SKETCHES OF MISSIONARY LIFE
BY EDWIN F. PARRY,
RECENTLY OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN MISSION,
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
AUTHOR OF "A PROPHET OK LATTER DAYS," ETC.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: GEORGE Q. CANNON & SONS CO.
PRINTERS.
1899.
PREFACE.
The recital of incidents in human experience is always interesting to
the young, and such recitals, if of a proper character, may be listened
to or read with profit as well as pleasure. Especially beneficial
and interesting are stories of missionary life wherein the wonderful
providences of the Lord are shown. They serve to awaken faith and
strengthen confidence in God, and teach many valuable lessons.
The object sought in presenting this little work to the public is to
supply fresh reading matter of a wholesome character to the youth of
Zion; and it is issued with the hope that its contents may stimulate
faith in the heart of the reader, and assist him in his efforts to
become more useful in the Kingdom of God.
Most of the events and incidents herein related are of recent
occurrence, and many of them were narrated to or came under the
observation of the writer while engaged in missionary labors abroad.
Salt Lake City, Utah, November, 1899.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Character of Men Called as Missionaries
CHAPTER II.
First Temptation to Missionaries
CHAPTER III.
Providential Aid Received
CHAPTER IV.
Leaving Home--The Journey
CHAPTER V
First Experience in the Field
CHAPTER VI
Lack of Ability
CHAPTER VII
Miraculous Help from the Lord
CHAPTER VIII.
Presenting the Gospel to the People
CHAPTER IX
Discouraging Prospects--Pleasing Results
CHAPTER X.
Effect of Hearing the Gospel
CHAPTER XI.
Experiences in Holding Meetings
CHAPTER XII.
Divine Guidance and Protection
CHAPTER XIII.
Friends Raised up
CHAPTER XIV.
Signs that Follow Believers
CHAPTER XV.
Miscellaneous Experiences--Conclusion
Sketches of Missionary Life,
CHAPTER I.
CHARACTER OF MEN CALLED AS MISSIONARIES.
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. Some are
farmers or farm-laborers, sheep herders or followers of other common
occupations; some are mechanics or mechanics' assistants; others may be
clerks, book-keepers, merchants or school teachers, while a very few
are lawyers, doctors or other professional men. But many of them are so
young that they have not begun to follow any regular pursuit. Some of
the latter may have received a fair common-school or even collegiate
education, while others are called from remote parts of the country,
newly settled, and where the educational advantages are but meagre.
None are trained especially for the ministry outside of what teaching
they get at home, in the Sunday Schools, Church schools and Improvement
Associations.
Generally when called, these young men are given only a short time for
preparation before taking their leave of home--usually a few weeks,
sometimes only a few days, and in some instances only one day. They are
sent with the expectation of bearing their own expenses to their fields
of labor, wheresoever they may be called, whether to the adjoining
States or to the far off islands of the southern seas; to the sunny
south or the dark and frozen regions of the Arctic circle. 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. Invariably the way is opened for the
accomplishment of the duty imposed upon them.
It is also remarkable how
willing many young men are to accept the call to go out into the world
to promulgate the Gospel, fully understanding that they are expected to
preach in public as well as to teach in private, when in the majority
of instances they have never made the first attempt at public speaking.
Such willingness is an evidence of great trust and confidence in the
help to be received from the Lord. In going out they may not all have a
knowledge of the truth of the Gospel they go to advocate, but faith is
implanted within their hearts in a sufficient degree at least to cause
them to start upon their mission. The testimony of thousands of such
young men who have thus gone out and returned with a perfect knowledge
of the truth of the Gospel, is strong evidence that such confiding
faith is by no means exercised in vain.
Invariably when missionaries have gone forth in response to the call
of the Priesthood and have faithfully, and in strict obedience to
instructions received, performed their duty they have been enabled
to fulfill honorable and useful missions. They have been abundantly
blessed of the Lord, helped in their efforts in a wonderful manner, and
ofted miraculously preserved from threatening dangers and led to take
a course that brings about the most satisfactory results from their
labors.
The narration of some of the interesting and remarkable phases of
missionary experience will be the subject of following chapters.