Sketches of Missionary Life

by Edwin F. Parry

A similar occurrence took place in another conference of the same mission about the same time as that just related. A missionary had spent some eighteen months in one town. During that time he had several companions one after the other who labored with him, and between them they tracted the town quite thoroughly. Their labors in other directions to get the Gospel before the people were also diligently pursued, but apparently without any good results. The Elder who had spent so much time there was then released to return home, his last companion missionary was sent to another field, and others took their places in this particular town. It was not long, however, before these new missionaries began to reap a harvest of souls as the result of their predecessors' planting of the Gospel seed. A number of people were baptized within a few weeks, and, with the few old members of the Church residing in the town, a lively branch was established there. This happy result was of course greatly due to the efforts of the Elders who first labored there so long and faithfully, and who, no doubt at times felt discouraged at the prospects before them.

Missionaries are frequently led in a strange way to those who are searching after the truth; and often people of this character are brought in contact with the Elders in a remarkable manner. Not long since some missionaries were laboring in a certain district in England. In performing their duties they frequently passed a certain shop or store in the neighborhood of their lodging place. The gentleman who kept the shop, as well as his wife, noticed them pass the door, and recognized that they were Americans. Soon their interest in these strange men was awakened. They did not know that they were ministers of the Gospel, but felt impressed to make their acquaintance. At last the shop-keeper requested his wife to invite them in the next time they passed, stating that he desired to talk with them. His good wife soon saw one of the Elders passing and she stepped out and asked him if he and his companions would call and have a talk with her husband when they had the time to spare. Of course the missionaries were quite willing to comply with the request. They were looking for opportunities to present their message to the people. When they called to visit the family they explained their business, taught them the Gospel, which the man and his wife gladly accepted; and soon the Elders were made to feel as much at home in their midst as though they had been acquainted for years.

The following is an incident of missionary experience that recently occurred in Ireland: Two young Elders were one day distributing tracts in a small village. One visited on one side of the only street in the place and his companion took the opposite side. While going along in the performance of this duty one of the missionaries called at a place where he found a man and his wife digging potatoes. A tract was offered to the man, but he was not in a humor to receive "Mormon" literature, so he gruffly ordered the Elder off his premises, adding the threat that if he did not go he would brain him with his spade. His wife was not so unkind, and she remarked that she would accept the tract, saying that it would not do her any harm. "And where are ye from?" she inquired, recognizing the Elder was a stranger to the country. The young man replied that he was from Utah, in America. "From Utah!" she exclaimed, "and do you know our Micky?" The Elder replied that he could not say as to that, for he did not know what the full name of her son might be. "He works in the——mine, in Utah, do you know him!" said the woman in her anxiety to hear what he knew about her far-off son. The young man said he also had worked in that same mine, and if she would state his name he could answer the question. She at once gave her son's name, and sure enough he was known to the missionary. "O, yes," said he, "I am acquainted with him. We used to sleep in the same bunk!" With this the old lady clasped the young man in her arms exclaiming, "The Lord bless ye; and ye're acquainted with our Micky! and his father was goin' to brain ye wid the shpade!" She held to the young man and wept for joy. The missionary's companion, seeing from a distance the woman's actions, thought his friend was in trouble and hastened to the premises. The situation was soon made clear to him, and both were invited into the house and treated with the greatest of kindness.

CHAPTER X.

EFFECT OF HEARING THE GOSPEL.

There is no way of telling just how much good one does in distributing tracts and in bearing his humble testimony to the people, or how far-reaching are the results of his efforts. In a letter written by Apostle Anthon H. Lund from Stockholm, Sweden, to the Millennial Star is related the following incident.

"How a tract may preach the Gospel and bring conviction to the soul was illustrated in the case of a lady in Angermanland, related by Elder Holmgren. She had gotten hold of a tract called 'The Voice of Truth,' written by Erastus Snow. She learned it nearly by heart, and not knowing the address of the Saints, she wrote to the president of the 'Mormons' in Salt Lake City, and from there the Elders here were informed of her address. They found her anxiously awaiting them, and at once she obeyed the Gospel. She keeps a little store, and is always ready to explain our doctrines to her customers."

Another similar circumstance is related by Apostle Lund. In substance it is here given: A gentleman whose residence was in Belgium, while on a visit to London, met one of our missionaries, who gave him a pamphlet setting forth our doctrines. The gentleman took it home, and, out of curiosity, read it through. He was deeply impressed with its contents, and became anxious to see a "Mormon" Elder, but could not get the address of any. He therefore wrote to the President of the Church, asking for more information concerning the Gospel and inquiring where he could find some missionary of the Church. The letter of inquiry was forwarded to the president of the Netherlands Mission, who sent an Elder to visit the writer of it. The Elder called upon the inquirer after truth, and the latter listened with deep interest to the explanations of the Gospel. Before the Elder left the city the gentleman requested baptism.

Many years ago a gentleman heard a Latter-day Saint missionary proclaiming the Gospel in an open-air meeting in India. He heard nothing further of the message at that time. He afterwards returned to his native country, Great Britain, and not long ago heard some of our Elders preaching in a meeting in South Wales. The first testimony he heard had made a lasting impression upon his mind, and when he again heard the same glorious message he investigated the claims set forth by the Elders and accepted the Gospel.