Help Contacts, messaging open to last page viewed

[pharmd12]

Hi,
I just got a Samsung Epic. My contacts and messaging apps always open to the last page viewed when I tap them, like the last contact I called or the last message I read/sent. I just want my contacts to open to the contacts list every time and the messaging to open to the message list every time. Is there a way to set a default 'home' page for those standard apps?

Also, when I search a contact by typing in letters, I have to hit the back button and delete the letters in my search to return to the contacts list. Is there an easier way to return to the original contacts list rather than hitting the 'back' option multiple times?

Thanks!