MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIENCES CONCLUSION.
Missionaries often go to their fields of labor with a faith and
determination that their efforts shall not be in vain. They believe
implicitly in the promises made to them by the inspired servants of the
Lord who set them apart and bless them before going abroad.
A little incident occurred a few years ago which illustrates the
trusting faith possessed by some missionaries. A man called at one of
the conference houses in Great Britain to inquire if any of the inmates
had any old clothing they wished to dispose of. One of the Elders
brought out an old pair of trousers for which he considered he had no
further use. He was offered a shilling for the pair and was about to
accept the offer when a newly arrived Elder exclaimed, "Let me have the
trousers; I will give you a shilling for them." It made no difference
to the owner who got them, so he sold them to the last bidder.
"They will do to wear while baptizing people," the purchaser remarked,
and his companions smiled at the assurance he had that the investment
was a profitable one.
As time rolled by, the Elder found occasion to make use of the trousers
quite frequently, for during his missionary career he baptized between
forty and fifty persons.
The following letter, written by Elder Albert Matheson a few years ago,
while laboring as a missionary in the Southern States, is interesting
as it shows the fulfillment of a prediction made to one of his
fellow-missionaries:
"The mission of Elder Dotson has been of special interest and
satisfaction to him. Some years ago, while nearly all of his relatives
were not in sympathy with our faith, he received a patriarchal
blessing, in which was a promise that he, if faithful, would have the
privilege of bringing many of his kindred into the Church. When this
promise was made the Elder could see no possibility of its realization,
as his relatives were far removed from him both by distance and
doctrine. Time passed on and he reached the age generally considered
too far advanced for missionary labors in the South; but at last he
received a letter from the Presidency of the Church extending to him
an invitation to take a mission to the Southern States. But this did
not clear away all difficulties. After his arrival at Chattanooga
there were about ten chances to one that he would get in a conference
in which his relatives did not reside. True Brother Dotson might have
suggested that he work in a locality near his kinsfolk, but he had no
idea that such a right belonged to him. It was his belief that the
servants of God appointed for that purpose were perfectly competent
to discharge their duty. This belief was strengthened in him when
he received an appointment to labor in the neighborhood where his
relatives resided. Not all the barriers were yet removed from his path,
however. His relatives were not at all eager to join themselves to his
faith. It was not until after he had worked diligently among them that
he saw prospects of the fulfillment of the patriarch's promise; and
just at this time threats of violence against the 'Mormons' in that
neighborhood gave occasion for the Elder to seek quarters less hostile
to truth-tellers. After a little the threatened violence subsided. He
then went back and soon baptized eleven of his relatives, among whom
was his aged father."
An Elder who was lately in the mission field
relates that he had often thought while at home that he would like
to perform a mission abroad; but having no education--not being able
to read or write--he feared he would never have the privilege. An
opportunity at last came for him to go, yet he still lacked education.
While in a meeting about this time the inward promptings of the Spirit
made known to him that if he would go the Lord would be with him; that
he would be enabled to learn to read and write, and that he should fill
a useful mission. He relied upon the promise received and went forth
in obedience to the call made of him. Although past the prime of life,
he readily acquired the arts of reading and writing. As a missionary
he soon became very successful. By his humble efforts he was the means
of bringing a number of souls to a knowledge of the truth, and within
a short space of time he and his missionary companion baptized some
nineteen people.
It is frequently remarked by those who speak from experience that a man
loses nothing financially by spending a few years in the mission field;
and that a mission gives one experience that is of inestimable value to
him--an experience that he cannot get in any other way. The truth of
these statements is repeatedly verified. A young man who returned from
a mission some time ago made the remark recently that since his return
he had been so prospered in his business that he had earned as much
during the two or three years since his return as he would have done
had he remained at home with steady employment such as he was engaged
in previous to going upon his mission.
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. One brother of the young man encouraged him to go upon the
mission assigned him, and remarked to those who did not favor it, that
if he went he would be prospered upon his return and within a few years
would be better fixed financially than his friends who remained at home
taking advantage of the good times for making money. The young man
fulfilled the mission assigned him, and was away for some three or four
years. Upon his return he went to a new part of the country to make his
home, without any resources except his ability to labor with his hands.
Only a few years passed before the prediction made by his brother was
fulfilled. He had been greatly prospered in his temporal affairs,
and was better off than his friends who objected to his going upon a
mission.
End of Project Gutenberg's Sketches of Missionary Life, by Edwin F. Parry