Died in Service

The Force of Example By Joseph Conrad Fehr

There are emergencies in the lives of everyone which bring one closer to God through prayer. When illness invades the home, the Lord is besought, though he may never have been called upon before. And on the firing line in France I have seen men, hardened in the ways of blasphemy, call upon their Maker in prayerful earnestness, and beseech him to guard and protect them from danger and death. It is easy to pray when in danger. When in want of help, it is easy to go to our best friend and ask him for assistance. But how many of us remember our best friend when we don't particularly need his guiding care? While in France I often promised my heavenly Father that I would never again forget him, if he privileged me to return home to my loved ones. But as soon as I was away from the firing line, card games and funny stories about the hospital stove made me forget my promises, and I often fell asleep without a thought for my heavenly Father who gave me the chance to keep on living. It was not until I boarded the train for Washington, D. C, June 4, and accidentally found myself in the same car with Elder George Albert Smith and family, and Lon J. Haddock, T. M. Wheeler and Virgil B. Stallings, who were leaving Salt Lake for England where Elder Smith is to succeed Elder George F. Richards as president of the European mission, that I saw myself in the true light. When evening came, Brother Smith invited us all into his stateroom, and there we sang the songs of Zion and offered prayer. At first I was afraid of the smiling faces of fellow passengers in the car. But I soon dispelled all qualms in the matter and enjoyed the short service extremely. Other people in the car were, of course, amazed at us. After hearing us sing for a half hour at a time they thought our conduct strange. The porter was asked, time and time again, who we were, and when told that we were "Mormons" they eyed us thoroughly during the entire trip. But there was no animosity in their attitude toward us. None at all. On the contrary, by being sociable with everyone, we were able to do missionary work while traveling. Our be-

896 IMPROVEMENT ERA

havior had excited their curiosity, and question after question was asked us, and in that way we were able to give these seekers after truth much enlightenment upon the gospel. And it occurs to me that if the gospel of Jesus Christ is to go unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples, it is worthy of being taught to the best people — to those of education and breeding and culture, as well as to the illiterate and uneducated. The gospel is for all. It is for the fortunate as well as the unfortunate. If the gospel is the divine truth of the Savior's teaching, then it is worthy of presentation to the Lloyd Georges, Clemenceaus, Wilsons and Balfours, as well as the poor miners and factory hands. Only in being "no respecter of persons" can the Church be leavened into all parts of the world and all classes. If there is one lesson that th? Apostle Paul taught, throughout his missionary career, it is this. How many of our missionaries are willing to approach kings and emperors, high magistrates and learned philosophers with the simple truth of the gospel? While the rest of the apostles were preaching to the ignorant masses of fishermen and street idlers, Paul mingled with the philosophers in Athens and Rome, and analysed Christ's teachings for them in such a manner as appealed to their highly trained minds. Did not King Agrippa tell him, "Thou almost persuadest me?" It was a delight to sit with Apostle Smith and Brother Haddock as they expounded to the prominent business men, college professors, and students, the principles of the faith for which they were leaving their homes. Everybody seemed interested in us and succeeded by means of their amiableness to learn many truths pertaining to the gospel. It was not necessary to go from one to another to bore him with tracts, or detract some gentleman's attention from his magazine. By minding our own business we succeeded in attracting attention which finally brought us into personal touch with every man, woman and child in the car. When I reached Washington, I was sorry to leave the party. T learned to love these men who were going out into the world to serve our God. I felt proud to be a member of the Church in which they are serving God, and to have been privileged to travel with an apostle of the Lord and to get into intimate touch with his charming personality, his character and ideas. The association stimulated my spiritual self. Every minute I learned something more about Christ's truth, and every conversation opened my eyes to its beauties. I shall always remember the trip as one of the beacon lights of my life. If ever I lived the life of a Latter-day Saint as one should live, I did during the four days coming from Salt Lake to Washington, D. C.