OutboundCallInitiator.swift b/Signal/src/call/OutboundCallInitiator.swift
index b3900960f..cc2f49626 100644
--- a/Signal/src/call/OutboundCallInitiator.swift
+++ b/Signal/src/call/OutboundCallInitiator.swift
@@ -45,10 +45,7 @@ import SignalMessaging
         isVideo: Bool) -> Bool {
         // Rather than an init-assigned dependency property, we access `callUIAdapter` via Environment
         // because it can change after app launch due to user settings
-        guard let callUIAdapter = SignalApp.shared().callUIAdapter else {
-            owsFail("\(TAG) can't initiate call because callUIAdapter is nil")
-            return false
-        }
+        let callUIAdapter = SignalApp.shared().callUIAdapter
         guard let frontmostViewController = UIApplication.shared.frontmostViewController else {
             owsFail("\(TAG) could not identify frontmostViewController in \(#function)")
             return false
diff --git a/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.h b/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.h
index 05231e32a..f9277ec49 100644
--- a/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.h
+++ b/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 #import "ConversationViewController.h"
 
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
+
 @class AccountManager;
 @class CallService;
 @class CallUIAdapter;
@@ -17,8 +19,8 @@
 
 @interface SignalApp : NSObject
 
-@property (nonatomic, weak) HomeViewController *homeViewController;
-@property (nonatomic, weak) OWSNavigationController *signUpFlowNavigationController;
+@property (nonatomic, nullable, weak) HomeViewController *homeViewController;
+@property (nonatomic, nullable, weak) OWSNavigationController *signUpFlowNavigationController;
 
 // TODO: Convert to singletons?
 @property (nonatomic, readonly) OWSWebRTCCallMessageHandler *callMessageHandler;
@@ -40,6 +42,9 @@
 - (void)presentConversationForThreadId:(NSString *)threadId;
 - (void)presentConversationForThread:(TSThread *)thread;
 - (void)presentConversationForThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action;
+- (void)presentConversationForThread:(TSThread *)thread
+                              action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+                      focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId;
 
 #pragma mark - Methods
 
@@ -48,3 +53,5 @@
 + (void)clearAllNotifications;
 
 @end
+
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_END
diff --git a/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.m b/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.m
index de9e7a952..4d95b7d8d 100644
--- a/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.m
+++ b/Signal/src/environment/SignalApp.m
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #import <SignalServiceKit/TSGroupThread.h>
 #import <SignalServiceKit/Threading.h>
 
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
+
 @interface SignalApp ()
 
 @property (nonatomic) OWSWebRTCCallMessageHandler *callMessageHandler;
@@ -186,6 +188,13 @@
 }
 
 - (void)presentConversationForThread:(TSThread *)thread action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+{
+    [self presentConversationForThread:thread action:action focusMessageId:nil];
+}
+
+- (void)presentConversationForThread:(TSThread *)thread
+                              action:(ConversationViewAction)action
+                      focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId
 {
     OWSAssertIsOnMainThread();
 
@@ -207,7 +216,7 @@
             }
         }
 
-        [self.homeViewController presentThread:thread action:action];
+        [self.homeViewController presentThread:thread action:action focusMessageId:focusMessageId];
     });
 }
 
@@ -248,3 +257,5 @@
 }
 
 @end
+
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_END
diff --git a/SignalMessaging/utils/ConversationSearcher.swift b/SignalMessaging/utils/ConversationSearcher.swift
index 32f4bab1d..2c68cc250 100644
--- a/SignalMessaging/utils/ConversationSearcher.swift
+++ b/SignalMessaging/utils/ConversationSearcher.swift
@@ -7,10 +7,14 @@ import SignalServiceKit
 
 public class ConversationSearchResult {
     public let thread: ThreadViewModel
+
+    public let messageId: String?
+
     public let snippet: String?
 
-    init(thread: ThreadViewModel, snippet: String?) {
+    init(thread: ThreadViewModel, messageId: String?, snippet: String?) {
         self.thread = thread
+        self.messageId = messageId
         self.snippet = snippet
     }
 }
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ public class ConversationSearcher: NSObject {
             if let thread = match as? TSThread {
                 let threadViewModel = ThreadViewModel(thread: thread, transaction: transaction)
                 let snippet: String? = thread.lastMessageText(transaction: transaction)
-                let searchResult = ConversationSearchResult(thread: threadViewModel, snippet: snippet)
+                let searchResult = ConversationSearchResult(thread: threadViewModel, messageId: nil, snippet: snippet)
 
                 if let contactThread = thread as? TSContactThread {
                     let recipientId = contactThread.contactIdentifier()
@@ -82,14 +86,14 @@ public class ConversationSearcher: NSObject {
                 let thread = message.thread(with: transaction)
 
                 let threadViewModel = ThreadViewModel(thread: thread, transaction: transaction)
-                let searchResult = ConversationSearchResult(thread: threadViewModel, snippet: snippet)
+                let searchResult = ConversationSearchResult(thread: threadViewModel, messageId: message.uniqueId, snippet: snippet)
 
                 messages.append(searchResult)
             } else if let signalAccount = match as? SignalAccount {
                 let searchResult = ContactSearchResult(signalAccount: signalAccount)
                 contacts.append(searchResult)
             } else {
-                Logger.debug("\(self.logTag) in \(#function) unhandled item: \(match)")
+                owsFail("\(self.logTag) in \(#function) unhandled item: \(match)")
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.h b/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.h
index 197cc1c67..dde4de03b 100644
--- a/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.h
+++ b/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.h
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 // to include the unread indicator.
 @property (nonatomic, nullable, readonly) NSNumber *unreadIndicatorPosition;
 
+// Represents the "reverse index" of the focus message, if any.
+// The "reverse index" is the distance of this interaction from
+// the last interaction in the thread.  Therefore the last interaction
+// will have a "reverse index" of zero.
+//
+// We use "reverse indices" because (among other uses) we use this to
+// determine the initial load window size.
+@property (nonatomic, nullable, readonly) NSNumber *focusMessagePosition;
+
 // If there are unseen messages in the thread, this is the timestamp
 // of the oldest unseen message.
 //
@@ -105,6 +114,7 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
                                                      dbConnection:(YapDatabaseConnection *)dbConnection
                                       hideUnreadMessagesIndicator:(BOOL)hideUnreadMessagesIndicator
                                   firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp:(nullable NSNumber *)firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp
+                                                   focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId
                                                      maxRangeSize:(int)maxRangeSize;
 
 + (BOOL)shouldShowGroupProfileBannerInThread:(TSThread *)thread blockingManager:(OWSBlockingManager *)blockingManager;
diff --git a/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.m b/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.m
index c5df4a72a..ad516915a 100644
--- a/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.m
+++ b/SignalMessaging/utils/ThreadUtil.m
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 
 @property (nonatomic, nullable) NSNumber *unreadIndicatorPosition;
 
+@property (nonatomic, nullable) NSNumber *focusMessagePosition;
+
 @property (nonatomic, nullable) NSNumber *firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp;
 
 @property (nonatomic) BOOL hasMoreUnseenMessages;
@@ -221,6 +223,7 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
                                       hideUnreadMessagesIndicator:(BOOL)hideUnreadMessagesIndicator
                                   firstUnseenInteractionTimestamp:
                                       (nullable NSNumber *)firstUnseenInteractionTimestampParameter
+                                                   focusMessageId:(nullable NSString *)focusMessageId
                                                      maxRangeSize:(int)maxRangeSize
 {
     OWSAssert(thread);
@@ -615,11 +618,52 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
                     indicator.timestampForSorting);
             }
         }
+
+        // Determine the position of the focus message _after_ performing any mutations
+        // around dynamic interactions.
+        if (focusMessageId != nil) {
+            result.focusMessagePosition =
+                [self focusMessagePositionForThread:thread transaction:transaction focusMessageId:focusMessageId];
+        }
     }];
 
     return result;
 }
 
+
++ (nullable NSNumber *)focusMessagePositionForThread:(TSThread *)thread
+                                         transaction:(YapDatabaseReadWriteTransaction *)transaction
+                                      focusMessageId:(NSString *)focusMessageId
+{
+    OWSAssert(thread);
+    OWSAssert(transaction);
+    OWSAssert(focusMessageId);
+
+    YapDatabaseViewTransaction *databaseView = [transaction ext:TSMessageDatabaseViewExtensionName];
+
+    NSString *_Nullable group = nil;
+    NSUInteger index;
+    BOOL success =
+        [databaseView getGroup:&group index:&index forKey:focusMessageId inCollection:TSInteraction.collection];
+    if (!success) {
+        // This might happen if the focus message has disappeared
+        // before this view could appear.
+        OWSFail(@"%@ failed to find focus message index.", self.logTag);
+        return nil;
+    }
+    if (![group isEqualToString:thread.uniqueId]) {
+        OWSFail(@"%@ focus message has invalid group.", self.logTag);
+        return nil;
+    }
+    NSUInteger count = [databaseView numberOfItemsInGroup:thread.uniqueId];
+    if (index >= count) {
+        OWSFail(@"%@ focus message has invalid index.", self.logTag);
+        return nil;
+    }
+    NSUInteger position = (count - index) - 1;
+    return @(position);
+}
+
 + (BOOL)shouldShowGroupProfileBannerInThread:(TSThread *)thread blockingManager:(OWSBlockingManager *)blockingManager
 {
     OWSAssert(thread);