My First Mission

o the Almighty-The Elders Separate, and Co

ees, with their long feathery leaves, and tall graceful trunks, were growing here and there in the vicinity of the town, and trees of other kinds were also abundant in and around it. Behind Honolulu stretches what is called th

once a volcano burned, but which is now extinct. The name is very suitable, fo

ut fishing. These canoes were merely logs hollowed out; but they were easily managed, and, with the aid of sails, thei

y narrow, and seemed difficult of access, and as we entered, guided by a skillful pilot, a man was kept busy throwing the lead to learn the depth of th

ashore. The monotonous character of their language, their rapid utterance, their numerous gestures, caused us to watch them with interest. We thought them a strange people. I little thought at that time that I wou

ient mountain, on the top of which we found a steep knob that rose

as also the president, was selected to be mouth in prayer. He embodied our desires in his prayer. They were that the Lord would make speedy work on those islands, op

ing promises, and another interpreted. The spirit of the Lord rested powerfully upon us, and we were filled with exce

lt joyful, and when men are joyful and the Spirit of God rests upon them, they feel lithe and activ

we all felt, was at Honolulu. But what must the rest do? Scatter among the other islands, or remain on that island-Oahu-un

how should we decide which island each couple should go to? The president did not like to pair us off, nor to say which of the is

found that I was chosen as one of the four. Never in my life did I feel my weakness more sensibly than on that occ

ieces of paper were marked: one, two, three and four. The one who drew one had the first choice of partners; so with the second, third and fourth n

was at a loss for a few moments whom to select. Then the spirit of

y choice; for I, being so young, and he so much my senior, had though

of them, he had slipped out and prayed to the Lord that I might be led to select

and, and I felt that I would like that to be my field of labor. I knew not why this should have been so, except th

ss. I felt that he was near at hand to hear and answer prayer, and to grant the righteous de

east with such unspeakable happiness, joy and confidence

e their field. The four who were chosen to preside on the other islands were: Henry W. Bigler, whose partner was Thomas Morris, and to whom the island of Molokai fell by lot; John Dixon, whose partner was William Farrer, and whose field

nd Brother Bigler was, therefore, alone, and his island lay convenient

he breast of an Elder, but particularly if he be young and inexperienced. Our consolation