Former President of the Tahitian Mission

Former President of the Tahitian Mission ¶

We have heard the scripture quoted to us this afternoon, my brethren and sisters, to the effect that it is the weak things of the earth that are called. I feel that is particularly applicable to me at this time. To say the least, however, it proves to me that the oft-heard statement, that opportunity comes but once to every man, is not correct. I remember that my name was called out at our last general conference, but, owing to the fact that I was not properly informed as to my privileges in connection with my work, I stayed on the job and consequently was not present. I felt, however, that I would have another chance; not that I have anything special to say, but I deem it an honor to stand in so renowned a place, for here have stood the prophets and apostles and servants of God in the dispensation of the fulness of times; and to me at least, if there is any difference among them, they are just a little more than any of the prophets and apostles of the Lord in any previous dispensation. It is my testimony that they have the same authority, the same priesthood and the same office and calling; that they are inspired by the same spirit; and, in addition to that, they are the ones who are called to lead, counsel and instruct us. The others are just a matter of history. ¶

My lot as a missionary was cast among the more humble people of our Father's children; but a more loving people, a more lovable people and a more hospitable people you could not find in any other place throughout the world. We often wonder how it is that our young people can leave their homes and loved ones here in the valleys of the mountains and go out into the various parts of the world, to people with habits and customs so absolutely different to those to which they have been accustomed, and to an environment altogether at variance with anything they had known before; compelled to learn languages that seem at first to have no meaning whatsoever; yet, in a remarkably short time, they are able to apply themselves in work; they are able to adapt themselves to the peculiarities of the people; they soon learn the languages, and are able to be really instrumental in the hands of the Lord in spreading the gospel among his children. It is my testimony that the reason for this is the spirit of service that dwells within their hearts—it is the missionary spirit. ¶

The Tahitian Mission, wherein I had the pleasure of laboring, as has been said, for six and a half years, is somewhat different, I think, from most any other mission of the Church; but I can say it is just as good as any other mission in the world. Our missionary work there, to a very large extent, demands that we travel upon the sea in small ships—twenty-five, thirty and forty-ton sailing vessels and gasoline schooners. Our mission covers a radius of more than a thousand miles, reaching from the island of Tubuai, which was the first island in the Pacific ocean to receive the gospel in this dispensation, to the Tuamotu archipelago in the north. Our branches are scattered over this thousand miles with a separation of from fifty or sixty miles to four hundred miles, and we are compelled to travel from one island to another in order to meet with our Saints. Owing to the few missionaries we have and to the absolutely undependable means of travel, we are unable to maintain constant contact with them; and, naturally, they retrograde a little. But they respond readily to the work of the missionaries. ¶

One of our young men, who just recently returned from there, was laboring on the island of Tubuai. He had been for ten months without any word from home. It had been six months since his folks had heard from him. Upon the arrival of President Alma G. Burton, he was called to headquarters with his companion; but it so happened that the ship on which they were to sail was condemned by the government officials, precluding the taking of any passengers aboard. In order to get away, however, in response to the call of the mission president, they were compelled to resort to strategy; and after the vessel had left the island and gotten about five miles at sea, these two young men got into a native canoe and were paddled five miles through the open sea in order to catch the boat and go to headquarters. That is just an example of some of the things we do in the Tahitian mission in the course of our gospel labors there. But I want to testify, my brethren and sisters, that the words of Nephi, wherein he said that the Lord does not require us to do anything except he provides a way, is manifested repeatedly there, and the protecting hand of the Lord has been over us; and, in spite of the little dangers at times to which we are exposed, we never fear; and, in spite of the fact that the Tahitian mission was the first island mission opened in this dispensation, we have never had a missionary die in the service either from sickness or accident. ¶

I should just like to relate a little incident to show the extent to which the missionary spirit plays its part in our work. We had a young man who was of a rather backward disposition and it was very difficult for him to learn the language. For his good, we gave him a transfer to the California mission. He finished his mission there and received an honorable release a year ago this Fall. He paid us a visit on his way home, and last April during our general conference he called on us again. He said to me: "You know I have been back to California since my return home. Upon my arrival home last Fall," he continued, "I was discontented and dissatisfied. It seemed that I had lost something valuable in my life. It seemed that the people at home were different, the work was different and I could not content myself. Consequently I determined to go back to California, where I had enjoyed myself so much." ¶

So, he went back to his mission field; he traveled over the same ground which he was wont to travel as a missionary; he met the same people, but he confessed, "I was disappointed, I did not seem to find the same feeling and conditions that I experienced while laboring there as a missionary; and I decided that the reason for it was, that the purpose for which I had gone the first time was for the sake of serving others in behalf of the gospel, and the second trip was for my own pleasure; and I found that it makes a difference." He said, "I determined to go home and apply the same spirit of service, the same missionary spirit, at home that I had applied in the mission field, and I am now contented. I find that the people at home are just as congenial, and friendly, and the work is just as interesting. The trouble was I had not applied myself in the spirit of service at home, as I had done in the mission field, and this, I learned, had been the cause of my supreme joy and happiness there." ¶

I think I have taken my share of the time, my brethren and sisters. I appreciate the privilege of standing here and bearing my testimony, and expressing these few thoughts. I have been buoyed up in my faith during the sessions of this conference ; and I pray that the Lord will bless all of us, that we might ever be firm and steadfast, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶