Establishment of the Sunday School in Japan

The conference of the Deseret Sunday School Union was called to order by General Superintendent Joseph F. Smith, at 7:30 p. m. ¶

Present: of the general superintendency, President Joseph F. Smith, George Reynolds and Joseph M. Tanner; of the members of the board, Elders Joseph W. Summerhays, Levi W. Richards, Seymour B. Young, John M. Mills. John F. Bennett, James E. Talmage, George M. Cannon, Horace Cummings, Josiah Burrows, George D. Pyper. William A. Morton and Horace S. Ensign. ¶

The congregation filled the Tabernacle to its capacity. The singing during the evening was done by the entire congregation led by Elder George D. Pyper. The opening hymn was "Gather round the Standard Bearer." ¶

Singing. "If there's Sunshine in your Heart." ¶

Secretary Geo. D. Pyper called the roll of Stakes and Missions, showing all the Stakes represented except Uintah, Wayne and Parowan. Nine missions were also represented. ¶

Assistant Superintendent George Reynolds stated that at these conferences the General Superintendency wish to hear reports, a few on each occasion, from the various stakes and missions; and called upon Elder Horace S. Ensign, late president of the Japanese mission, to give the meeting an idea of the condition of the Sunday schools in that land. ¶

My brethren and sisters, I am indeed greatly surprised in being called to occupy this position tonight. I rejoice, however, in being present to associate with you in this Sunday School conference. It has been more than four years since I enjoyed this privilege, and I assure you that I appreciate it. ¶

Two years ago the 29th of last November, the first Sunday school of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Tokio, Japan. Previous to that time the Elders had been laboring among the adults, endeavoring to teach them the plan of life and salvation as it has come to us in this day and dispensation. As you are all aware, we were compelled to labor among those who know not God, and who have no conception of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. We found that our labors were not altogether a success among the adults of Japan. We discovered that they had bowed so long before graven images that they had become absorbed in the superstitions of Buddha and Shinto, and the pure light of the Gospel had but little effect upon them. Realizing these conditions, the Elders laboring in Japan made it a matter of fasting and prayer before the Lord, imploring Him to give them light and inspiration with regard to the dissemination of the Gospel in that foreign land. The inspiration of the Lord unto His servants was, that we should organize Sunday Schools, that we should invite the children to come to our home and to the homes where the Elders were residing, that we might teach them in their early lives the plan of salvation, teach them the beautiful story of the life of Christ, and of the restoration of the Gospel in this day and dispensation. ¶

It pleases me to be able to say that God has magnified His servants in their work with the children. At our first Sunday school in the city of Tokio we had more than 90 children present. Many of them came out of mere curiosity; some of them because they were sent by their parents: and I am happy to say that many of them have continued to come, and have learned much with regard to the mission of the Lord Jesus. Immediately surrounding our headquarters, we found many families in which were a number of children, and from those families we have received the greatest support in our Sabbath school. We realized that it would be impossible for us to entertain the children by telling them. over and over again the life and mission of Christ, so we found it necessary to begin the translation of our Sunday school hymns and to set music to the translations. This, too, was an inspiration from our Heavenly Father, and it has proved very effectual. In the Yotsuya district of Tokio, where the Latter-day Saints' headquarters is located, we hear almost every day our Sunday school songs being sung in the street by our Sunday School children. ¶

The children love to come to our headquarters to be taught the songs which have been arranged for them, and we find in going to their homes that their parents are happy indeed that the Latter-day Saints have organized a Sunday school in their midst. ¶

And thus it is that one of the greatest joys that the children have is to attend their Sunday school, every Sabbath morning and be taught the stories with regard to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Not only do they love to hear these stories, not only do they enjoy relating them as best they can to their parents, but they do take delight in singing our songs. And you, my brethren and sisters, would rejoice could you hear their little voices raised in singing the songs of Zion as they have been translated into the Japanese tongue. At headquarters we have a large swing, and the little children come there to play, and as they swing through the air we hear them singing our little Sunday school songs, and they ,do sing them with spirit, just as our children sing them here at home. And we know that much good will be the result of our work with the children. ¶

The Japanese themselves are not of a spiritual nature. They are materialists. "We have discovered in talking with them, that if we can show them where they can benefit themselves materially by accepting the Gospel they will listen with interest to our story; but when they learn that the only benefit derived from the acceptance of the Gospel is a spiritual blessing, then they have but little to say, and manifest but little interest in that which we endeavor to teach them. But we do have faith in the youth of Japan, and I feel sure that our efforts with the children will eventually result in good, that we shall see many in the land of Japan strong and stalwart in the faith, who have been taught the Gospel in the Sabbath schools. ¶

My brethren and sisters, the Elders in Japan are doing grand work, especially among the children. I received a letter a short time ago from the Elders laboring there now. Two Elders had gone into a new district, and as soon as they found quarters, they went among the people and invited them to send their children to the home where the Elders were living. They did so. The last report that 1 heard was that they were having now an attendance of 83 children at their Sabbath school every Sunday morning, and the Elders have been instructed to organize Sunday schools in all parts of Japan where they are laboring; to let this be their first thought, because we feel that we shall be able to impress the young minds, while we find that it is almost an impossibility to impress the minds of the older people. ¶

I rejoice exceedingly in having the privilege of being with you tonight, and I rejoice in being associated with you in the Sabbath school, I sincerely pray that God will bless the officers of the Sabbath school, that He will bless the teachers who are teaching the youth of Zion. And I ask you to remember the Elders away in Japan endeavoring to teach that people the Gospel of life and salvation. God is remembering them and sustaining them, and I know it is in accordance with your faith and your prayers. The Elders have been wonderfully blessed in acquiring the language. Most of them speak it fluently, and it has been through the grace of God unto them. The natives tell us that our Elders, who have been there only a little more than four years, speak with greater freedom and greater fluency than missionaries of other denominations and others who have been there for 20 years. So you see that they are enjoying the gifts of the Gospel, and that God is sustaining them in their work there. ¶

May God bless us in our work, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶