"Oh, are you the man? We have been hunting for you for a week. I have known you for years, but I had forgotten entirely who you were. We want to know if you are willing to take a mission. Are you?"
"Yes, sir."
At that moment Uncle Joseph Young came in; and Brother Van Cott turned to him and said:
"Uncle Joseph, here's the man we've been looking for so long."
After President Joseph had looked at me for a moment, he said:
"Young man, we want to know if you are willing to take a mission. If you have any excuses to make, though, you may take them to the President's office."
I replied, "Brother Young, I have no excuses to make. I will endeavor to go whenever I am wanted."
I have since been led to marvel, and to thank my Heavenly Father, that the authorities did not drop my name from the list of missionaries at that time, instead of persisting in the search for me. No doubt it has shaped my life, and given me a blessing which will endure beyond this mortality.
I could not be present in the Tabernacle on the following Monday when the call was made, and therefore did not know to what mission I was assigned, until some over-zealous friends rushed into the place where I was employed, and informed me that I was called to Australasia, and offered me their sympathy.
During the remainder of the week I was the recipient of innumerable condolences. One brother said to me: