Missionaries From My Family

MISSIONS FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Brad Gessell, Virginia Richmond, July 2007 – July 2009

(Brad, I need a picture!)

September 19, 2008 - Today was M.T. baptism. We have been working with him ever since I got into the branch. While we were taking pictures, his mother came up to us and said that she wanted all of us to hear it. She didn't agree with his decision, but she was supportive of him in whatever he did. She wasn't happy about it, but she loved him. It was pretty intense.

I was asked to perform the baptism, and it went really well. Apparently right after the baptism, his mom looked over at a friend and said, "I guess my prayers weren't answered." A sister missionary talked to her forever afterwards to help her understand things. The problem seems to be that she doesn't really want to understand. The support of the branch is incredible. There were a lot of people there.

Bryce Gessell, Chile Rancagua, July 2005 – July 2007

Bryce (l) with Cristofer and Mirzhi's family

March 26, 2006 - Today was probably the most completely spiritual day of the entire mission. In the morning we went to church with 7 investigators, and I felt the Spirit very strong there. The chapel is like a haven, a place of defense out here. I love going and partaking of that spirit and the sacrament; in comparison with the sector, it's like entering into a different world, which in many ways it is. It is the thing I look forward to most out of the week| It is better than pday, just for feeling the Spirit. After church we ate and went right back to the chapel to get ready for the baptism. We had refreshments ready to go, we had everything set up, the font filling with cold water because we couldn't get it working right at first, and everything was good to go. To my delight a ton of people showed up, but we delayed the start of it for almost 45 minutes waiting for other people. Everyone finally showed up at the end, and the program went incredibly well. The talks, the special musical number, everything went perfectly--and then the baptism. The room was jam packed full of people and it was amazing. As he did the baptism and as I walked to meet them in the bathroom afterwards, the Spirit was so strong that it was almost a tangible force within me, as if a grasp of the air would have allowed me to touch it. Rarely before have I felt it so strongly. I said congratulations to him and we ended the meeting, and the people started to file out. It was a perfect baptism--everything went well, the Spirit was amazing, and a son of God entered into a covenant with his Father to take the path that leads to the celestial kingdom. His testimony was amazing--"I want God to take control of my life, and the life of my family." For one moment, here on this earth, we had achieved perfection. It was the most spiritual experience that I have had on my mission and one that will be impossible to forget. 

Henry Hudson Webb, Swiss – German, October 17, 1928 – February 11, 1931

Elder Webb (on the left)

Elder Webb

(Pictures and journal entries are all taken from The Mission Journals of Henry Hudson Webb October 17, 1928 to February 11, 1931, transcribed and translated by his great-granddaughter Dani Tew (Germany, Munich-Austria Mission 2003-2004), published by Blurb.)

February 19, 1929 – Saw opera "Veline."  Wonderful scenery but very ordinary singers.  Having trouble with myself about tracting but I am resolved that I am going to like to tract before my Mission is completed.  Poor month. 

July 30, 1930 – Just received a letter from Mother enclosing $10 for my birthday.  The love of a mother is the nearest to that of God on this earth.  Received a package from Mother containing cake, nuts, dates and candy.  The three Brethren have just left – Bro. Tate to Hannover, Bro. Nordquist to Bremen and Bro. Mathis to Zurich.  Went to sleep this afternoon and missed the train, however Bro Menssen came here.  Three were baptized.  A crowd of perhaps 50 to 60 curious on-lookers witnessed the ordinance.  Beautiful evening.  The lights on the other shore of the Rhein and of the boars were reflected in the water.  A half moon in the heavens.

November 6, 1930 – Today was the Cologne District Conference.  It was very successful.  The total present was 750.  A fine spirit was felt.  In the evening meeting the lecturer Brauer spoke about us.  He had visited us and he praised us the city, the architecture very much.  A nice impression for the friends.  President Tadje was very excited about the entire conference.  Spoke with the same students.  Funny.  People want to hear something very secretive very deep regarding religion and our simple explanations often disappoint them.

Thomas Ray Burt, British Isles Mission, April 1905 - July 1907 

Elder Burt, in the Missionary Department Registers 1860-1959
(Vol. C, pg 214, entry #169) (LeGrand Richards is #177)

Registry, page 2

 

Elder Burt

Belfast Conference - British Isles Mission 1905
Elder Burt, back row, far left
Pres. Grant, middle row, third from left

The following is from Heber J. Grant's European Mission, 1903-1906, pp. 266-267, originally published in Journal of Mormon History 14 (1988): 16-33:

The new mission president refused to stand on ceremony or allow his age or high office to distance him from his subordinates.  Perhaps as a result, a bond quickly grew between the impressionable missionaries and their leader.  New elders usually first met him at the Holly Road meeting room, where one recalled that his instructions were "brief, inspiring, loveable, and full of the spirit of  the Lord."  Rather than exhortation or pulpit pounding, Grant's style was democratic.  He typically would ask each novice to join in a covenant with him to do their best and serve their mutual God.  During the missionaries' later experience, he was equally open, sharing both the problems of the mission and details of his own personal or business life.  Much of his talk to missionaries was fatherly counsel…  "We were . . .[told] to avoid wine and women like we would the gates of hell," recalled future General Authority LeGrand Richards. 

Charles Cottrell, Jr., Great Britain, June 1890 – May 1892

1891 Doncaster Census showing Elder Cottrell as a Boarder at
91 Nelson Street, occupation: Latter-Day Saint Elder - Preacher

Charles Cottrell, Jr.

(The journal entries are from a journal that Charles Cottrell Jr. left.  Handwritten in small (maybe 4"x8") black books.  Marilyn Taylor (Mom's cousin) had it in her possession and had made copies of all the pages.  Mom had a copy of part of the journal and I was able to obtain the rest and finish the transcription that Marilyn had started.  It was a wonderful experience for me.  I loved it when he often spoke of writing very long (one a 16-page) letters to "M" (his future wife).)

July 23, 1890 – Today we commenced a labor that was entirely new to me.  The new labor was distributing tracts.  Bro. Lovett and I distributed 300.  I was not long in finding out we were objects of curiosity to many people.  We took tea with Brother Tyas.  After tea we went with him to his garden.  From here he sent is home laden with a basket of vegetables. 

November 1, 1890 – The forepart was spent about the usual way.  Mr.  Wright and I spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches in the room.  In the evening I went and spent the evening playing chickens with him.  Our game was attended with rather disastrous results.  Mrs.  Wright went into the town and left us in charge of the oven in which was a fake, but we became so absorbed in our game the cake was not even thought of.  The result was it was burned to a crisp.  The discovery was soon made when the good lady returned.  It took all my pleading powers to gain forgiveness and after humiliating ourselves to the fullest extent we were pardoned.  After supper I returned to 91.

October 11, 1891 – Was spent in attending to our sacred duties.  This being my last Sunday in Doncaster I had several invitations to tea.  I accepted one to take tea at Mr. Wright's.  We had a very nice tea after which we all went to meeting.  It had been announced I would deliver my farewell address that night, by Brother Kirkham in the afternoon, consequently the room was crowded. After opening exercises Bro. Kirkham arose and stated I would address the meeting which I did for one hour.  After meeting we again went to Wrights took supper and returned home about 11:00.