Take No Thought of the Morrow

TAKE NO THOUGHT OF THE MORROW By J. Lloyd Olpin, Brigham Young University I reached mission headquarters about 8:00 a. m. on Friday. Little did I realize what was in store for me. After the customary interview given by the mission president, I was introduced to my companion with the accompanying remark, "You will go out in the country without purse or scrip on next Monday." I had a fine companion. After a brief conversation with him I discovered that our homes were only six miles apart. We had many things in common. He had been in the mission field six months and was able to give me a good training and bear the burden of the work until I became more efficient. We were going to work in a beautiful country. Western Oregon, with its beautiful rivers winding through everlasting forests of pines, firs, oaks, and almost every kind of tree one can think of, and its beautiful farms and cities, is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Taking everything into consideration we were to have a won- derful trip, as we thought, with the exception of one thing, "With- out purse or scrip," said Elder Singleton. "Never in all my life have I been in a place where I had to ask for entertainment." I had the same feelings but we decided as all missionaries do that we must obey those in authority. The rest of the day was spent preparing for our trip. In accordance with instructions, instead of dressing in the regu- lar missionary clothes, we dressed in hiking clothes and were well fitted for roughing it. We packed our country grips with just as few articles of clothing as were necessary and filled the rest of the space with tracts, Books of Mormon, and other books to distribute and sell by the way. When the dreaded, yet anxiously awaited, Monday morning came, we took twenty-five cents apiece of which we spent twenty-one cents each for a ticket from Portland to Oswego, on the interurban. As the car came to a stop at Oswego, my companion remarked, "This is the place." We picked up our twenty-five pound grips and in a very few minutes real missionary work of the most ancient type began. The first man I tracted was digging along his fence with a pick- axe. As soon as he found out who I was he said, "If you don't get off this place, I'll throw this pick at you." After getting off the place I began thinking that if the people were all going to receive us like that, when we merely wanted to give them a tract, what would it be when we asked for entertainment. I soon had my first opportunity, however, to ask for a meal. It seemed like a long day and it was before we got supper. We did

TAKE NO THOUGHT OF THE MORROW 523 not attempt to get dinner but were very interested in getting into gospel conversations where possible. But all too soon the time came when we must find out where we were to put up for the night. My companion took his first turn, and after being turned down, said to me, "You try the next house." It was a large farm house and from the outside appearance was occupied by a wealthy farmer. As we approached the house the man came up the walk leading a cow to water. I walked up to him. I had my speech all made up: "We are missionaries representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are preaching the gospel depending on the people for entertainment. We would appreciate a meal very much, and in turn would like to explain our doctrine." The answer came promptly, "Well, boys, I've worked ever since I was nine years old, and haven't had to beg a meal yet; I can do nothing for you." I was stunned. My companion spoke up and said, "Thank you, mister." "You don't owe me anything," he said as he turned and walked down the path. Fifteen times that evening we were turned away, sometimes with an apology for not being prepared to entertain, but more gen- erally with an antagonistic attitude toward us because we were "Mor- mons." At 8:00 p. m. we were trudging along the road having walked fifteen miles and tracted forty-five homes. I said to my companion, "Shall we try at this house for entertainment?" It was a nice looking little cottage and seemed to suggest that we would be successful in getting entertainment for the night, but my companion said, "No, let's go down to this little railroad station where we can get under shelter and sit up all night. This kind of missionary work might have been all right nineteen hundred years ago or even ninety years ago, but it won't work today." I did not say anything but concentrated my mind on a prayer for our well being. He told me afterward that the Spirit of the Lord descended upon him at the same time. He began to pray silently for guidance. "We will go in here and ask for some supper," he said. "The Lord has promised that he will take care of us, and I feel sure that these people will provide for us." He knocked on the door and a lady, about fifty years of age, answered. Elder Singleton told her who we were and asked for some supper. I could tell from her appearance and her attitude that she would provide for us if she could, but my hopes temporarily vanished as she started to apologize for not having enough in the house to give us a meal. She had hardly finished her sentence, however, when a voice from within said, "Ah, give them a bite to eat, Mother." Words cannot express how thankful we were as we were escorted into the best room in the house. Upon entering, we discovered that

524 IMPROVEMENT ERA the words which were responsible for our being inside had come from the husband of the lady who answered the door. He was sick in bed and had been so for several days. The evening meal had not been served. The oldest daughter worked in town and did not get home until late. They were waiting for her. Immediately the little girl was sent to the country store a quarter of a mile down the road to get some things for supper. The son, about our own age, after making up the fire in the range for his mother, and getting some wood and water, came and entertained us by showing his kodak albums full of snap shots taken while in the service of "Uncle Sam." By the time the daughter who worked in town arrived, the meal was ready, and we did not have to be called twice to it. It was the best meal I had ever eaten away from home in my life, and I did not hesitate to make it known. It just seemed like a home coming. To make our joy full, the father got up from his sick bed and came out to the kitchen where we were eating and said, "I can't miss this; I must join you." A place was provided for him and he enjoyed a full meal along with us; something he had not enjoyed for several days. By the time the meal was over, interest in our message had be- come so pronounced that no attempt was made to clear away dishes. Neither did it enter our minds again that we had just been invited in to supper. Elder Singleton being well versed in the gospel, gave some very efficient explanations of the fundamental principles of the gos- pel. It made my whole being thrill with joy to note that every mem- ber was extremely interested in what was being said. They were not only interested but were believing it. After two and a half hours of gospel conversation, we were suddenly aroused again to a realization that we must find a place to sleep. We asked for our hats. "You're not going to leave here tonight," said the lady. "We'll fix a place for you to sleep." I know that we had the best bed in the house. They were crowded for room without us, and I could not figure out where they all slept but they were all there to ask us questions the next morning and they kept us busy answering until almost noon. When we left we wanted to leave a Book of Mormon and some other books as pay for the entertainment we had received, but no, they made us accept full pay for the books. "Well, Elder Singleton, if it was all right nineteen hundred years ago it's all right today, isn't it?" I said as we started down the road on our second day of missionary work in the country. "Yes, sir! If Peter and Paul could do it, we can do it, but I don't believe Peter and Paul could do it without the help of the Lord any more than we can; I do know now that the Lord will help us if we let him and put our trust in him. This method of doing mission- ary work is the best there is for finding true believers. I know we have done some good there."

TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW 525 During the next three months Elder Singleton's words were ful- filled to the letter. Upon being called back to headquarters I rejoiced very much to find that the family with whom we spent our first night in the country were intensely interested. The seeds we had sown there were upon fertile ground, and one member of the family had already applied for baptism. Provo, Utah Thought Waves My thought is an ariel reaching far In search of the cosmic zone, And even as far as the topmost star, My wandering thought is known, For thought waves speak in the realms of space. And my thoughts identify, For sullied record may I outrace, For my every thought is I. i i My thought is a magnet that draws to me Whatever I send abroad, The day's content or its loyalty Or my infinite faith in God, For thought waves live and they radiate The innermost depths of me, And they bring me back my love or hate As sure as Eternity. Mesa, Arizona BERTHA A. KLEINMAN Smile Smile, and the world will befriend you, Frown, and you walk alone; Smile, your bed is made of roses, Frown, and vou sleep on a stone. Smile, and bright jewels bedeck you, Frown, and their glitter is gone; Smile, and the world is an Eden, Frown, and a tempest will ^=>wn. Smile, and long years will endow you, Frown, you are aged while in youth; Smile, and then all will be beauty, But frown, and all is uncouth. Smile when troubles overtake you, I know it will be worth while, Nothing kills trouble more quickly, And it's so easy to smile. Dirigo, Ky. ROBERT L. CAMPBELL