Memoirs of John R. Young, Utah Pioneer, 1847Young, John R.
History
Memoirs of John R. Young, Utah Pioneer, 1847
Young, John R.
Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Utah -- Biography; Young, John R., 1837-
At first I as appointed to labor at Honolulu in President Phillip B.
Lewis's tin shop. I was useful in running errands and in collecting
bills. There was a brisk demand for our goods, and our trade was
helpful to the mission in its poverty.
But I was not satisfied: I had no love for tinkering. On the contrary,
feeling that I had been sent to preach the Gospel, I desired above all
things to begin my mission; and though I made no complaint, I prayed
to the Lord about it. As my health was failing, the brethren finally
released me from the tin shop, and appointed me to labor in the Oahu
conference under the presidency of Elder John S. Woodbury.
Having obtained two horses, President Woodbury and I started on a visit
to Waialua, a large settlement on the north side of the island forty
miles from Honolulu. For thirteen miles we passed a continuous string
of villages, including the residence of a high chief, who hailed us,
and asked if I was the son of the Prophet Brigham Young. I told him my
father was the prophet's youngest brother.
"Well then," said he, "you are the prophet's son, and you must stay
with me tonight."
Our horses were soon cared for, and he directed his people to took a
chicken. They caught a Shanghai rooster, and commenced plucking the
feathers before killing. I took the chicken and wrung its neck. Brother
Woodbury mildly cautioned me not to be particular, and especially not
to meddle with their affairs, adding, "When in Rome, you should do as
the Romans do." I thanked him, and profited by the admonition.
When supper was announced, the rooster came on to the table,
"pin-feathers and all." I was hungry, and with difficulty kept from
crying. It was my first genuine Kanaka meal.
President Woodbury stayed a few days at Waialua, held a meeting,
arranged for me to live with Kiama, the priest presiding over the
little branch, then returned to Honolulu, and I was left alone among
the natives.
About a week after this, a woman of the neighboring families died; and
attracted by the wild wailing, I visited the family, saw them wrap
the body in kapa, their home-made paper cloth, then sew it up in a
mat, which prepared it for burial. I next followed the mourners to the
burying ground, where I met their minister, the Rev. Mr. Emerson. He
was a venerable-looking man, and I, being young, unsuspecting of evil,
and feeling kindly toward all men, shook hands with him, and told him
who I was.
I saw him draw Kiama aside, and noticed that he talked angrily to him.
That evening I had no supper, and in the morning, no breakfast. For
the next three days I got no food save as I helped myself from the
neighbors when I would see them eating. Resolving to leave Kiama's, I
went to our grass-thatched, floorless meetinghouse, pulled some grass,
and placing it in one corner, made a rude bed. At night I would button
my coat about me and lie down till too cold to sleep, when I would get
up and run until warm, then go to bed again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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