May 24, 1947 (Saturday):
Met a man who had been in the Sea bees and we had quite a conversation, and the conversation lead to questions on why we were here. He was quite interested and wanted to come back and talk with us, and so he promised to come back next week. During evening we went out to Waihee Mission home where all the missionaries had a party.
May 25, 1947 (Sunday):
We went to Church both evening and morning in Wailuku. In afternoon we had dinner by ourselves at home. In the evening I spoke for about 25 minutes in Wailuku, upon the subject “The Business of Life.”
In Dad’s papers were his notes for this talk, labeled “Wailuku - May 25/47,” as follows:
The Business of Life
1. Preparations
2. Transactions - Quality of merchandise
3. Goals and aims
4. Inventory - Profit and Loss
I 1. Business
a. To earn a livelihood
b. To benefit our fellowmen.
2. Business of Life
“We are here to live, to spread intelligence and knowledge among the people. I am here to school my brethren, to teach my family the way of life, to propagate my species, and to live, if in my power, until sin, inequity, corruption, hell and the Devil, and all classes and grades of abominations are driven from the earth. That is my religion and the object of my existence. We are not here merely to prepare to die, and then die; but we are here to live and build up the Kingdom of God on earth - to promote the priesthood, overcome the powers of Satan and teach the children of man that they are created for - that in them is concealed the germ of all intelligence. Here is the starting point - the foundation that is laid in the organization of man for receiving a fullness of eternal knowledge and glory. Are we to go yonder to obtain it? No, we are to promote it on this earth.” (Brigham Young Discourses Pg 90)
II. 1. Business Preparation
a. Education, apprenticeship
b. experience
2. Preparation for business of Life
a. Prepare to live not to die.
1. never let a day pass without saying that this is the best day I have ever lived, but, I will better tomorrow.
b. Study - educate
D&C 93:53 “And verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should obtain a knowledge of histories and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man.”
D&C 88:118 “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Proverbs 4:4-7 “Therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding”
c. Remain humble, be charitable
III. Business practice
1. Three “C’s” for banking.
a. character
b. collateral
c. capacity
2. Proper merchandising - put materials on shelf and keep moving, don’t keep hidden.
a. parable of talents
Lord of servants gave out 8 talents
1. man got five
2. man got 2
3. man got 1
He told them to invest and he would be back for an accounting. When he came back the first 2 had double their talents. Third said “Well Lord, I know you are a hard taskmaster you expect to reap where you do not sow and I was fearful that I would lose the talent, and therefore I buried it and so here it is.”
3. Salesmanship. If someone were to tell you, I have the secret of health and strength; I have the secret of wisdom ; I have the secret of intellectual riches, you would listen to him. We have all of this if we magnify what we have. We must preach the gospel to every kindred tongue and people.
4. Advertising. Compare condition of chapel grounds to what it should be.
5. Obstacles and goals: codes of practice The Savior said. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added.” Always have goal clearly in view. Mat. 7:19-21
In road to success we are the greatest handicaps that we must face. (poem by Pres McKay)
IV. What we earn - Profit and Loss
Actual Business, we profit according to our ability to deal and our actions. When Savior was on the earth he taught that “As we sow, so shall we reap.” In Latter days the Lord has taught the same doctrine that there is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven upon which all blessings are predicted, and whenever any blessing s are received, they are in obedience to these laws.” He gave us the following scriptures in connection with this. “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, you have no promise.”
What will our reward be in heaven? Paul in speaking to the Corinthians said, “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.” Jesus said in talking to his apostles “In my Fathers house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you etc.
We should think not only of the world to come - In minds of most of us eternity is a long way off - we should therefore think of happiness here and now as well as in eternity. Now can be so happy as those who are serving our Lord and who are faithful to the teachings of the gospel.
Christ. “Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels shall save for what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.”
May 26, 1947 (Monday):
Worked in office as usual during day and then in evening the Sol. Moikeha family came to visit us. We showed them pictures of southern Utah, later, they sang.
May 27, 1947 (Tuesday):
I talked to Pres. Smith from Honolulu, and he said he would arrive on Maui next Tuesday. In evening we went to Mutual in Wailuku.
May 30, 1947 (Friday):
Memorial Day, and we worked in the office getting out reports[25] - In late afternoon we took a nap. At night, we went to Iao Theatre and saw “Humoresque” - a fine picture.
May 31, 1947 (Saturday):
In the morning we woke early and did the washing, after which a group of missionaries went out to Kihei Beach, where we went swimming, had lunch and above all, got sunburned. It was in honor of Gretta Croft who is released and returning home. Present were her sister Alice, Sis’s Hunter, Musser, Cheney, Elder Cheney and Elder Kamanoha. In the evening Sis Afoon invited us over for a get together in honor of the Crofts.
June 1, 1947 (Sunday):
We attended Sunday School and priesthood at Kahului after which we rode out to the Airport to see the Crofts off to Honolulu. In afternoon we relaxed, took a nap, and for evening meeting stayed in Wailuku.
June 2, 1947 (Monday):
Usual day in the office, and then in evening we went to see “I’ve Always Loved You,” and thought it one of the best shows I have ever seen.
June 3, 1947 (Tuesday):
Worked in office in morning, and Marg prepared food for a party with her religious education class. Pres & Sis. Smith and Julian arrived in the early afternoon - and then all of the missionaries around Wailuku were invited to attend dinner given in his honor by Bro. Pia Cockett and wife. We were all impressed with their humility and I believe that this will win the confidence and love of the missionaries.
Pres. Smith told the following story that took place while he was President of the mission in 1921. He first prefaced the story with the story of George Q. Cannon’s journey from Lahaina to Wailuku.
George Q. Cannon felt that he should come to Wailuku, and so he took all his possessions and wrapped them in a handkerchief and started on his way. He came by way of a canyon pass instead of over a road as we now have - the place where the road is was all cliffs and of course impassable. As he was coming down Iao Canyon into Wailuku, he had to cross the Wailuku river in order to get there, and so at a likely place, he started to pick his way across on the protruding rocks instead of taking off his clothes and wading as he should have done. When he was part way across, he slipped and fell in, and soaked himself. His clothes shrunk up, and he became discouraged and started back to Lahaina. When he did this the Savior spoke to him and told him to turn around and finish his journey, and that someone would be raised up in Wailuku to care for him. At this time a man named Napela received a vision of G.Q.C. and in it was told that he should care for him, and that he was doing the Lord’s work. Napela then gave his daughter a description of G.Q.C. and told her to go out on the road and wait for him - he did come along shortly and Napela took him in and later the Book of Mormon was translated into Hawaiian at this man’s home. Shortly afterwards, they went to Pulehu and preached to a group of 100 people. Napela hearing testimony about what had happened to him and G.Q.C. said that all but 3 in the group were to him a white and delightsome people. 97 were baptized and those three were not. The people at that meeting said that George Q. Cannon stood above the ground.
In 1921 Apostle David O. McKay and Pres. Hugh J. Cannon were called to tour the missions of the Church. They had toured several and Pres. Cannon was usually a jovial sort, but when they came to Hawaii he lost this quality and became quiet, and kept everything to himself. Pres. Smith toured the Islands with them - when they came to Maui, David Keola Kailimai accompanied them on a visit to Pulehu. When they arrived there Bro McKay said “I feel that this is sacred ground, and that we should take our hats off and pray.” They joined in a circle and David O. McKay was mouth, and he gave a marvelous prayer. After the prayer Bro. Kailimai spoke to Pres. Smith and asked him if he had seen the personage in white that had come into their midst, and went on to relate that while the prayer was being given he felt the presence of someone and he opened his eyes and saw a personage in white extending his hand, standing above the ground. Pres. Smith replied that he hadn’t seen anyone because his eyes were closed, but that he had never before felt any thing like it. Pres. Smith then told Pres. McKay but received no immediate reply. In the meantime Pres. Cannon disappeared for a while and when he came back, he came from behind the chapel and he was weeping. They got in the car and proceeded on their way and then Pres. McKay spoke up and said the veil was very thin and George Q. Cannon, Jos F. Smith and others were there. At that point Pres. Cannon lifted his head from his hands and said that there was no veil, and then not a word was said after that for some time. What Pres. Cannon saw we do not know but it must have been marvelous. After that he became his jolly self again[26].
June 6, 1947 (Friday):
I worked hard getting out first monthly financial report - it is quite an education, and it will prove to be valuable. Pres. Smith wore his Aloha shirt most of the day and he is winning his way into the hearts of the missionaries. It is such a change after Pres. Murphy.
June 7, 1947 (Saturday):
Did the washing in the morning and then went to work in the office and finished up reports. Around noon we picked up Julian Smith and drove out to Kalama park where we swam, had lunch and spent the afternoon. Julian is an interesting fellow and one that will have no trouble getting along in the world.
June 8, 1947 (Sunday):
In the morning we went out to Waikapu and again enjoyed fine spirit of the Enos family. After that meeting we came in and had dinner at Sis Afoon’s along with Pres. & Sis Smith and Julian. Chinese food was the bill of fare and I quite enjoyed most of the things. In the afternoon we all went to Union meeting, and while there, the priesthood had a bitter session about the forthcoming conference, and I felt quite upset about it. After the reassembly I felt impressed that I was going to be called on to pray, and I was. The prayer I uttered called on the people to be unified in spirit, and never have I felt words come so easily to me. In the evening about ten missionaries and the Smiths went out to Lahaina - a quartet sang (Marg, Sis Hunter, Eld. McBeth and myself) and Pres. Smith and two elders spoke. The meeting had a fine spirit and I was impressed with the sacredness of the ground. After the meeting we all went over to Sis. Sylva’s for refreshment.
June 9, 1947 (Monday):
In the evening the Smiths came over, and Pres. Smith told of an experience that he had had while he was here in 1919. He had come over here as a relatively young man to take over the Presidency of the Mission. It was just before the time that the Temple was to be dedicated. He met with much opposition and impoliteness, and he had many trials. He became so upset that he called upon the Lord and asked why it should be his lot to have these because he had always lived a righteous life. A night or so later, he was sitting in his home studying and Sis Smith was in bed - suddenly the door flew open by a gust of wind - he got up to shut it and as he did, a hideous creature walked in and with raised hands went for his throat. Then a light appeared in back of Bro. Smith and descended into his hands (he had lifted to protect himself) and it was in the form of a sword, and he heard a voice say “It’s your Priesthood.” the creature upon seeing this started and immediately backed out of the door and disappeared. Shortly thereafter - an elder upon the Island of Kauai sent in a query asking whether or not Cain was still alive and referred to Book of Moses, P of GP. chap 5:39. Pres. Smith not knowing wrote and asked his Brother, Joseph Fielding Smith, then the church Historian and apostle. He replied and referred to the writings of apostle W.W. Patten, the first martyr of the Church. Bro. Patten was in the Southern States on a mission, and was riding along the road one day on a mule. And he came along side a hairy Negro man with bulging eyes and apparently naked, and he stood even with Bro. Patten while he was sitting on the mule. Bro Patten asked him where his home was and found that had had no home, and he had been wandering the earth year upon end. When asked who he was, he said “I am Cain,” and most miserable among men. I have tried to kill myself but with no success, and so I am destroying other people. Bro. Patten commanded him to be gone in the name of Jesus Christ. When Pres. Smith read this he recognized the description as being that of the man had had seen - he again wrote his brother and told him and received reply that according to History, a temple has not been dedicated in which the adversary had not tried to have his way.
June 10, 1947 (Tuesday):
We went to the exercises at the Waihee school in which Alaire Akima graduated and she invited us to attend. After we went to the uniki, the Hula dance festival and it was very colorful.
June 11, 1947 (Wednesday):
Kamehameha Day in Hawaii and we went to parade and celebration. In the afternoon all of the Maui Missionaries went to the beach.
June 12, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening we were visited by Julian Smith and he stayed until evening was past salvage. After we went over to Smiths for refreshments.
June 13, 1947 (Friday):
Nine months of wedded bliss - not an unlucky day.
June 14, 1947 (Saturday):
Arose early, cleaned yard and did washing, and then in the afternoon we went to the beach. The wind was terrific and the sun was very hot, and the combination gave me a bad burn. In the evening it itched so badly that I almost went crazy. We phoned Dr. Fleming and he fixed us up[27].
June 15, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended church at Wailua in morning and then in evening we went out to Waihee for a fireside. In the afternoon, Elder Bennett came and visited us after five weeks on Kauai. The Lahaina elders were stranded and so they had lunch with us.
June 16, 1947 (Monday):
We went to a candy pull at Waihee mission home.
June 18, 1947 (Wednesday):
In the afternoon all of the missionaries had a meeting with Pres. Smith for about 3 hours. He told us of his visit to the Isle of Hawaii. He showed a wonderful spirit. Elder Bennett ate with us and then we went out to Whitfords where we showed our pictures of Indians.
June 20, 1947 (Friday):
We went to show “California” with Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwych. Accompanying us were Elders Cheney and Bennett and Sis. Hunter and Cheney with Julian Smith. Earlier in the evening I started an algebra class to meet twice a week with Muriel Enos and Ululani Kamauoha.
June 21, 1947 (Saturday):
The longest day in the year and also, the Folk’s wedding anniversary[28]. We washed in the morning, and then took a ride with Beverly Akuna and Alaire - Julian left for Honolulu. In the evening we went over and visited the Smiths and were told that we would remain here until the baby is born.
June 22, 1947 (Sunday):
We went to Kihei Branch and then Bro. Pia Cockett invited us to his home for dinner. In the evening we picked up the Cheneys and drove to Lahaina where all four of us spoke - There was a very fine spirit present at the meetings and Marg did exceptionally well - she seemed to overflow.
June 24, 1947 (Tuesday):
Work as usual and in evening we went out to Wailuku Branch Closing Mutual social at Kamaole Park, a beach near Kihei. We took over dinner but didn’t go in swimming.
June 26, 1947 (Thursday):
Finished up Maui District Report and was a relief to get it out of the way until next month. In evening had algebra with just Ulu. Apparently it was too much for Muriel Enos.
June 27, 1947 (Friday):
In the evening we visited the Pentecostal Church in Happy Valley and it was very interesting. After the meeting, Elder Bennett was called on to lats[?] and he told them straight from the shoulder, and they were all awed if nothing else. After meeting, Afoon took us to a show at the Iao - “The Love of Andy Hardy.”
June 28, 1947 (Saturday):
Cleaned up yard and did washing in the morning, and then in the afternoon Elders McBeth and Barret, Neeley, Parry and Marg and I went out to the beach and the swimming was marvelous. We feel asleep in the early evening and did not awake to morning.
June 29, 1947 (Sunday):
Went to Priesthood and Sunday School at Wailuku. In afternoon we decided along with Elder Bennett to ask Sis Smith to go out to dinner. We walked all over town in search of a restaurant that was open and couldn’t find one, and so we came back and ate sandwiches. For Sacrament meeting, we sang a duet at Wailuku and it seemed to go over very well.
June 30, 1947 (Monday):
Elder Bennett was moved into Wailuku and he will eat with us for the remainder of his stay here.
July 1, 1947 (Tuesday):
Four new missionaries arrived today, and their names are Elders Quilter, Hebdon and Pettegrew and Sis Ehlert. They were assigned to Maui until conference convenes on the 24th.
July 3, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening I had my algebra class with Ululani and Muriel. Muriel brought in a papaya and some chocolate cake her mother had baked. After that we visited with Sis. Enos, Williet Enos, Afoon, Pre-Fourth of July fireworks were much in evidence.
July 4, 1947 (Friday):
I arose early and did the washing, and after that I did some of the required things in office in spite of holiday. In the afternoon, all of the missionaries in this area went out to Kamaole Park, and there we had a fine swim in wonderful breakers. The breakers were almost too high and they would spin you until it almost knocked you senseless. In feeling my onions, I dived into a wave and missed it and hit the sand bottom with quite a jolt, and it left a bump on my head. After the swim, we had hot dogs and all the trimmings. I found that I had forgotten the hotdogs and so I drove back to Wailuku to get them. After eating we took another dip and then came in.
July 5, 1947 (Saturday):
The Elders went down to a former Army camp to help clean up in preparation for the centennial celebration. The incoming people from other Islands will stay there. Poor organization was much in evidence and it took a long time to do a little. In evening we went to see Butch Jenkins in “My Brother Talks to Horses” with Elder Bennett.
July 6, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended Sunday School at Waikapu with Enos family. We returned and went to Grand Hotel for dinner. In the afternoon I completed the stirring story “Joseph the Prophet” by Daryl Class. We went with Bennett and Cheneys to Kahului in evening where they spoke - after that we returned to Wailuku for meeting.
July 7, 1947 (Monday):
We went to a cottage meeting at Kekoami’s in Waihee.
July 8, 1947 (Tuesday):
Felt quite low and disappointed all day, some of this experience is becoming quite trying.
July 9, 1947 (Wednesday):
We went to the funeral of a Mr. Johnson who was an investigator to the Church. Pres. Smith spoke, and I was in a group that sang. He told them straight from the shoulder and generally it was received quite well. Afterwards we went to the grave yard where we beheld the gruesome spectacle of covering the casket. All in all the funeral was much more depressing than at home, and much more feeling of emotion is shown. In the evening we went to a genealogical social in the branch.
July 10, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening we went with Pres. & Sis. Smith to dinner at the home of Bro. Allan Ezell - the meal was delicious and later they showed their pictures of the South Seas. Previous to this during the day, Pres Smith talked to me for about 3 hours on his fathers knowledge of the creation as it was revealed to him[29].
July 11, 1947 (Friday):
Went to the home of Sol. Moikeha where we had dinner and we entertained by their music. Afterwards they took us to the show “Sinbad the Sailor” with Douglas Fairbanks and Maureen O’Hara.
July 12, 1947 (Saturday):
In the morning and early afternoon we worked along with Pres. Smith to clean up the yard. Played basketball in the afternoon.
July 13, 1947 (Sunday):
Priesthood and Sunday School in the morning in Wailuku, and then Union Meeting in the afternoon. I was called on to speak in Sunday School and then in Union Meeting I was called on to take the hour in the Priesthood session. I had to resort to reading before the hour was over. During rest of day we wrote and studied.
July 15, 1947 (Tuesday):
In the afternoon we had a quartet practice in preparation for the celebration. The quartet is composed of Elders McBeth, Westenskow and Rogers Akiu and myself.
July 16, 1947 (Wednesday):
In the morning we drove up to Pulehu with Pres & Sis. Smith - that is where the big centennial meeting will be held that I will speak at. In the evening, Elder Bennett and I administered to a Kaopinki baby that had ruptured its naval.
July 18, 1947 (Friday):
Administered to Ululani Kamauoha during the day with Elder Bennett, and then at night we went to Iao Theater to see “Till the Clouds Roll By.”
July 20, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended Sunday School and Sac. Meeting in Wailuku, and then in the evening the Rogers Akius invited us to go to dinner with them. We went and then afterwards we went to Radio Station KM. VI. where we listened to a request program.
July 22, 1947 (Tuesday):
Drove out to Kihei in quest of firewood and shuttled around in car most of day in conference preparation.
July 23, 1947 (Wednesday):
Pres. Cowley arrived on Maui and that evening we ate dinner at Afoon Kamauoah’s with them, the Smiths and the Weenigs[30]. Later that evening we went to a gathering at the Kalmlici Fairgounds sponsored by the Central Pacific Mission - Elder John Van Wagoner directed a fine tumbling exhibition.
A letter was written to Mom and Dad, this date, from Grandmother Cannon, as follows (in part):
We are in the midst of the climax of the great Centennial celebration. I have just come home from the wonderful parade over two hours in passing. It began at 8:30 this A.M. Mary and I and her children had chairs we took from the Stamp Co. and we sat in front of the crowd west of the Judge Building. Such elegant floats, pretty girls, horses, military men, boy scouts by thousands from all over the continent, even from Mexico, bands in great numbers, and everything imaginable. The “Tournament of Roses Band” from Pasadena Cal., and the Chinese girls’ band from Chinatown, San Francisco as well as other bands from western states and our many Utah bands added to the brilliance of the parade. Gov. Maw and Mrs. and the L.D.S. Church Presidency were in the two cars which led, and back of the Church Presidency followed a combination of several bands playing “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning,” followed immediately by “Utah We Love Thee.” That music in the cool morning breeze thrilled me.
One float featured the saints being led by a leader in front in the singing of Come Come Ye Saints, representing crossing the plains.
As the car passed which carried the Church Presidency, Pres. Smith was in his scout uniform – his face smiling and he and Bro. McKay fairly beamed and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Bro. Clark wore a pleasant expression but was not as demonstrative, for it is not his way. The whole thing was a credit to Utah.
Tomorrow at 6:30 P.M. there will be a repetition of the parade, so all should be able to see it.
Last evening after I finished at the bureau (and, such crowds as we had) I saw the parade of the returning Sons of Utah Pioneers Trek. Cars with covers, and with painted wooden oxen, his yolk, for each car, attached on each side of the front to cover the wheels carried the group who made the trek from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. The same number of people were in the party as were in the first group which Brigham Young led into Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847 – 143 men – 3 women, 2 children. Spencer Kimball was the chaperone. From Nauvoo on there were many stops and by the thousands people came out to see and hear. Dorothy Kimball Keddington was one of the women and so she and others sang, and Spencer Kimball spoke to many groups along the trail. Mayors of cities and officials of all kinds were most cordial and as Apostle Spencer Kimball said last evening as he spoke at the foot of Brigham Young Monument, the people seemed eager to give a welcome and that they heard Mormonism all along the way.
Spencer Kimball surely has a wonderful gift of speech and a great humility also a marvelous testimony. As he briefly told of the trek people were thrilled. As he told of our first pioneers who came over the trail he said as they made that first difficult way, it was a most difficult and dangerous undertaking but he said “God was with them. He walked at their side, yes – he even whispered in their ears.” As services were held in the cemetery at Florence, Nebraska (remember that Bill where so many of our pioneers were buried over six hundred) tears were shed as they were reminded of the things those people were called upon to endure and at various places tears came to their eyes as they tried to live again in a number of days what those people went through in weeks and in months. He said they all felt like rededicating their lives to the cause for which those pioneers gave their all, and he said “Let us all rededicate our lives fully to this cause.”
Of the Cannon family Jim, Adrian and Warren I know were along, and perhaps others. Adrian seemed to be getting a big kick out of it all. He was one who went ahead to Washington to write our Senator Watkins to join the trek from Nauvoo.
Those men were mostly heavily bearded and brown as berries and they looked as though they were the original pioneers as the captain of the party, Wendell Ashton said, they had the dust of five states over their boots and I believe it.
Tomorrow morning we are taking Sarah and David Eccles up to see the unveiling of the monument “This Is the Place.” We have special invitations..l
Last evening after dark we rode up to see the Centennial Boy Scout Camp on Ft. Douglas reservation. Thousands of boys from all over the country including Canada and Mexico ware camping in tents, and many of the buildings are being used also. It is the largest thing of the sort I ever expect to see…
Monday night we were at Uncle Wilf’s and the Cannons always have a good time. They were telling of some of the old days on Cannon farm and Wilf said “but Georgius was always a lady, although he most certainly didn’t enjoy being called that.” Georgius was always more effeminate.
From church headquarters some souvenier envelopes were sent and these will be very valuable in the years ahead. I am enclosing this letter in one of those so keep it and treasure it. We see plainly today how that wonderful prophecy of Joseph Smith’s has come true.
Wish I could be with you in your big conference tomorrow. Will be with you in spirit and love.
My best to you Mother.
July 24, 1947 (Thursday):
The first session of the Centennial Conference was held at Pulehu, sight of the organization of the first Branch in the Islands. I spoke first on the life of Grandfather Cannon, and I can’t remember ever having spoken with so much ease and freedom. Pres. Smith spoke on his Fathers experiences here and then Pres. Cowley delivered a powerful talk and called the people to repentance, and promised the people of Laie, that if they didn’t mend their ways and live righteously before the Lord, that they and Laie would be destroyed. Elder Bennett and I were given the responsibility of selling refreshments during the conference and this kept us tied down pretty much. During the evening we went to a campfire program at Camp Paukukalo and there they had a talent show and a variety of entertainment. Our quartet (Elders McBeth, Westerskow, Rogers Akiu and myself) sang one number. Marg participated in a frog race.
Mom and Dad have a booklet from this conference, labeled “L.D.S. Centennial Conference 1847-1947” Wailuku, Maui, July 23-28. The program for this date included:
7:00 A.M. – Missionary reunion – Welcome by mission presidents – Wailuku Chapel
10:00 A.M. – Pulehu Meeting – Commemorating the establishment of the Church in the
Hawaiian Islands – Pulehu Chapel Grounds
Congregational Singing – “Hawaii Aloha”
Invocation – Brother E. K. Simmons
Mission Choir Selection – “Keoki Pukuniahi” [George Cannon in Hawaiian]
Remarks – Elder William W. Cannon (grandson of George Q. Cannon)
Mission Choir Selection – “Hawaii Nani”
Remarks – President E. Wesley Smith
Mission Choir Selection – “Hapai Na Leo Mele”
Remarks – President Matthew Cowley
Congregational Singing – “The Spirit of God”
Benediction – President Melvyn A. Weenig of the Central Pacific Mission
1:30 P.M. – Volley ball Semi-final game – Central Pacific Mission vs Kapaa Branch,
Kauai District champion – Wailuku gym
2:30 P.M. – Basketball Semi-final game – Central Pacific Mission vs Lanai Branch, Maui
County District champion – Wailuku gym
3:00 P.M. – Meeting of District Councils (Hawaiian Mission) – Wailuku chapel
Central Pacific District Presidents’ Meeting – Wailuku Chapel basement
6:30 P.M. – Pioneer Campfire and Program – Paukukalo Camp
Community Singing
Invocation
Variety Entertainment – Numbers that might have been typical
Of those held on an evenings program while the pioneers were
crossing the plains [a notation indicates “Marg in frog race” and
“Bill in quartette”]
Congregational singing – “Come, Come Ye Saints”
Benedication
Master of Ceremonies – Elder Kenneth R. Garrett
The following talk was folded and placed in the back of the journal. This appears to be the talk given by Dad in Pulehu on this occasion. The talk reads as follows:
George Q. Cannon, a man beloved by all Hawaiian Latter-Day Saints because of his great work among them, came into this world on Jan. 11, 1827 in Liverpool, England. He came of seafaring stock, and the family were devout Christians. George Q. was a lad of 13 when he and his family first heard of the gospel and they were converted by John Taylor in 1840. Two years later, when between 15 and 16 years of age, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean with his parents and brothers and sisters, bound for Nauvoo, Illinois, the gathering place of the Saints. While on the ocean his mother died, and was buried at sea. Shortly thereafter, in 1847 his father passed on, leaving him, a boy of twenty, and an orphan in charge of his family. During the later part of that same year he made his trip across the plains.
Two years passed away in farming, building , teaming and other pursuits incident to pioneer life in the Salt Lake Valley, and in the fall of 1849, he accompanied Gen. Chas. C. Rich to California. There he worked in the gold mines until the fall of 1850, when he was called with others upon a mission to the Sandwich Islands. They landed at Honolulu the 12th of December 1850. They had supposed their mission mainly to be to the Haole [Caucasian] people. But the reception given them by that class was not cordial, and most of the missionaries became disheartened and were in favor of returning to their homes immediately. Elder Cannon, however felt that they should stay and learn the language and preach to the natives. Concerning these differences that existed between the missionaries he wrote, “In a foreign land, far distant from the Apostles and First Presidency, we could not appeal to them. Our only recourse was to obtain revelation from the Lord for ourselves.” Some of the missionaries did return home and others went elsewhere, but a few stayed and did a great and marvelous work, converting hundreds.
He returned to the mainland in 1854 where he supervised the publishing of the Book of Mormon in Hawaiian, which he had previously translated.
A man of great accomplishment and achievement, he was private secretary to Brigham Young; an apostle for forty years; member of the First Presidency of the Church under three different Presidents for twenty-one years; a Congressmen for five terms; founder of the “Juvenile Instructor,” and President of the Deseret Sunday School Union for thirty-four years; a director of the Union Pacific Railroad; and Chancellor of the University of Deseret.
From the time of his first mission until 1900, he hadn’t returned to the Islands that he loved, but in December of that year he attended the Fiftieth Jubilee Celebration of the founding of the mission. Upon several occasions during the celebration he met and had conversation with ex-queen Liliuokalani. December 17, 1900, he wrote in his journal, “The ex-queen Liliuokalani sent me word that she would like to see me at one o’clock today as she expects to sail for Hilo. Sister Fernandez took me to the ex-queen’s residence in her carriage. She welcomed me very cordially and expressed the pleasure it gave her at meeting me. She also dwelt on the good my visit had done and would do, how the peoples’ feelings had been aroused and their love awakened and strengthened by my visit. Many more remarks of this character were made by her and when I arose to bid her goodbye, she said she would like me to give her a blessing, then she led the way to another room. Before I was aware of what she was doing she was on her knees before my feet to receive the blessing. I felt very free in blessing her and the spirit rested upon us both.” She became a member ot the church after Pres. Cannon’s return, being baptized in Honolulu by Elder Abraham Fernandez.
While in Lahaina on this last visit, he wrote in his journal, “I started out this morning to find the site of the house and garden where I had sought the Lord in secret prayer and where he condescended to commune with me, for I heard His voice more than once as one man speaks to another, encouraging me and showing me the work which should be done among this people if I would follow the dictates of His Spirit. Glory to God in the highest that he has permitted me to live to behold the fulfillment of his words.” Three months after this visit he passed on to his reward[31].
Orson F. Whitney in his History of Utah states with reference to George Q. Cannon, “Utah, among all her gifted sons, has not seen his equal.”
A Centennial Edition of the Maui News had an article with a picture of Mom and Dad and the following:
Ninety-seven years after George Q. Cannon, Maui’s first and one [of] Hawaii’s best loved Mormon missionaries, baptized the first LDS member on this Island, his grandson, William W. Cannon addressed nearly a thousand members of the faith on the same spot at Pulehu.
William W. Cannon, who during the war served in the Navy and was discharged as an ensign, is on Maui serving as a missionary in the same field that his distinguished grand-father pioneered those many years ago. Working with him in church work is his wife, Margery, the couple having left their home in Salt Lake in March for two years service with their church.
George Q. Cannon, who as a youth of 20 years had made the historic trip across the Great Plains in 1847, answered the call as a missionary to Hawaii in 1850. He was sent to Lahaina for his first labors. He rapidly mastered the Hawaiian tongue and translated the monumental work “The Book of Mormon” into the Hawaiian language and took the manuscript back to Salt Lake for printing.
He did not return to Hawaii until the Golden jubilee of the arrival of the Mormons in Hawaii in 1900. Many of the Cannon family settled in Hawaii and became pillars of the business community in Honolulu.
On Thursday morning the members traveled to their Pulehu chapel in Kula where a service was held in commemoration of the first baptisms and establishing of the first branch of the Church in the Hawaiian Islands by George Q. Cannon in 1851. The island-wide mission choir rendered several selections in Hawaiian, and the congregation joined with them in singing other numbers.
Visiting dignitary and main speaker at the commemorative meeting was President Matthew Cowley, president of all the Pacific Islands Missions who is returning to Salt Lake City from a three month tour of the Missions including Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Racatonga islands. He told of many faith promoting experiences with these people and complemented them for their faithfulness in living up to the teachings of the Church.
Other speakers were E. Wesley Smith, president of the Hawaiian Mission, Elder William W. Cannon, grandson of George Q. Cannon, and William Kailimai from the Island of Hawaii. President Smith related many of his early missionary experiences in the Hawaiian Islands and told much of their history of the Church here. Elder Cannon told the story of the first missionary groups ii the Hawaiian islands and read excerpts from his grandfather’s personal journal.
Met a man who had been in the Sea bees and we had quite a conversation, and the conversation lead to questions on why we were here. He was quite interested and wanted to come back and talk with us, and so he promised to come back next week. During evening we went out to Waihee Mission home where all the missionaries had a party.
May 25, 1947 (Sunday):
We went to Church both evening and morning in Wailuku. In afternoon we had dinner by ourselves at home. In the evening I spoke for about 25 minutes in Wailuku, upon the subject “The Business of Life.”
In Dad’s papers were his notes for this talk, labeled “Wailuku - May 25/47,” as follows:
The Business of Life
1. Preparations
2. Transactions - Quality of merchandise
3. Goals and aims
4. Inventory - Profit and Loss
I 1. Business
a. To earn a livelihood
b. To benefit our fellowmen.
2. Business of Life
“We are here to live, to spread intelligence and knowledge among the people. I am here to school my brethren, to teach my family the way of life, to propagate my species, and to live, if in my power, until sin, inequity, corruption, hell and the Devil, and all classes and grades of abominations are driven from the earth. That is my religion and the object of my existence. We are not here merely to prepare to die, and then die; but we are here to live and build up the Kingdom of God on earth - to promote the priesthood, overcome the powers of Satan and teach the children of man that they are created for - that in them is concealed the germ of all intelligence. Here is the starting point - the foundation that is laid in the organization of man for receiving a fullness of eternal knowledge and glory. Are we to go yonder to obtain it? No, we are to promote it on this earth.” (Brigham Young Discourses Pg 90)
II. 1. Business Preparation
a. Education, apprenticeship
b. experience
2. Preparation for business of Life
a. Prepare to live not to die.
1. never let a day pass without saying that this is the best day I have ever lived, but, I will better tomorrow.
b. Study - educate
D&C 93:53 “And verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should obtain a knowledge of histories and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man.”
D&C 88:118 “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Proverbs 4:4-7 “Therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding”
c. Remain humble, be charitable
III. Business practice
1. Three “C’s” for banking.
a. character
b. collateral
c. capacity
2. Proper merchandising - put materials on shelf and keep moving, don’t keep hidden.
a. parable of talents
Lord of servants gave out 8 talents
1. man got five
2. man got 2
3. man got 1
He told them to invest and he would be back for an accounting. When he came back the first 2 had double their talents. Third said “Well Lord, I know you are a hard taskmaster you expect to reap where you do not sow and I was fearful that I would lose the talent, and therefore I buried it and so here it is.”
3. Salesmanship. If someone were to tell you, I have the secret of health and strength; I have the secret of wisdom ; I have the secret of intellectual riches, you would listen to him. We have all of this if we magnify what we have. We must preach the gospel to every kindred tongue and people.
4. Advertising. Compare condition of chapel grounds to what it should be.
5. Obstacles and goals: codes of practice The Savior said. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added.” Always have goal clearly in view. Mat. 7:19-21
In road to success we are the greatest handicaps that we must face. (poem by Pres McKay)
IV. What we earn - Profit and Loss
Actual Business, we profit according to our ability to deal and our actions. When Savior was on the earth he taught that “As we sow, so shall we reap.” In Latter days the Lord has taught the same doctrine that there is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven upon which all blessings are predicted, and whenever any blessing s are received, they are in obedience to these laws.” He gave us the following scriptures in connection with this. “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, you have no promise.”
What will our reward be in heaven? Paul in speaking to the Corinthians said, “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.” Jesus said in talking to his apostles “In my Fathers house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you etc.
We should think not only of the world to come - In minds of most of us eternity is a long way off - we should therefore think of happiness here and now as well as in eternity. Now can be so happy as those who are serving our Lord and who are faithful to the teachings of the gospel.
Christ. “Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels shall save for what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.”
May 26, 1947 (Monday):
Worked in office as usual during day and then in evening the Sol. Moikeha family came to visit us. We showed them pictures of southern Utah, later, they sang.
May 27, 1947 (Tuesday):
I talked to Pres. Smith from Honolulu, and he said he would arrive on Maui next Tuesday. In evening we went to Mutual in Wailuku.
May 30, 1947 (Friday):
Memorial Day, and we worked in the office getting out reports[25] - In late afternoon we took a nap. At night, we went to Iao Theatre and saw “Humoresque” - a fine picture.
May 31, 1947 (Saturday):
In the morning we woke early and did the washing, after which a group of missionaries went out to Kihei Beach, where we went swimming, had lunch and above all, got sunburned. It was in honor of Gretta Croft who is released and returning home. Present were her sister Alice, Sis’s Hunter, Musser, Cheney, Elder Cheney and Elder Kamanoha. In the evening Sis Afoon invited us over for a get together in honor of the Crofts.
June 1, 1947 (Sunday):
We attended Sunday School and priesthood at Kahului after which we rode out to the Airport to see the Crofts off to Honolulu. In afternoon we relaxed, took a nap, and for evening meeting stayed in Wailuku.
June 2, 1947 (Monday):
Usual day in the office, and then in evening we went to see “I’ve Always Loved You,” and thought it one of the best shows I have ever seen.
June 3, 1947 (Tuesday):
Worked in office in morning, and Marg prepared food for a party with her religious education class. Pres & Sis. Smith and Julian arrived in the early afternoon - and then all of the missionaries around Wailuku were invited to attend dinner given in his honor by Bro. Pia Cockett and wife. We were all impressed with their humility and I believe that this will win the confidence and love of the missionaries.
Pres. Smith told the following story that took place while he was President of the mission in 1921. He first prefaced the story with the story of George Q. Cannon’s journey from Lahaina to Wailuku.
George Q. Cannon felt that he should come to Wailuku, and so he took all his possessions and wrapped them in a handkerchief and started on his way. He came by way of a canyon pass instead of over a road as we now have - the place where the road is was all cliffs and of course impassable. As he was coming down Iao Canyon into Wailuku, he had to cross the Wailuku river in order to get there, and so at a likely place, he started to pick his way across on the protruding rocks instead of taking off his clothes and wading as he should have done. When he was part way across, he slipped and fell in, and soaked himself. His clothes shrunk up, and he became discouraged and started back to Lahaina. When he did this the Savior spoke to him and told him to turn around and finish his journey, and that someone would be raised up in Wailuku to care for him. At this time a man named Napela received a vision of G.Q.C. and in it was told that he should care for him, and that he was doing the Lord’s work. Napela then gave his daughter a description of G.Q.C. and told her to go out on the road and wait for him - he did come along shortly and Napela took him in and later the Book of Mormon was translated into Hawaiian at this man’s home. Shortly afterwards, they went to Pulehu and preached to a group of 100 people. Napela hearing testimony about what had happened to him and G.Q.C. said that all but 3 in the group were to him a white and delightsome people. 97 were baptized and those three were not. The people at that meeting said that George Q. Cannon stood above the ground.
In 1921 Apostle David O. McKay and Pres. Hugh J. Cannon were called to tour the missions of the Church. They had toured several and Pres. Cannon was usually a jovial sort, but when they came to Hawaii he lost this quality and became quiet, and kept everything to himself. Pres. Smith toured the Islands with them - when they came to Maui, David Keola Kailimai accompanied them on a visit to Pulehu. When they arrived there Bro McKay said “I feel that this is sacred ground, and that we should take our hats off and pray.” They joined in a circle and David O. McKay was mouth, and he gave a marvelous prayer. After the prayer Bro. Kailimai spoke to Pres. Smith and asked him if he had seen the personage in white that had come into their midst, and went on to relate that while the prayer was being given he felt the presence of someone and he opened his eyes and saw a personage in white extending his hand, standing above the ground. Pres. Smith replied that he hadn’t seen anyone because his eyes were closed, but that he had never before felt any thing like it. Pres. Smith then told Pres. McKay but received no immediate reply. In the meantime Pres. Cannon disappeared for a while and when he came back, he came from behind the chapel and he was weeping. They got in the car and proceeded on their way and then Pres. McKay spoke up and said the veil was very thin and George Q. Cannon, Jos F. Smith and others were there. At that point Pres. Cannon lifted his head from his hands and said that there was no veil, and then not a word was said after that for some time. What Pres. Cannon saw we do not know but it must have been marvelous. After that he became his jolly self again[26].
June 6, 1947 (Friday):
I worked hard getting out first monthly financial report - it is quite an education, and it will prove to be valuable. Pres. Smith wore his Aloha shirt most of the day and he is winning his way into the hearts of the missionaries. It is such a change after Pres. Murphy.
June 7, 1947 (Saturday):
Did the washing in the morning and then went to work in the office and finished up reports. Around noon we picked up Julian Smith and drove out to Kalama park where we swam, had lunch and spent the afternoon. Julian is an interesting fellow and one that will have no trouble getting along in the world.
June 8, 1947 (Sunday):
In the morning we went out to Waikapu and again enjoyed fine spirit of the Enos family. After that meeting we came in and had dinner at Sis Afoon’s along with Pres. & Sis Smith and Julian. Chinese food was the bill of fare and I quite enjoyed most of the things. In the afternoon we all went to Union meeting, and while there, the priesthood had a bitter session about the forthcoming conference, and I felt quite upset about it. After the reassembly I felt impressed that I was going to be called on to pray, and I was. The prayer I uttered called on the people to be unified in spirit, and never have I felt words come so easily to me. In the evening about ten missionaries and the Smiths went out to Lahaina - a quartet sang (Marg, Sis Hunter, Eld. McBeth and myself) and Pres. Smith and two elders spoke. The meeting had a fine spirit and I was impressed with the sacredness of the ground. After the meeting we all went over to Sis. Sylva’s for refreshment.
June 9, 1947 (Monday):
In the evening the Smiths came over, and Pres. Smith told of an experience that he had had while he was here in 1919. He had come over here as a relatively young man to take over the Presidency of the Mission. It was just before the time that the Temple was to be dedicated. He met with much opposition and impoliteness, and he had many trials. He became so upset that he called upon the Lord and asked why it should be his lot to have these because he had always lived a righteous life. A night or so later, he was sitting in his home studying and Sis Smith was in bed - suddenly the door flew open by a gust of wind - he got up to shut it and as he did, a hideous creature walked in and with raised hands went for his throat. Then a light appeared in back of Bro. Smith and descended into his hands (he had lifted to protect himself) and it was in the form of a sword, and he heard a voice say “It’s your Priesthood.” the creature upon seeing this started and immediately backed out of the door and disappeared. Shortly thereafter - an elder upon the Island of Kauai sent in a query asking whether or not Cain was still alive and referred to Book of Moses, P of GP. chap 5:39. Pres. Smith not knowing wrote and asked his Brother, Joseph Fielding Smith, then the church Historian and apostle. He replied and referred to the writings of apostle W.W. Patten, the first martyr of the Church. Bro. Patten was in the Southern States on a mission, and was riding along the road one day on a mule. And he came along side a hairy Negro man with bulging eyes and apparently naked, and he stood even with Bro. Patten while he was sitting on the mule. Bro Patten asked him where his home was and found that had had no home, and he had been wandering the earth year upon end. When asked who he was, he said “I am Cain,” and most miserable among men. I have tried to kill myself but with no success, and so I am destroying other people. Bro. Patten commanded him to be gone in the name of Jesus Christ. When Pres. Smith read this he recognized the description as being that of the man had had seen - he again wrote his brother and told him and received reply that according to History, a temple has not been dedicated in which the adversary had not tried to have his way.
June 10, 1947 (Tuesday):
We went to the exercises at the Waihee school in which Alaire Akima graduated and she invited us to attend. After we went to the uniki, the Hula dance festival and it was very colorful.
June 11, 1947 (Wednesday):
Kamehameha Day in Hawaii and we went to parade and celebration. In the afternoon all of the Maui Missionaries went to the beach.
June 12, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening we were visited by Julian Smith and he stayed until evening was past salvage. After we went over to Smiths for refreshments.
June 13, 1947 (Friday):
Nine months of wedded bliss - not an unlucky day.
June 14, 1947 (Saturday):
Arose early, cleaned yard and did washing, and then in the afternoon we went to the beach. The wind was terrific and the sun was very hot, and the combination gave me a bad burn. In the evening it itched so badly that I almost went crazy. We phoned Dr. Fleming and he fixed us up[27].
June 15, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended church at Wailua in morning and then in evening we went out to Waihee for a fireside. In the afternoon, Elder Bennett came and visited us after five weeks on Kauai. The Lahaina elders were stranded and so they had lunch with us.
June 16, 1947 (Monday):
We went to a candy pull at Waihee mission home.
June 18, 1947 (Wednesday):
In the afternoon all of the missionaries had a meeting with Pres. Smith for about 3 hours. He told us of his visit to the Isle of Hawaii. He showed a wonderful spirit. Elder Bennett ate with us and then we went out to Whitfords where we showed our pictures of Indians.
June 20, 1947 (Friday):
We went to show “California” with Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwych. Accompanying us were Elders Cheney and Bennett and Sis. Hunter and Cheney with Julian Smith. Earlier in the evening I started an algebra class to meet twice a week with Muriel Enos and Ululani Kamauoha.
June 21, 1947 (Saturday):
The longest day in the year and also, the Folk’s wedding anniversary[28]. We washed in the morning, and then took a ride with Beverly Akuna and Alaire - Julian left for Honolulu. In the evening we went over and visited the Smiths and were told that we would remain here until the baby is born.
June 22, 1947 (Sunday):
We went to Kihei Branch and then Bro. Pia Cockett invited us to his home for dinner. In the evening we picked up the Cheneys and drove to Lahaina where all four of us spoke - There was a very fine spirit present at the meetings and Marg did exceptionally well - she seemed to overflow.
June 24, 1947 (Tuesday):
Work as usual and in evening we went out to Wailuku Branch Closing Mutual social at Kamaole Park, a beach near Kihei. We took over dinner but didn’t go in swimming.
June 26, 1947 (Thursday):
Finished up Maui District Report and was a relief to get it out of the way until next month. In evening had algebra with just Ulu. Apparently it was too much for Muriel Enos.
June 27, 1947 (Friday):
In the evening we visited the Pentecostal Church in Happy Valley and it was very interesting. After the meeting, Elder Bennett was called on to lats[?] and he told them straight from the shoulder, and they were all awed if nothing else. After meeting, Afoon took us to a show at the Iao - “The Love of Andy Hardy.”
June 28, 1947 (Saturday):
Cleaned up yard and did washing in the morning, and then in the afternoon Elders McBeth and Barret, Neeley, Parry and Marg and I went out to the beach and the swimming was marvelous. We feel asleep in the early evening and did not awake to morning.
June 29, 1947 (Sunday):
Went to Priesthood and Sunday School at Wailuku. In afternoon we decided along with Elder Bennett to ask Sis Smith to go out to dinner. We walked all over town in search of a restaurant that was open and couldn’t find one, and so we came back and ate sandwiches. For Sacrament meeting, we sang a duet at Wailuku and it seemed to go over very well.
June 30, 1947 (Monday):
Elder Bennett was moved into Wailuku and he will eat with us for the remainder of his stay here.
July 1, 1947 (Tuesday):
Four new missionaries arrived today, and their names are Elders Quilter, Hebdon and Pettegrew and Sis Ehlert. They were assigned to Maui until conference convenes on the 24th.
July 3, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening I had my algebra class with Ululani and Muriel. Muriel brought in a papaya and some chocolate cake her mother had baked. After that we visited with Sis. Enos, Williet Enos, Afoon, Pre-Fourth of July fireworks were much in evidence.
July 4, 1947 (Friday):
I arose early and did the washing, and after that I did some of the required things in office in spite of holiday. In the afternoon, all of the missionaries in this area went out to Kamaole Park, and there we had a fine swim in wonderful breakers. The breakers were almost too high and they would spin you until it almost knocked you senseless. In feeling my onions, I dived into a wave and missed it and hit the sand bottom with quite a jolt, and it left a bump on my head. After the swim, we had hot dogs and all the trimmings. I found that I had forgotten the hotdogs and so I drove back to Wailuku to get them. After eating we took another dip and then came in.
July 5, 1947 (Saturday):
The Elders went down to a former Army camp to help clean up in preparation for the centennial celebration. The incoming people from other Islands will stay there. Poor organization was much in evidence and it took a long time to do a little. In evening we went to see Butch Jenkins in “My Brother Talks to Horses” with Elder Bennett.
July 6, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended Sunday School at Waikapu with Enos family. We returned and went to Grand Hotel for dinner. In the afternoon I completed the stirring story “Joseph the Prophet” by Daryl Class. We went with Bennett and Cheneys to Kahului in evening where they spoke - after that we returned to Wailuku for meeting.
July 7, 1947 (Monday):
We went to a cottage meeting at Kekoami’s in Waihee.
July 8, 1947 (Tuesday):
Felt quite low and disappointed all day, some of this experience is becoming quite trying.
July 9, 1947 (Wednesday):
We went to the funeral of a Mr. Johnson who was an investigator to the Church. Pres. Smith spoke, and I was in a group that sang. He told them straight from the shoulder and generally it was received quite well. Afterwards we went to the grave yard where we beheld the gruesome spectacle of covering the casket. All in all the funeral was much more depressing than at home, and much more feeling of emotion is shown. In the evening we went to a genealogical social in the branch.
July 10, 1947 (Thursday):
In the evening we went with Pres. & Sis. Smith to dinner at the home of Bro. Allan Ezell - the meal was delicious and later they showed their pictures of the South Seas. Previous to this during the day, Pres Smith talked to me for about 3 hours on his fathers knowledge of the creation as it was revealed to him[29].
July 11, 1947 (Friday):
Went to the home of Sol. Moikeha where we had dinner and we entertained by their music. Afterwards they took us to the show “Sinbad the Sailor” with Douglas Fairbanks and Maureen O’Hara.
July 12, 1947 (Saturday):
In the morning and early afternoon we worked along with Pres. Smith to clean up the yard. Played basketball in the afternoon.
July 13, 1947 (Sunday):
Priesthood and Sunday School in the morning in Wailuku, and then Union Meeting in the afternoon. I was called on to speak in Sunday School and then in Union Meeting I was called on to take the hour in the Priesthood session. I had to resort to reading before the hour was over. During rest of day we wrote and studied.
July 15, 1947 (Tuesday):
In the afternoon we had a quartet practice in preparation for the celebration. The quartet is composed of Elders McBeth, Westenskow and Rogers Akiu and myself.
July 16, 1947 (Wednesday):
In the morning we drove up to Pulehu with Pres & Sis. Smith - that is where the big centennial meeting will be held that I will speak at. In the evening, Elder Bennett and I administered to a Kaopinki baby that had ruptured its naval.
July 18, 1947 (Friday):
Administered to Ululani Kamauoha during the day with Elder Bennett, and then at night we went to Iao Theater to see “Till the Clouds Roll By.”
July 20, 1947 (Sunday):
Attended Sunday School and Sac. Meeting in Wailuku, and then in the evening the Rogers Akius invited us to go to dinner with them. We went and then afterwards we went to Radio Station KM. VI. where we listened to a request program.
July 22, 1947 (Tuesday):
Drove out to Kihei in quest of firewood and shuttled around in car most of day in conference preparation.
July 23, 1947 (Wednesday):
Pres. Cowley arrived on Maui and that evening we ate dinner at Afoon Kamauoah’s with them, the Smiths and the Weenigs[30]. Later that evening we went to a gathering at the Kalmlici Fairgounds sponsored by the Central Pacific Mission - Elder John Van Wagoner directed a fine tumbling exhibition.
A letter was written to Mom and Dad, this date, from Grandmother Cannon, as follows (in part):
We are in the midst of the climax of the great Centennial celebration. I have just come home from the wonderful parade over two hours in passing. It began at 8:30 this A.M. Mary and I and her children had chairs we took from the Stamp Co. and we sat in front of the crowd west of the Judge Building. Such elegant floats, pretty girls, horses, military men, boy scouts by thousands from all over the continent, even from Mexico, bands in great numbers, and everything imaginable. The “Tournament of Roses Band” from Pasadena Cal., and the Chinese girls’ band from Chinatown, San Francisco as well as other bands from western states and our many Utah bands added to the brilliance of the parade. Gov. Maw and Mrs. and the L.D.S. Church Presidency were in the two cars which led, and back of the Church Presidency followed a combination of several bands playing “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning,” followed immediately by “Utah We Love Thee.” That music in the cool morning breeze thrilled me.
One float featured the saints being led by a leader in front in the singing of Come Come Ye Saints, representing crossing the plains.
As the car passed which carried the Church Presidency, Pres. Smith was in his scout uniform – his face smiling and he and Bro. McKay fairly beamed and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Bro. Clark wore a pleasant expression but was not as demonstrative, for it is not his way. The whole thing was a credit to Utah.
Tomorrow at 6:30 P.M. there will be a repetition of the parade, so all should be able to see it.
Last evening after I finished at the bureau (and, such crowds as we had) I saw the parade of the returning Sons of Utah Pioneers Trek. Cars with covers, and with painted wooden oxen, his yolk, for each car, attached on each side of the front to cover the wheels carried the group who made the trek from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. The same number of people were in the party as were in the first group which Brigham Young led into Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847 – 143 men – 3 women, 2 children. Spencer Kimball was the chaperone. From Nauvoo on there were many stops and by the thousands people came out to see and hear. Dorothy Kimball Keddington was one of the women and so she and others sang, and Spencer Kimball spoke to many groups along the trail. Mayors of cities and officials of all kinds were most cordial and as Apostle Spencer Kimball said last evening as he spoke at the foot of Brigham Young Monument, the people seemed eager to give a welcome and that they heard Mormonism all along the way.
Spencer Kimball surely has a wonderful gift of speech and a great humility also a marvelous testimony. As he briefly told of the trek people were thrilled. As he told of our first pioneers who came over the trail he said as they made that first difficult way, it was a most difficult and dangerous undertaking but he said “God was with them. He walked at their side, yes – he even whispered in their ears.” As services were held in the cemetery at Florence, Nebraska (remember that Bill where so many of our pioneers were buried over six hundred) tears were shed as they were reminded of the things those people were called upon to endure and at various places tears came to their eyes as they tried to live again in a number of days what those people went through in weeks and in months. He said they all felt like rededicating their lives to the cause for which those pioneers gave their all, and he said “Let us all rededicate our lives fully to this cause.”
Of the Cannon family Jim, Adrian and Warren I know were along, and perhaps others. Adrian seemed to be getting a big kick out of it all. He was one who went ahead to Washington to write our Senator Watkins to join the trek from Nauvoo.
Those men were mostly heavily bearded and brown as berries and they looked as though they were the original pioneers as the captain of the party, Wendell Ashton said, they had the dust of five states over their boots and I believe it.
Tomorrow morning we are taking Sarah and David Eccles up to see the unveiling of the monument “This Is the Place.” We have special invitations..l
Last evening after dark we rode up to see the Centennial Boy Scout Camp on Ft. Douglas reservation. Thousands of boys from all over the country including Canada and Mexico ware camping in tents, and many of the buildings are being used also. It is the largest thing of the sort I ever expect to see…
Monday night we were at Uncle Wilf’s and the Cannons always have a good time. They were telling of some of the old days on Cannon farm and Wilf said “but Georgius was always a lady, although he most certainly didn’t enjoy being called that.” Georgius was always more effeminate.
From church headquarters some souvenier envelopes were sent and these will be very valuable in the years ahead. I am enclosing this letter in one of those so keep it and treasure it. We see plainly today how that wonderful prophecy of Joseph Smith’s has come true.
Wish I could be with you in your big conference tomorrow. Will be with you in spirit and love.
My best to you Mother.
July 24, 1947 (Thursday):
The first session of the Centennial Conference was held at Pulehu, sight of the organization of the first Branch in the Islands. I spoke first on the life of Grandfather Cannon, and I can’t remember ever having spoken with so much ease and freedom. Pres. Smith spoke on his Fathers experiences here and then Pres. Cowley delivered a powerful talk and called the people to repentance, and promised the people of Laie, that if they didn’t mend their ways and live righteously before the Lord, that they and Laie would be destroyed. Elder Bennett and I were given the responsibility of selling refreshments during the conference and this kept us tied down pretty much. During the evening we went to a campfire program at Camp Paukukalo and there they had a talent show and a variety of entertainment. Our quartet (Elders McBeth, Westerskow, Rogers Akiu and myself) sang one number. Marg participated in a frog race.
Mom and Dad have a booklet from this conference, labeled “L.D.S. Centennial Conference 1847-1947” Wailuku, Maui, July 23-28. The program for this date included:
7:00 A.M. – Missionary reunion – Welcome by mission presidents – Wailuku Chapel
10:00 A.M. – Pulehu Meeting – Commemorating the establishment of the Church in the
Hawaiian Islands – Pulehu Chapel Grounds
Congregational Singing – “Hawaii Aloha”
Invocation – Brother E. K. Simmons
Mission Choir Selection – “Keoki Pukuniahi” [George Cannon in Hawaiian]
Remarks – Elder William W. Cannon (grandson of George Q. Cannon)
Mission Choir Selection – “Hawaii Nani”
Remarks – President E. Wesley Smith
Mission Choir Selection – “Hapai Na Leo Mele”
Remarks – President Matthew Cowley
Congregational Singing – “The Spirit of God”
Benediction – President Melvyn A. Weenig of the Central Pacific Mission
1:30 P.M. – Volley ball Semi-final game – Central Pacific Mission vs Kapaa Branch,
Kauai District champion – Wailuku gym
2:30 P.M. – Basketball Semi-final game – Central Pacific Mission vs Lanai Branch, Maui
County District champion – Wailuku gym
3:00 P.M. – Meeting of District Councils (Hawaiian Mission) – Wailuku chapel
Central Pacific District Presidents’ Meeting – Wailuku Chapel basement
6:30 P.M. – Pioneer Campfire and Program – Paukukalo Camp
Community Singing
Invocation
Variety Entertainment – Numbers that might have been typical
Of those held on an evenings program while the pioneers were
crossing the plains [a notation indicates “Marg in frog race” and
“Bill in quartette”]
Congregational singing – “Come, Come Ye Saints”
Benedication
Master of Ceremonies – Elder Kenneth R. Garrett
The following talk was folded and placed in the back of the journal. This appears to be the talk given by Dad in Pulehu on this occasion. The talk reads as follows:
George Q. Cannon, a man beloved by all Hawaiian Latter-Day Saints because of his great work among them, came into this world on Jan. 11, 1827 in Liverpool, England. He came of seafaring stock, and the family were devout Christians. George Q. was a lad of 13 when he and his family first heard of the gospel and they were converted by John Taylor in 1840. Two years later, when between 15 and 16 years of age, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean with his parents and brothers and sisters, bound for Nauvoo, Illinois, the gathering place of the Saints. While on the ocean his mother died, and was buried at sea. Shortly thereafter, in 1847 his father passed on, leaving him, a boy of twenty, and an orphan in charge of his family. During the later part of that same year he made his trip across the plains.
Two years passed away in farming, building , teaming and other pursuits incident to pioneer life in the Salt Lake Valley, and in the fall of 1849, he accompanied Gen. Chas. C. Rich to California. There he worked in the gold mines until the fall of 1850, when he was called with others upon a mission to the Sandwich Islands. They landed at Honolulu the 12th of December 1850. They had supposed their mission mainly to be to the Haole [Caucasian] people. But the reception given them by that class was not cordial, and most of the missionaries became disheartened and were in favor of returning to their homes immediately. Elder Cannon, however felt that they should stay and learn the language and preach to the natives. Concerning these differences that existed between the missionaries he wrote, “In a foreign land, far distant from the Apostles and First Presidency, we could not appeal to them. Our only recourse was to obtain revelation from the Lord for ourselves.” Some of the missionaries did return home and others went elsewhere, but a few stayed and did a great and marvelous work, converting hundreds.
He returned to the mainland in 1854 where he supervised the publishing of the Book of Mormon in Hawaiian, which he had previously translated.
A man of great accomplishment and achievement, he was private secretary to Brigham Young; an apostle for forty years; member of the First Presidency of the Church under three different Presidents for twenty-one years; a Congressmen for five terms; founder of the “Juvenile Instructor,” and President of the Deseret Sunday School Union for thirty-four years; a director of the Union Pacific Railroad; and Chancellor of the University of Deseret.
From the time of his first mission until 1900, he hadn’t returned to the Islands that he loved, but in December of that year he attended the Fiftieth Jubilee Celebration of the founding of the mission. Upon several occasions during the celebration he met and had conversation with ex-queen Liliuokalani. December 17, 1900, he wrote in his journal, “The ex-queen Liliuokalani sent me word that she would like to see me at one o’clock today as she expects to sail for Hilo. Sister Fernandez took me to the ex-queen’s residence in her carriage. She welcomed me very cordially and expressed the pleasure it gave her at meeting me. She also dwelt on the good my visit had done and would do, how the peoples’ feelings had been aroused and their love awakened and strengthened by my visit. Many more remarks of this character were made by her and when I arose to bid her goodbye, she said she would like me to give her a blessing, then she led the way to another room. Before I was aware of what she was doing she was on her knees before my feet to receive the blessing. I felt very free in blessing her and the spirit rested upon us both.” She became a member ot the church after Pres. Cannon’s return, being baptized in Honolulu by Elder Abraham Fernandez.
While in Lahaina on this last visit, he wrote in his journal, “I started out this morning to find the site of the house and garden where I had sought the Lord in secret prayer and where he condescended to commune with me, for I heard His voice more than once as one man speaks to another, encouraging me and showing me the work which should be done among this people if I would follow the dictates of His Spirit. Glory to God in the highest that he has permitted me to live to behold the fulfillment of his words.” Three months after this visit he passed on to his reward[31].
Orson F. Whitney in his History of Utah states with reference to George Q. Cannon, “Utah, among all her gifted sons, has not seen his equal.”
A Centennial Edition of the Maui News had an article with a picture of Mom and Dad and the following:
Ninety-seven years after George Q. Cannon, Maui’s first and one [of] Hawaii’s best loved Mormon missionaries, baptized the first LDS member on this Island, his grandson, William W. Cannon addressed nearly a thousand members of the faith on the same spot at Pulehu.
William W. Cannon, who during the war served in the Navy and was discharged as an ensign, is on Maui serving as a missionary in the same field that his distinguished grand-father pioneered those many years ago. Working with him in church work is his wife, Margery, the couple having left their home in Salt Lake in March for two years service with their church.
George Q. Cannon, who as a youth of 20 years had made the historic trip across the Great Plains in 1847, answered the call as a missionary to Hawaii in 1850. He was sent to Lahaina for his first labors. He rapidly mastered the Hawaiian tongue and translated the monumental work “The Book of Mormon” into the Hawaiian language and took the manuscript back to Salt Lake for printing.
He did not return to Hawaii until the Golden jubilee of the arrival of the Mormons in Hawaii in 1900. Many of the Cannon family settled in Hawaii and became pillars of the business community in Honolulu.
On Thursday morning the members traveled to their Pulehu chapel in Kula where a service was held in commemoration of the first baptisms and establishing of the first branch of the Church in the Hawaiian Islands by George Q. Cannon in 1851. The island-wide mission choir rendered several selections in Hawaiian, and the congregation joined with them in singing other numbers.
Visiting dignitary and main speaker at the commemorative meeting was President Matthew Cowley, president of all the Pacific Islands Missions who is returning to Salt Lake City from a three month tour of the Missions including Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Racatonga islands. He told of many faith promoting experiences with these people and complemented them for their faithfulness in living up to the teachings of the Church.
Other speakers were E. Wesley Smith, president of the Hawaiian Mission, Elder William W. Cannon, grandson of George Q. Cannon, and William Kailimai from the Island of Hawaii. President Smith related many of his early missionary experiences in the Hawaiian Islands and told much of their history of the Church here. Elder Cannon told the story of the first missionary groups ii the Hawaiian islands and read excerpts from his grandfather’s personal journal.
FOOTNOTES:
[25] After “President E. Wesley Smith
arrived as a replacement for President Murphy[,] Sister Cannon was then
assigned as the Mission Recorder, and I became the Mission Financial
Secretary.” Beachheads, p. 6. Mom says that as Mission Recorder, she kept records
for baptisms, marriages, etc.
[26] This incident was related to a
group assembled at the Wailuku chapel that night, February 8, 1921. J. Pia
Cockett wrote about the event in his notebook: “While he [Elder McKay] was
praying, the Hawaiian Elder [David Kailimai] was privileged to see in a vision
two hands clasped in the form of greeting. He thought Cannon and [Samuel H.]
Hurst were shaking hands. He opened his eyes and saw they were apart. He closed
his eyes again and after the prayer he told what he had seen.” For many years
Bro. Cockett “was under the impression that the clasped hands of the vision
were those of George Q. Cannon and his son, Hugh. But in 1936 on a subsequent
visit to Hawaii the story was retold to President McKay. He corrected Cockett,
saying, ‘Those hands were the hands of the two fathers, George Q. Cannon and
Joseph F. Smith, in the presence of the two sons, Hugh J. Cannon and E. Wesley
Smith.’” Moramona, p. 149.
[27]
Mom’s recollection is that she thought of using Noxzema to stop the
itch. They went to the store for some and it worked.
[28]
Edwin Quayle Cannon and Edith Luella Wareing were married on June 21,
1917.
[29] Pres. Smith was not an office type
and was not very organized. He would perch on the end of a desk and tell those
in the office long stories. It drove Dad crazy because he could not get any
work done. He had no plan and Dad eventually wrote a manual for how to do
things in the office so others would know what to do (see entries for January
19, 20 and 27 and February 10 and 23, 1949). This was very stressful for Dad
because he was young and figuring out how to do all of this kind of work on his
own. Pres. Smith loved the limelight and loved to tell stories. Sister Smith
was very quiet and liked to work behind the scene.
[30] Melvyn A. Weenig was one of the
first three missionaries to the Japanese Mission in Hawaii, arriving in October
1937. In 1946, he was called to come back as mission president of the Central
Pacific Mission, in which capacity he served until 1950. He directed
construction of the cannery on the tabernacle grounds on Beretania Street in
Honolulu and took the Saints into the pineapple fields to glean what was left
behind. He also worked hard to reestablish a mission in Japan. The CPM was the
source of eight missionaries called to the Japanese Mission when it was
reopened in 1948. Moramona, pp. 160-161.
[31] Years later, Georgius Cannon, George Q. Cannon’s youngest son, met with the family in Grandmother and Grandfather [Ed and Luella] Cannon’s home, shortly before he died. He spoke about his father, among other things. Because he traveled with his father a good deal as a youngster, Mom asked him if his father told him of this experience. He answered, “yes, many times.” Mom asked if his father just talked with the Savior or if he actually saw Him. Georgius said his father actually saw the Savior at that time.
