BY EDWIN F. PARRY, RECENTLY OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN MISSION, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. AUTHOR OF "A PROPHET OK LATTER DAYS," ETC. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: GEORGE Q. CANNON & SONS CO. PRINTERS. 1899....

The recital of incidnts in human experience is always interesting to the young, and such recitals, if of a proper character, may be listened to or read with profit as well as pleasure. Especially beneficial and interesting are stories of missionary life wherein the wonderful providences of the Lord are shown. They serve to awaken faith and strengthen confidence in God, and teach many valuable lessons. The object sought in presenting this little work to the public is to supply fresh reading matte

CHARACTER OF MEN CALLED AS MISSIONARIES. The manner of conducting missionary work by the Latter-day Saints is unique and marvelous; and the further one inquires into the details of the method the more wonderful it appears. The remarkable features of this work will be better understood when it is known how it is carried on, and what some of its results are. At present the great majority of Latter-day Saint missionaries who are sent out into the world are young men, ranging upward from sixteen yea

FIRST TEMPTATION TO MISSIONARIES. It is not an infrequent occurrence that, when a man is called to take a mission, temptation is at once presented to him to make excuses; and he can see many apparently good reasons why he should be excused from the obligation; and here begins his first struggle. A striking illustration of this is conveyed in the following narrative: Several years ago a man of very moderate pecuniary circumstances, and who had a family of small children dependent upon him for sup

PROVIDENTIAL AID RECEIVED. After accepting a call to fulfill a mission, Elders sometimes find they are without the necessary funds at hand to carry them to their destination. But the assurance that prompts them to respond to the call also gives them confidence that this difficulty can be met and overcome in some way. The feeling that "where there's a will there's a way" seems to actuate their whole being, and very seldom if ever are they disappointed in their expectations. A few years ago a youn

LEAVING HOME THE JOURNEY. One of the first trying experiences a missionary has to endure is that of tearing himself away from his family. The expression "tearing himself away" is not describing too strongly the painful feelings of such an ordeal, for to many this is no trifling experience: it is like tearing one's heartstrings to undergo it, and he feels almost as though he were purposelessly inflicting most cruel torture upon his loved ones regardless of their appeals for mercy. But feeling tha

FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD. The excitement or the interest of travel generally keeps up one's spirits while on the way; but soon the journey is at an end. Arriving at the headquarters of the mission to which they have been appointed, the missionaries are assigned to various conferences or fields of labor. During the short time they have traveled together they have become quite attached to each other. They appreciate one another the more through being alike newly separated from near friends an

LACK OF ABILITY. If he has not done so before, a young missionary, just beginning his labors, will soon discover his lack of ability to express his thoughts as he would like to. He may fully believe in the Gospel or may even have a strong testimony of its truth, yet he will find that it is not so easy to intelligently and fluently explain his reasons for the belief within him. He may be somewhat familiar with passages of scripture that go to prove the truth of the ideas he entertains concerning

MIRACULOUS HELP FROM THE LORD. Elders have often found in their experience that the Lord has helped them to a remarkable degree in their efforts to qualify themselves for the labors before them. So much assistance have they received through His Spirit that they have been astonished with their own utterances when explaining the principles of the Gospel. While speaking, ideas have been presented to them which they had never thought of before. And often additional light has been flashed into their

PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE PEOPLE. The experiences of missionaries in getting the Gospel before the people are varied and interesting. The general method of presenting the message is by distributing tracts from door to door, and seeking in this way to get conversations with the people. In addition to this, meetings are held and the people invited to attend them. In Great Britain and some parts of the United States street preaching is done to a considerable extent when favorable weather permits

DISCOURAGING PROSPECTS—PLEASING RESULTS. It frequently happens that a missionary works until nearly discouraged before he discovers any fruits of his labors. A young man who labored as a missionary in Great Britain some few years ago had an experience of this kind. He and his companion had spent considerable time in one field. They had labored faithfully and earnestly, but saw no favorable result. At last the Elder prayed to know whether he should remain in the district longer or report to his p

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 got

EXPERIENCES IN HOLDING MEETINGS. Many unexpected things happen at meetings held by the Elders in the mission field. A few years ago an Elder in Sweden was holding a meeting. A local preacher attended it, and the people present expected the preacher would be able to refute the doctrines advanced by the "Mormon" missionary; but they were disappointed and no doubt greatly surprised. When the Elder finished speaking the minister knelt down in the meeting and thanked the Lord that he had found the tr

DIVINE GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. Elder J. H. Peterson, a missionary laboring in Kansas, in 1897, relates some of his experience in traveling without purse and scrip, and shows how the Lord opened up the way for him and his companion and provided for their wants. His narrative is as here given: "We arrived at Heber about 4:20 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, and called at the post office for mail, but there was none for us. A gentleman asked us if we were not strangers in the town, and we said we were.

FRIENDS RAISED UP. It is remarkable how the Lord raises up friends to His servants while they are engaged in the ministry. In whatever part of the world they may labor, the Latter-day Saint missionaries meet with those who befriend them in a most unexpected manner. People that become thus friendly are sometimes those who are earnestly seeking the truth and are interested in the Gospel message, at other times they do not accept the Gospel, but continue to remain friendly with the Elders, and go t

SIGNS THAT FOLLOW BELIEVERS. Besides the miraculous aid and protection frequently afforded them in their labors, the missionaries abroad often have occasion to note remarkable manifestations of the Lord's power and goodness towards others. The signs that Christ promised should follow believers are as much in evidence in these days as in former dispensations. The Latter-day Saint Elders witness these signs from time to time among those who accept their testimony and believe the Gospel. Often they

MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIENCES CONCLUSION. Missionaries often go to their fields of labor with a faith and determination that their efforts shall not be in vain. They believe implicitly in the promises made to them by the inspired servants of the Lord who set them apart and bless them before going abroad. A little incident occurred a few years ago which illustrates the trusting faith possessed by some missionaries. A man called at one of the conference houses in Great Britain to inquire if any of the