Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Missions; Latter Day Saints -- Missionary experiences
Being compelled to beat a retreat may be somewhat disheartening for the
moment, but such an experience is what is needed to develop within the
mind of the missionary a thorough knowledge of the first principles
of the Gospel. With this added knowledge comes enlightenment through
the Holy Spirit, and his testimony of the truth of the Gospel is
strengthened. The more he learns about the Gospel the more beauty and
truth he discovers in it, and the greater is his faith. His interest
in the work grows, his enthusiasm is awakened and he becomes developed
in many ways. He is more anxious to declare his message to the people
and bear testimony to what he knows. His dread of obstacles decreases,
and he actually takes pleasure in surmounting difficulties that arise.
Opposition is a stimulant which he rather likes to meet.
CHAPTER VII.
MIRACULOUS HELP FROM THE LORD.
Elders have often found in their experience that the Lord has helped
them to a remarkable degree in their efforts to qualify themselves for
the labors before them. So much assistance have they received through
His Spirit that they have been astonished with their own utterances
when explaining the principles of the Gospel. While speaking, ideas
have been presented to them which they had never thought of before. And
often additional light has been flashed into their minds upon subjects
they were attempting to elucidate or explain. Many instances have
occurred where missionaries have been blessed with the gift of tongues,
when called to preach to foreign nations. One such instance was related
by Apostle Heber J. Grant in the course of remarks he made in the
Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, November 22, 1896. The narrative as he
gave it is as follows:
"When Brother Maeser was baptized in his native land, he called upon
the Lord in secret prayer, after he came out of the water, and said to
the Lord, 'O Lord, I have obeyed Thy Gospel; I believe in the divinity
of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith with all my heart; I believe
that the angel that was seen to fly in the heavens with the everlasting
Gospel, has come to the earth and restored the Gospel; now, O Father,
manifest unto me one of the signs that shall follow the believer, and I
pledge you that if you give me a witness of the divinity of the work in
which we are engaged, I will, if need be, give my life for that cause.'
After this he walked along asking questions of Brother Franklin D.
Richards, Brother Budge acting as interpreter. Finally when he asked a
question of Brother Richards, Brother Richards told Brother Budge that
he need not interpret that, as he understood it perfectly. Then Brother
Richards answered, and Brother Maeser told Brother Budge that he need
not interpret that, as he understood it perfectly; and they walked
along the street, one talking in English and the other in German, and
each understood the other by the inspiration of the Spirit of God."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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