Edwin F. Parry

“ It is remarkable how the Lord raises up friends to His servants while they are engaged in the ministry. In whatever part of the world they may labor, the Latter-day Saint missionaries meet with those who befriend them in a most unexpected manner. People that become thus friendly are sometimes those who are earnestly seeking the truth and are interested in the Gospel message, at other times they do not accept the Gospel, but continue to remain friendly with the Elders, and go to considerable trouble and expense, and at times even risk their lives, to assist and defend them. ”

“ Elder David Archibald, who recently fulfilled a mission to Great Britain, tells of an occurrence which happened while he was passing through Wyoming on the way to his field of labor. One night while resting in a half-reclining position on the seat of the railway car a voice said to him, "You are lying in such a position that all your money can be taken out of your pocket!" With a sudden start he clapped his hand over the pocket in which he carried his pocket-book, and awoke from his sleep just in time to see a man go out rather hastily through the doorway. ”

“ He finds that the Lord does not, unless for special purposes, reveal direct through His Spirit truths that are already known to mankind: for has He not commanded His children to "search the scriptures," to seek "out of the best books words of wisdom," and to "seek learning even by study, and also by faith"? These facts dawn upon his mind in an early stage of his experience. His very first attempt to present the Gospel in private conversation or by public speaking may cause him to realize the necessity of study and preparation. ”

“ Arriving at the headquarters of the mission to which they have been appointed, the missionaries are assigned to various conferences or fields of labor. During the short time they have traveled together they have become quite attached to each other. They appreciate one another the more through being alike newly separated from near friends and traveling through strange lands among strange people. It is another affecting experience to part from traveling companions; and when each one finds himself singly cast among strangers, or rather among new friends, he is for a little while lonesome. ”

“ It sometimes occurs that a missionary goes to his field of labor with a misapprehension of the nature of the work. Returned Elders in reporting their labors abroad often speak of the success they met with, and of the opportunities and needs there are for missionary work in the world. In listening to such reports a person sometimes gets the idea that those who go out as missionaries will find people anxiously waiting for them, and ready to receive their message. ”

“ Inexperienced missionaries are usually assigned to labor for a time with those who have had more experience. Sometimes, however, an Elder who has newly arrived in the field is, through force of circumstances, left to himself for a time. It is then he feels more than ever the necessity of relying upon the Lord. Some four years ago an experienced missionary in Great Britain was holding open-air meetings. His companion had newly arrived from Zion, and had had little or no practice at public speaking. ”

“ The manner of conducting missionary work by the Latter-day Saints is unique and marvelous; and the further one inquires into the details of the method the more wonderful it appears. The remarkable features of this work will be better understood when it is known how it is carried on, and what some of its results are.
At present the great majority of Latter-day Saint missionaries who are sent out into the world are young men, ranging upward from sixteen years of age. They are selected from all avocations of life. ”

“ Except in countries where it is possible to carry on missionary labor "without purse and scrip," they are also expected to support themselves with their own means while away from home.
It is a notable fact that there are but very few young men called to take missions who decline to go; and very frequently men whose circumstances apparently might justify them in being excused accept the call, trusting in the Lord to overrule circumstances in their favor and thereby enable them to respond. Those who thus place reliance in the Lord are not neglected by Him. ”

“ After accepting a call to fulfill a mission, Elders sometimes find they are without the necessary funds at hand to carry them to their destination. But the assurance that prompts them to respond to the call also gives them confidence that this difficulty can be met and overcome in some way. The feeling that "where there's a will there's a way" seems to actuate their whole being, and very seldom if ever are they disappointed in their expectations. ”

“ Usually missionaries go to their fields of labor in small companies, and after the acute pangs of parting with loved ones are somewhat assuaged they enjoy their travels. The new scenes constantly coming within view help to divert their minds from the thoughts of home. If they have a long distance to travel to reach their destination, and especially when they have to cross the ocean, they find time to seriously consider the nature of the duty before them. ”

“ Some few years ago an Elder in the Church entertained the desire to some day fulfill a mission abroad. He did not feel that he was in a condition financially to go at that time, as he was in debt to the amount of some twenty-six hundred dollars. He calculated that if he was fortunate in his affairs he would be able to pay his debts in the course of a few years, and would then offer his services as a missionary. ”

“ His prayer was answered by a dream wherein he was shown that there were a few persons in the district who would soon request baptism at his hands. He was much comforted and encouraged by this dream and related it to his companion. They both remained in their field of labor, and it was not long before several of those who had listened to their testimonies applied for baptism.
The missionary who faithfully, patiently and persistently continues his labors in the field assigned him is invariably rewarded for his efforts, as many a one can testify. ”

“ I had just left a Primitive Methodist minister after a prolonged conversation, and called at the next house, at which a lady answered the door and asked me to step inside. I commenced to talk of the Gospel message I had been sent to proclaim, and found her an attentive listener. She informed me that she had been praying to know which of the different religions was true, believing that the Bible is true, and that there is but 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism.' In answer to her prayers she had a manifestation, or a vision, and was carried away to a large hall ”

“ He learns the truth of the saying, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." He discovers that he must store his mind with knowledge in order that the Holy Spirit may bring things to his remembrance. ”

“ They rejoiced greatly in the goodness of God, and requested Elder Duback to baptize them. They told me that they had never felt such joy and happiness as the obedience to the principles of the Gospel had given them."
Quite frequently attempts are made by unprincipled individuals to interfere with the labors of our missionaries in spreading the Gospel. Often men will deliver lectures against the Elders, circulate falsehoods about the Saints, or interrupt their meetings. Generally such attempts to hinder the missionary work result in good. ”

“ They gave her some tracts to read, and she soon applied for baptism, having been assured in vision that they were messengers of truth.
Sometimes a missionary's labors produce an unexpected result. It is difficult to get some people who show an interest in the Gospel convinced of the necessity of baptism. Often, though, when they are fully convinced they readily obey. An Elder who was recently engaged in missionary labors abroad made the acquaintance of a lady whom he met while distributing tracts. She seemed to be favorably impressed with his teachings ”

“ On the other hand, if the newly-arrived missionary fully determines to go to work immediately, to become familiar with the labor before him, to get acquainted with the people, and make himself at home among them, and take advantage of every circumstance that surrounds him, he will soon feel contented so far as personal comfort is concerned. ”

“ It frequently happens that a missionary works until nearly discouraged before he discovers any fruits of his labors. A young man who labored as a missionary in Great Britain some few years ago had an experience of this kind. He and his companion had spent considerable time in one field. They had labored faithfully and earnestly, but saw no favorable result. At last the Elder prayed to know whether he should remain in the district longer or report to his president the apparent conditions and get an appointment to some other field. ”

“ Some years ago when work was plentiful and wages were high, a young man of Salt Lake City was called to take a mission. Some of his friends, and even members of the family to which he belonged, protested against his going. They thought the opportunity to make money was too good to pass by. ”

“ If the people will not come to him, he finds that he must go to them. He must awaken an interest in the message he bears, and to do this he must be patient and diligent as well as prayerful. It is a common remark among missionaries that they are just beginning to do real missionary work that is satisfactory to themselves when they are about to be released. ”

“ The experiences of missionaries in getting the Gospel before the people are varied and interesting. The general method of presenting the message is by distributing tracts from door to door, and seeking in this way to get conversations with the people. In addition to this, meetings are held and the people invited to attend them. In Great Britain and some parts of the United States street preaching is done to a considerable extent when favorable weather permits. In some countries out-door meetings are not allowed in the towns and cities. ”

“ A conference of all the Elders laboring in that mission was called to meet on the island of Lanai. It required five dollars each to pay our fare from our field of labor to the place of conference. In starting from Helo and traveling by land to Upolu, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles, we would visit about ten branches of the Church. At each of these we held meetings and reminded the Saints that we were on our way to conference, and that we required so much money to pay our passage across the channel to Lanai. Money among the natives was scarce and difficult to get. ”

“ There is no way of telling just how much good one does in distributing tracts and in bearing his humble testimony to the people, or how far-reaching are the results of his efforts. In a letter written by Apostle Anthon H. Lund from Stockholm, Sweden, to the Millennial Star is related the following incident.
"How a tract may preach the Gospel and bring conviction to the soul was illustrated in the case of a lady in Angermanland, related by Elder Holmgren. ”

“ Being compelled to beat a retreat may be somewhat disheartening for the moment, but such an experience is what is needed to develop within the mind of the missionary a thorough knowledge of the first principles of the Gospel. ”

“ The writer recollects hearing of an instance where a young missionary who had newly arrived in the field, went to visit his relatives with the view of talking to them about the Gospel. His relatives, thinking perhaps that they were not well enough posted to discuss the subject with him and show wherein he was in error, as they supposed, sent for their minister to have him hear and answer their missionary kinsman's doctrines. The result of the conversation was very humiliating to the young missionary. ”