Chapter I: Front Matter

My First Mission

The First Book of the Faith-Promoting Series

By George Q. Cannon

Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.

Second Edition

Juvenile Instructor Office, Salt Lake City, 1882

_My First Mission_ entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1879, by Geo. Q. Cannon, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Electronic edition produced by the Mormon Texts Project.

Volunteers who helped with this book: Meridith Crowder, Ben Crowder, Tod Robbins, Matt Barron.

Version 1.0

Preface to the First Edition

The first chapter of this little work I wrote as a sketch for the perusal of the youthful readers of the _Juvenile Instructor_. It was written hastily--as were those which followed it--and without any author's name, or any intention, at the time, of adding any more to it. Afterwards, I concluded to write a series of missionary sketches; but when these were written I did not have any intention of publishing them in their present form. They were penned in a plain, familiar and personal style, for the purpose of securing the interest of young people.

When a youth, it was my good fortune to live in the family of President John Taylor. It was my chief delight in those days, to listen to him and other Elders relate their experience as missionaries. Such conversations were very fascinating to me. They made a deep impression upon me. The days of which they spoke, were the days of poverty, when Elders traveled without purse and scrip, among strange people who were ignorant of our principles, and too many of whom were ready to mob and persecute. They traveled by faith, and were pioneers for the Lord in strange lands, and He was their only reliance. Their missions were rich in instances of His power exhibited in their behalf. What I heard strengthened my faith and increased the desire in my heart to be a missionary. No calling was so noble in my eyes as that of a standard-bearer of the gospel.

The thought which prompts me to publish _My First Mission_ is that perhaps it may have the effect upon some of the youth of Zion that the recitals of faithful Elders had upon me. I hope that this will soon be followed by other little volumes of this, the _Faith-Promoting Series_. I have thought that the missionary spirit did not burn as brightly in some of our young men as it should--that they did not understand the value of human souls in the sight of the Lord and the precious rewards which He bestows upon those who seek, in the proper way, to save them. And yet there never was greater need of faithful men as missionaries than there is to-day. "The field is white already to harvest," and there is no limit in the field to the opportunities of those who desire to labor.

If this little work shall have the effect to awaken and strengthen the missionary spirit, if the remembrance of its incidents, shall comfort the hearts and promote the faith of any when they go upon missions, the utmost desire will be gratified of

The Author

September 1879

Preface to the Second Edition

Two-and-a-half years have elapsed since the first edition of _My First Mission_ was published. It was the first work of the kind issued, and the success of the venture, financially, was by no means certain at that time. It is not too much to say now, that our most sanguine expectations in commencing the publication of the _Faith-Promoting Series_ have been more than realized. _My First Mission_ soon became popular; the 6,000 copies of the first edition are all disposed of, and there is a demand for more. Four other volumes of the same series have also been issued, and received with equal favor; indeed, it seems that each volume issued creates a taste for another. We expect very soon to issue the sixth volume of the series and that will be followed by others as fast as our circumstances will permit. The good that has already been accomplished by these books, if we may accept the numerous testimonies we are constantly receiving, cannot be estimated; and yet we feel that the work in this direction has only just commenced. That it may continue until such works will abound in the midst of the Saints, and until the youth will be influenced by them to live lives of purity and perform deeds of righteousness, is the earnest desire of

The Publisher

March 1882

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Timidity When Attempting to Speak in Public--Determination to Persevere, Relying Upon God--Assuring Manifestation of the Presence of the Spirit of God

Chapter 2

From San Francisco to Honolulu--Storm and Sea-sickness

Chapter 3

Honolulu, Its Location and Harbor--Prayer to the Almighty--The Elders Separate, and Commence Labor on the Four Principal Islands

Chapter 4

Our House on Maui--Interviews With the Consul and Governor--Our First Public Preaching--We Determine to Learn the Language and Proclaim the Gospel to the Natives

Chapter 5

Kindness of Na-Lima-Nui--To Honolulu--Some of the Elders Decide to Return Home

Chapter 6

I Return to Maui--We Are Visited by the President of the Mission, Who Determines to Go to the Marqueses Islands--Are Not Led to Go With Him--"Poi," Its Preparation and Peculiarities

Chapter 7

Start on a Tour Around the Island--Arrive at Wailuku--In a Remarkable Manner Become Acquainted With J. H. Napela

Chapter 8

A Missionary's Craft in Danger--He Preaches Against Us and Our Doctrines, and Abuses Our Friends--His Remarks, However, Are Overruled for Our Good--The Lord's Promise Fulfilled--I Go to Kula

Chapter 9

Another Attack from a Missionary--Courage in Defending the Truth Always Admired--Poverty of the People

Chapter 10

Successful Meetings--Our Principles Receiving Great Notice--Elder Keeler and Myself Go to Keanae and Have Remarkable Success in Adding Members to the Church

Chapter 11

Arrival of New Elders--The Adversary Busy Among Our Newly Converted Friends--A Fishing Scene

Chapter 12

Interview With the Dignitaries of the Kingdom--Return to Napela's House at Wailuku--Hundreds of People Baptized--Elders Become Famous All Over the Group--A Remarkable Peculiarity

Chapter 13

Missionaries from Home--Good Results of Their Presence and Labors--Voyage in the Canoe of the Islanders--Tradition of the Natives--A Visit to the Volcano

Chapter 14

A Hawaiian Feast--Amusing Joke Played Upon White Men

Chapter 15

Answers to Prayer, and the Bestowal of the Gifts upon the Elders and People--Elders Sent to Teach Not to Be Taught--Blessings Will Rest Upon Those Who Labor Among the Red Men for Their Salvation

Chapter 16

Consolation Drawn from the Book of Mormon--Its Translation into the Hawaiian Language--Great Joy in the Labor--A Committee to Raise Funds to Purchase a Press, Type, etc.--Press, etc., Ordered, and Then Sent to California--The Book of Mormon Printed--The First Translation into the Language of a Nation of Red Men--Kindred Languages Spoken Through the Polynesian Islands--The "Western Standard"

Chapter 17

Time of Departure--Funds Provided--Sorrow at Separating--Contrast Between Our Landing and Our Departure--Souls for Our Hire--An Exceedingly Happy Mission