Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Missions; Latter Day Saints -- Missionary experiences
A young man who lately returned from the mission field related that
when he first arrived in his place of labor he felt symptoms of
home-sickness. He determined to shake off the feeling at once, and went
out to deliver tracts and seek to get Gospel conversations with the
people. The first man he met opposed him and used considerable abuse.
This treatment aroused him to put forth efforts to defend the cause
he represented as well as his own character, for both were attacked.
It also furnished a favorable opportunity for doing so, as the man
made charges which he felt fully able to refute. The young man did not
retaliate with abuse, but patiently and in a kindly spirit undertook
to set the truth before his misinformed opponent. His pleasant manner
and humble spirit conquered his antagonist and made him a lasting
friend. The missionary received a standing invitation to his house,
and besides this the gentleman who first opposed afterwards, with his
family, attended meetings and they all became interested in the Gospel.
The missionary continued his active efforts and had no more feelings
of home-sickness. He subsequently became one of the most energetic and
successful workers in the field.
Quite a number of missionaries who at first have become somewhat
discouraged, and partially made up their minds to return home, have had
dreams just at the critical time, and have been influenced thereby to
continue in the field. They have dreamed that they had returned home
without fulfilling their mission. The humiliation and chagrin they
experienced in their dreams appeared so real that they have thereby had
their minds changed by it, and once more determined to continue their
efforts.
There have been instances where missionaries have returned home
on account of home-sickness, but almost invariably they have felt
dissatisfied with themselves until they have returned to their fields
of labor and made a more successful effort to fill a mission.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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