I had been so anxious to learn the language that I would not read any
book in English excepting the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and
Covenants, and had even trained myself to think in that language. I did
this so that I might be thoroughly familiar with it, for I was anxious
to preach the gospel in exceeding plainness unto the people.
Of course, it required an effort on my part to thus train myself; but I
was paid for it all, in the fluency with which I used the language. I
was able to speak and write it with greater ease and correctness than
my mother tongue.
The adversary was not idle at Keanae. We had been very successful in
baptizing the people. The Spirit had been poured out, and much good has
been accomplished; but, no sooner had we gone to Lahaina, to meet the
newly arrived Elders, than the enemy began his operations.
After spending a few days in Lahaina, I returned to Kula and remained
a short time there. I felt impressed to go from there to Keanae. Some
of the native brethren wished me to stop till the end of the week, and
they would accompany me; but I could not stop, I felt that I was needed
for some cause at Keanae.
My impressions were correct. The people of Keanae were in great
trouble. They had been assailed by enemies from every side, and those
who were weak in the faith were in perplexity. Some had turned away,
not being able to withstand the pressure. The Presbyterian missionary
of that district had been there, and had done all in his power to
blacken our characters, to deride our doctrines and to persuade the
people to forsake the Church. Two Frenchmen, Catholic priests, had also
been there, and they had done all in their power to frighten the people
from the truth. Another Presbyterian missionary had sent one of his
native preachers there for the same purpose.
It seemed as if the devil had set all his agencies into operation to
destroy the work of God, and they told all the lies that could be
brought to bear against us. The French priest had said that we ought to
be driven out of the place and off the island, and had circulated many
false reports about us. The Presbyterian missionary had visited the
houses of the people, and had brought all his influence to bear upon
them.
Brother Keeler had been there part of the time; but his want of the
language troubled him greatly, as he had not acquired it sufficiently
at the time to enable him to counteract these lies or to make full
explanations concerning them.
I learned that many of the Saints were doubting, and they had been
praying to the Lord for me to return. This was the cause of my anxiety
to get back. The Lord hears the prayers of those who pray to Him in
faith, and hundreds of instances like this have occurred within my
knowledge.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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