My First Mission
The First Book of the Faith-Promoting Series
By George Q. Cannon
Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day
Saints.
Second Edition
Juvenile Instructor Office, Salt Lake City, 1882
_My First Mission_ entered, according to act of Congress, in the year
1879, by Geo. Q. Cannon, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at
Washington.
Electronic edition produced by the Mormon Texts Project.
Volunteers who helped with this book: Meridith Crowder, Ben Crowder,
Tod Robbins, Matt Barron.
Version 1.0
Preface to the First Edition
The first chapter of this little work I wrote as a sketch for the
perusal of the youthful readers of the _Juvenile Instructor_. It was
written hastily--as were those which followed it--and without any
author's name, or any intention, at the time, of adding any more to
it. Afterwards, I concluded to write a series of missionary sketches;
but when these were written I did not have any intention of publishing
them in their present form. They were penned in a plain, familiar and
personal style, for the purpose of securing the interest of young
people.
When a youth, it was my good fortune to live in the family of President
John Taylor. It was my chief delight in those days, to listen to
him and other Elders relate their experience as missionaries. Such
conversations were very fascinating to me. They made a deep impression
upon me. The days of which they spoke, were the days of poverty, when
Elders traveled without purse and scrip, among strange people who
were ignorant of our principles, and too many of whom were ready to
mob and persecute. They traveled by faith, and were pioneers for the
Lord in strange lands, and He was their only reliance. Their missions
were rich in instances of His power exhibited in their behalf. What
I heard strengthened my faith and increased the desire in my heart
to be a missionary. No calling was so noble in my eyes as that of a
standard-bearer of the gospel.
The thought which prompts me to publish _My First Mission_ is that
perhaps it may have the effect upon some of the youth of Zion that the
recitals of faithful Elders had upon me. I hope that this will soon be
followed by other little volumes of this, the _Faith-Promoting Series_.
I have thought that the missionary spirit did not burn as brightly in
some of our young men as it should--that they did not understand the
value of human souls in the sight of the Lord and the precious rewards
which He bestows upon those who seek, in the proper way, to save them.
And yet there never was greater need of faithful men as missionaries
than there is to-day. "The field is white already to harvest," and
there is no limit in the field to the opportunities of those who desire
to labor.
If this little work shall have the effect to awaken and strengthen the
missionary spirit, if the remembrance of its incidents, shall comfort
the hearts and promote the faith of any when they go upon missions, the
utmost desire will be gratified of
The Author
September 1879
Preface to the Second Edition
Two-and-a-half years have elapsed since the first edition of _My First
Mission_ was published. It was the first work of the kind issued,
and the success of the venture, financially, was by no means certain
at that time. It is not too much to say now, that our most sanguine
expectations in commencing the publication of the _Faith-Promoting
Series_ have been more than realized. _My First Mission_ soon became
popular; the 6,000 copies of the first edition are all disposed of,
and there is a demand for more. Four other volumes of the same series
have also been issued, and received with equal favor; indeed, it seems
that each volume issued creates a taste for another. We expect very
soon to issue the sixth volume of the series and that will be followed
by others as fast as our circumstances will permit. The good that has
already been accomplished by these books, if we may accept the numerous
testimonies we are constantly receiving, cannot be estimated; and
yet we feel that the work in this direction has only just commenced.
That it may continue until such works will abound in the midst of the
Saints, and until the youth will be influenced by them to live lives of
purity and perform deeds of righteousness, is the earnest desire of
The Publisher
March 1882
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Timidity When Attempting to Speak in Public--Determination to
Persevere, Relying Upon God--Assuring Manifestation of the Presence of
the Spirit of God
Chapter 2
From San Francisco to Honolulu--Storm and Sea-sickness
Chapter 3
Honolulu, Its Location and Harbor--Prayer to the Almighty--The Elders
Separate, and Commence Labor on the Four Principal Islands
Chapter 4
Our House on Maui--Interviews With the Consul and Governor--Our First
Public Preaching--We Determine to Learn the Language and Proclaim the
Gospel to the Natives
Chapter 5
Kindness of Na-Lima-Nui--To Honolulu--Some of the Elders Decide to
Return Home
Chapter 6
I Return to Maui--We Are Visited by the President of the Mission, Who
Determines to Go to the Marqueses Islands--Are Not Led to Go With
Him--"Poi," Its Preparation and Peculiarities
Chapter 7
Start on a Tour Around the Island--Arrive at Wailuku--In a Remarkable
Manner Become Acquainted With J. H. Napela
Chapter 8
A Missionary's Craft in Danger--He Preaches Against Us and Our
Doctrines, and Abuses Our Friends--His Remarks, However, Are Overruled
for Our Good--The Lord's Promise Fulfilled--I Go to Kula
Chapter 9
Another Attack from a Missionary--Courage in Defending the Truth Always
Admired--Poverty of the People
Chapter 10
Successful Meetings--Our Principles Receiving Great Notice--Elder
Keeler and Myself Go to Keanae and Have Remarkable Success in Adding
Members to the Church
Chapter 11
Arrival of New Elders--The Adversary Busy Among Our Newly Converted
Friends--A Fishing Scene
Chapter 12
Interview With the Dignitaries of the Kingdom--Return to Napela's House
at Wailuku--Hundreds of People Baptized--Elders Become Famous All Over
the Group--A Remarkable Peculiarity
Chapter 13
Missionaries from Home--Good Results of Their Presence and
Labors--Voyage in the Canoe of the Islanders--Tradition of the
Natives--A Visit to the Volcano
Chapter 14
A Hawaiian Feast--Amusing Joke Played Upon White Men
Chapter 15
Answers to Prayer, and the Bestowal of the Gifts upon the Elders and
People--Elders Sent to Teach Not to Be Taught--Blessings Will Rest Upon
Those Who Labor Among the Red Men for Their Salvation
Chapter 16
Consolation Drawn from the Book of Mormon--Its Translation into the
Hawaiian Language--Great Joy in the Labor--A Committee to Raise Funds
to Purchase a Press, Type, etc.--Press, etc., Ordered, and Then Sent to
California--The Book of Mormon Printed--The First Translation into the
Language of a Nation of Red Men--Kindred Languages Spoken Through the
Polynesian Islands--The "Western Standard"
Chapter 17
Time of Departure--Funds Provided--Sorrow at Separating--Contrast
Between Our Landing and Our Departure--Souls for Our Hire--An
Exceedingly Happy Mission
Chapter 1
Timidity When Attempting to Speak in Public--Determination to
Persevere, Relying Upon God--Assuring Manifestation of the Presence of
the Spirit of God
The writer will probably never forget his first attempts at speaking in
public. While yet a youth he was ordained one of the Seventy Elders.
The quorum of which he became a member was organized the day he was
ordained, and he was chosen to be its clerk. At the meetings of the
quorum it was the custom of those of the Presidents who were present to
make a few remarks, and then the members were called upon to speak.
On such occasions he would get so nervous that he would have to stop
writing some time before it came his turn to speak; and then, when he
did get up, he scarcely knew what he said, his fright was so great.
He constantly suffered from this feeling of fear whenever he attempted
to speak at quorum meetings, or testimony meetings, and in fact, for
some time after starting on a preaching mission.
There was one resolve that he made in the beginning, which he always
kept, and which he desires to impress upon every boy and girl in Zion.
He made up his mind that, whenever called upon, he would, with the help
of the Lord, always ask a blessing, or pray, or speak, and not try to
excuse himself.
No matter how many have been present, nor how awkward and frightened he
has felt, he has always done what was requested of him. But how many
times he has seen young men and women decline to speak and to pray when
called upon! He has both pitied and felt ashamed for them.
Such persons acquire a habit of _balking_, and _balky_ men and women
are as bad in their places as balky horses are in theirs.
Many persons think that because they are bashful, and are not in the
habit of asking a blessing or praying aloud that, therefore, they can
excuse themselves when called upon to do so. But right-feeling people
admire boys and girls, young men and young women, who have the courage
and good manners to comply with a request of this kind, even if they
should make awkward blunders, far more than they would if they refused
to do so.
What is called bashfulness is frequently nothing more than pride. Those
who are troubled with it are generally anxious to appear to advantage;
they desire the approbation of their fellows; and the fear that they
will say or do something that will not come up to the standard,
oppresses them and makes them nervous.
The first time the writer was called upon to speak to a mixed
congregation of Saints and inquirers he was in the company of nine
Elders. There were only two or three of them who had ever spoken in
public; but as he was the youngest of the party, and felt that he was
but a boy, he thought they would all be called upon before him. To his
surprise, however, the Elder who was presiding called first upon him.
True to his resolve, he arose and commenced. For two or three, or
probably five minutes, he did pretty well. Then he got confused, his
ideas were in a jumble, and he forgot all he ever knew. If the bottom
had dropped out of his memory, it could not have been worse. He sat
down, feeling a little ashamed; but not discouraged. He was on a
mission, and he was determined not to back down and fail. But it is
very mortifying to get up to speak and then break down.
After this, he took a three weeks' voyage to the country to which he
was appointed on a mission. After landing, he attended a public meeting
of strangers who had never heard the gospel. It was held in a Seamen's
Bethel, the minister having kindly offered it to the Elders for their
meeting. One of the Elders spoke on the first principles; the writer
followed him and bore testimony and made some other remarks. He was
much frightened and embarrassed; but he spoke at greater length than he
did before.
After this, circumstances required him to go out among the people
alone. In that country, where they had no bells to ring, they called
the people together by blowing a conch shell. When skillfully blown,
one of these can be heard at a long distance. As the hour approached
for meeting, it was customary to commence blowing the shell, and then
our young missionary would be seized with trembling. The feeling of
dread was terrible. He had been in places of peril where life was in
danger; but he never felt as he did about preaching. He was alone and
a stranger, and among a strange people. But he would not shrink. He
knew that the gospel was true, that he had the authority to preach it,
that the people had to be warned, and, therefore, with all his fear, he
could not hold his tongue. He felt like Paul did when he said to the
Corinthians: "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel."
About six weeks after he commenced his ministry alone two messengers
arrived from a distant town to invite him to come there and preach.
They had heard about the doctrine he taught, and the people he had
baptized, and they wanted to learn more about the principles. He
returned with the messengers. A large meeting house was obtained in
which to preach. It was crowded, for the people had never before had
the privilege of hearing a sermon delivered by a Latter-day Saint. You
can imagine how he felt. Here was a people anxious to hear, and yet how
weak he was, and how full of fear and trembling! When he arose to give
out the hymn the sound of his voice in that large building scared him.
Then he prayed, and afterwards gave out another hymn. He had called
mightily upon God for help. When he commenced to speak the Spirit of
the Lord rested upon him as it never had done before. The people had
faith, and their hearts were prepared to receive the truth. For upwards
of an hour he spoke, and he was so carried away in the Spirit, that he
was like a man in a trance. Joy filled his heart and the hearts of the
people. They wept like children, and that day was the beginning of a
good work in that place.
I shall not attempt to describe to you the gladness that our young
missionary felt. He had been a slave; but now he was free. God had
broken the bands of fear, and he felt to glorify Him for His goodness.
From that day to this he has never suffered from those dreadful
feelings which oppressed him. Still, there are but few public speakers,
especially in this Church, who do not have a nervous feeling when they
first arise to speak; and it is frequently the case that when they feel
the most nervous they are enabled to speak with the greatest power.
They feel their own weakness, and they seek unto God for help.
Many of the readers of this may yet be sent on missions, and a
recollection of this sketch may help them to persevere. Never decline
to ask a blessing, to pray or to speak when called upon, and God will
help you to overcome all feelings of fear.