Honolulu, Its Location and Harbor--Prayer to the Almighty--The Elders
Separate, and Commence Labor on the Four Principal Islands
Honolulu is built on an extensive flat, of great fertility. The town
is pretty, and wears a tropical look; but, since the time of which
I write, its buildings and surroundings have been greatly improved.
Groves of cocoa-nut trees, with their long feathery leaves, and tall
graceful trunks, were growing here and there in the vicinity of the
town, and trees of other kinds were also abundant in and around it.
Behind Honolulu stretches what is called the Nuuanu valley, a beautiful
country, which, even when we first visited it, was selected as a proper
locality for the villas and country residences and gardens of the
officers of the government, the missionaries and merchants.
On the right of the harbor of Honolulu is "Punch Bowl Hill," a large
hill where once a volcano burned, but which is now extinct. The name is
very suitable, for the volcano has left it more in the shape of a punch
bowl than anything else.
While yet some miles from the mouth of the harbor we met several
canoes, containing natives of the islands, who were out fishing. These
canoes were merely logs hollowed out; but they were easily managed,
and, with the aid of sails, their progress through the water was very
rapid. To prevent their turning over, they had outriggers fastened to
their sides.
A coral reef, over which the sea breaks with a tremendous roar, even
in calm weather, extends nearly around the harbor of Honolulu. The
entrance is very narrow, and seemed difficult of access, and as we
entered, guided by a skillful pilot, a man was kept busy throwing the
lead to learn the depth of the water. On the reef were the wrecks of
several vessels. The water was beautifully clear, and it was easy to
distinguish the bottom as we sailed along.
No sooner was the anchor dropped than the decks were crowded with
natives; some trying to sell bananas, oranges, cocoanuts, melons and
other fruits (this was in the month of December), and others anxious
to take us ashore. The monotonous character of their language, their
rapid utterance, their numerous gestures, caused us to watch them with
interest. We thought them a strange people. I little thought at that
time that I would ever learn their language, or become as familiar
with their customs as I afterwards did; for, though we had been sent
on missions to the Islands, we supposed our time would be occupied in
preaching to the whites.
Our first duty, after securing lodgings, was to repair to a convenient
mountain, on the top of which we found a steep knob that rose suddenly
and formed a table of thirty or thirty-five feet in width.
On the way up we picked up a rock apiece, with which we formed a rude
altar. We then sang a hymn, and each one, in his turn, expressed his
desires. The oldest, who was also the president, was selected to be
mouth in prayer. He embodied our desires in his prayer. They were that
the Lord would make speedy work on those islands, open an effectual
door for the preaching of the gospel, confound all opposers, help us to
gather out the honest-in-heart, and spare our lives to return home in
safety.
Having thus dedicated the land and ourselves to the Lord, one of the
Elders spoke in tongues and uttered many comforting promises, and
another interpreted. The spirit of the Lord rested powerfully upon us,
and we were filled with exceeding great joy. I had the satisfaction,
afterwards of witnessing the fulfillment of the promise made on that
occasion.
The sun was sinking low in the heavens when we got through. Our descent
was quickly made, for we felt joyful, and when men are joyful and the
Spirit of God rests upon them, they feel lithe and active. We had been
in the presence of the Lord, and had felt His power, and why should we
not be happy?
The president of the mission had chosen as his companion the next
oldest man. The most suitable place for them to remain, we all felt,
was at Honolulu. But what must the rest do? Scatter among the other
islands, or remain on that island--Oahu--until they learned more of the
condition of affairs? It was decided that to go to the various islands
would be the wiser plan.
There were four islands of importance yet to be occupied, and there
were eight of us remaining. But who were to be partners, and how should
we decide which island each couple should go to? The president did not
like to pair us off, nor to say which of the islands we should go to;
but he consented, with his partner, to select four out of the eight to
preside, one on each of the islands.
We withdrew while they discussed this matter, and made their selection.
To my great surprise, when we returned, I found that I was chosen as
one of the four. Never in my life did I feel my weakness more sensibly
than on that occasion. I was the youngest of the party, and felt that I
was the least able of all to perform the duties assigned me.
The next thing was to select partners and islands; and how do you think
we did this? You read in the Bible about casting lots. We cast lots.
Four pieces of paper were marked: _one_, _two_, _three_ and _four_.
The one who drew _one_ had the first choice of partners; so with the
second, third and fourth numbers. Then the islands were marked on slips
of paper in the same manner, and we drew for them. Number one fell to
my lot. I had the first choice.
My mind had not rested on any one as my choice for partner, and I was
at a loss for a few moments whom to select. Then the spirit of the Lord
plainly told me to choose Brother James Keeler. I did so.
I was both surprised and pleased at the manner in which he received my
choice; for I, being so young, and he so much my senior, had thought
that he would prefer a partner of more mature years and experience.
He afterwards told me that when the four were chosen, and he found
that I was one of them, he had slipped out and prayed to the Lord that
I might be led to select him to go with me. His prayer was heard and
answered, and we both were gratified.
In casting lots for islands, Maui fell to us. When we were sailing past
it my feelings were drawn towards that island, and I felt that I would
like that to be my field of labor. I knew not why this should have
been so, except that the Lord gave me the feeling, for I knew nothing
concerning it that would make it a desirable place in my eyes.
My joy was very great that evening, because of these precious
manifestations of God's goodness. I felt that he was near at hand to
hear and answer prayer, and to grant the righteous desires of our
hearts; and how could we doubt His providence for and care over us in
the future?
Children, I know of no feeling that can fill the human breast with such
unspeakable happiness, joy and confidence as faith in God. If God be
with us who can be against us?
As I have already mentioned, there were eight of us Elders, besides
the two who were to remain at Honolulu. Their names were Hiram Clark,
the president, and his fellow-laborer, Thomas Whittle. The island on
which we first landed was to be their field. The four who were chosen
to preside on the other islands were: Henry W. Bigler, whose partner
was Thomas Morris, and to whom the island of Molokai fell by lot; John
Dixon, whose partner was William Farrer, and whose field was the island
of Kauai; James Hawkins, who chose Hiram Blackwell as his companion,
and to whom the island of Hawaii fell as a field of labor; and George
Q. Cannon, whose fellow-laborer was James Keeler, and their field the
island of Maui.
As the president counseled Brother Morris to go to work at Honolulu,
and Brother Bigler was, therefore, alone, and his island lay convenient
to Maui, he concluded to accompany the two last-named Elders to Maui.
The thought of parting from his companions in a foreign land produces
lonely feelings in the breast of an Elder, but particularly if he be
young and inexperienced. Our consolation on this occasion was that we
were taking the plan whereby we might reap more abundant joy.