Start on a Tour Around the Island--Arrive at Wailuku--In a Remarkable
Manner Become Acquainted With J. H. Napela
It was during a very wet season that I told the people I was going
around the island. They thought it a great undertaking, and tried
to persuade me not to go. I evidently had their sympathies; I was
boyish-looking, and they called me a _keiki_, which in their language
literally means "a child."
Many times as I traveled along they would take my valise from me and
carry it; and when I came to a stream of water, they would pack me
across it.
I passed through a number of villages, over a very rough, hilly
country, and late one night reached the town of Wailuku.
Up to this time, though I had been treated very kindly, I had not met
with the persons whom I had been led to expect, by the manifestations
of the Spirit, would receive my testimony.
The main part of the town of Wailuku was on the other side of a stream,
in attempting to cross which I got wet.
There were some missionaries living here, and as I passed through the
town, I hoped that I should get an opportunity of being introduced to
them; for I had made it a rule, thus far, not to pass a missionary
without bearing testimony to him respecting my mission. But I was dusty
and toil-worn, and felt some diffidence about introducing myself.
By this time I had partly come to the conclusion that, as the weather
was so unfavorable I would return to Lahaina; and in passing through
Wailuku I took a road which I thought led in that direction. I had
scarcely got out of the town when I felt impressed to return, the
Spirit telling me that if I would do so I should get an opportunity of
being introduced to the missionary who resided there.
As I passed the churchyard two half-white women emerged from a house
near by, and when they saw me they called to some men who were in the
house _"E ka haole!"_ which means, "Oh, the white man!" This they
repeated two or three times, calling at the same time one of the men by
name.
As I walked along towards the picket fence, three men came out of the
house, and stepped up towards the gate. When I got opposite to them I
saluted them, being greeted by them in return.
I had passed but a few feet when the leader of the men inquired of me
where I was going. I told them I thought of returning to Lahaina, on
account of the weather. He said that as this was Saturday, I had better
stop until Monday with him.
He inquired of me who and what I was, and upon my informing him, his
desire to have me stay was increased. I went into the house with
him, and, after some little conversation, and an invitation to eat
food, which he offered. He proposed that we should go up and see the
missionary.
This was what I wanted, and I embraced his proposal gladly.
The missionary's name was Conde; he was a native of Connecticut, and
had been sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions.
We had a very pleasant conversation, during which he made many
inquiries respecting Utah, my object in coming to the islands, and our
belief. He said he could not believe anything in modern revelation; but
expressed a wish to read some of our works.
I lent him the _Voice of Warning_, though I had little hope of it
having any effect on him, as he had condemned the doctrines before he
had heard or read them.
The moment I entered into the house of this native and saw him and his
two friends, I felt convinced that I had met the men for whom I had
been looking.
The man who owned the house was a judge, and a leading man in that
section. His name was Jonatana H. Napela. It was he who visited
Salt Lake City in 1866, in company with Elder George Nebeker. His
companions' names were Uaua and Kaleohano. They were all three
afterwards baptized and ordained to be Elders, Napela has since died in
the faith, and the others are still members of the Church.
They were graduates of the high school in the country, fine speakers
and reasoners, and were men of standing and influence in the community.
Napela was every anxious to know my belief, and wherein our doctrines
differed from those taught by the missionaries in their midst. I
explained to him, as well as I could, our principles, with which he
seemed very well satisfied. But next day after the service in their
church, Mr. Conde called Napela and a number of the leading men
together, and endeavored to poison their minds against our doctrines,
by telling all kinds of lies about the Prophet Joseph and the people of
Utah.
I learned this at supper by the inquiries which Napela and a number of
his friends who were present, made of me. Their questions were of such
a nature as to prove to me that somebody had been telling them lies. I
afterwards learned that it was the missionary's work.
The Spirit rested powerfully upon me and I told them I had the truth,
and besought them, as they valued their souls, not to reject it until
they could understand it for themselves; that I should soon be able to
explain it fully unto them; that the principles were contained in the
Bible, and were eternal truth. They were melted to tears, and promised
me that they would not decide that our principles were false until they
had a full opportunity of judging for themselves; which promise, I am
happy to say, most of them kept, and I had the pleasure of baptizing
them into the Church.
I am particular in mentioning this circumstance to show the boys who
may read this work that, when they go on missions, and they are in the
line of their duty, it is their privilege to have revelations from the
Lord to guide them in all their steps. I was led to expect, before I
left Lahaina, that I would find those who would receive me. Up to the
time I reached Wailuku, I had not found them, and then when I thought
it best to go back by another road, and through other villages, to
Lahaina, I was told if I would return into Wailuku that I should obtain
my desire in getting an interview with the missionary.
The half-white women who saw me were Napela's wife and her sister.
There was something very remarkable in their crying out as they did to
him and his companions in the house when they saw me. They met whites
very frequently, and it was nothing strange for them to pass as I did.
This was often alluded to in conversations which we had afterwards,
and they wondered why they should have done so. I know that it was the
Lord's doings; for if they had not called out, I should have passed
unnoticed and missed them. To my sight, the Lord's hand was plainly
visible in it all, and I thanked Him for His mercy and goodness.