My First Mission

In Short

This memoir recounts the author’s early experiences as a young missionary sent by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1850s. Far from home and lacking formal training, he must navigate severe language barriers, intense isolation, and organized opposition from established missionary groups. Through persistence, prayer, and a deep, unfolding bond with the native people, he transforms from a frightened boy into a confident leader. It remains a foundational text of its tradition, valued for its candid portrayal of early missionary life.

The Story

The narrative begins with a young man struggling to overcome his paralyzing fear of public speaking. Despite his anxiety, he is sent on a three-week sea voyage to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). The journey is marked by extreme hardship, including illness and a terrifying near-shipwreck during a storm. Upon arrival, the group of missionaries faces immediate challenges: they are strangers in a foreign land, ignored by the white population and viewed with suspicion by the ruling religious establishment.

The author and his companions soon realize that their mission requires more than just warning the local settlers; they must learn to preach to the native population in their own tongue. The author describes his intense, prayerful struggle to acquire the language. He experiences a breakthrough when, during a home visit, he receives a sudden, supernatural gift of interpretation. This empowerment shifts the trajectory of his mission. He moves out of the comfort of his group to live among the native people, finding them to be naturally hospitable and open to his message, in stark contrast to the resistance he meets from the local Presbyterian missionaries.

As his influence grows, so does the opposition. Local authorities and colonial figures attempt to stop his work through threats and social pressure. The author travels to Honolulu to seek aid, demonstrating his increasing diplomatic maturity. Throughout these trials, he relies heavily on his faith, viewing his service not as a burden but as an inestimable privilege. The story culminates in a period of immense productivity: the author translates the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language, a labor he describes as his greatest source of joy.

The memoir concludes with the author’s departure in 1854. The contrast between his lonely, uncertain arrival and his emotional farewell—surrounded by thousands of local converts who have become his spiritual family—serves as the emotional anchor of the book. He leaves the islands having cemented a religious legacy that he believes will endure into the hereafter, firmly convinced that his success was a direct result of Divine providence rather than his own limited human capabilities.

How It Unfolds

A call to service The author recounts his youthful desire to be a "standard-bearer" and the anxiety that plagued his first attempts at public speaking. He prepares to leave his comfortable, familiar life for a distant, unknown field.

The perilous voyage The sea journey tests the missionaries’ faith as they face violent storms and the near-loss of their vessel. They view their survival as a direct act of God, reinforcing their reliance on prayer.

Finding a way Upon arrival, the missionaries face a crisis of purpose: should they focus on white settlers or the native people? The author rejects the urge to return home when initial efforts fail, deciding to commit fully to the local population.

Mastering the language The author experiences a moment of profound spiritual clarity that allows him to understand the local language. This ability unlocks his potential to teach and connect with the Hawaiian people.

Building a foundation The author faces intense opposition from established missionaries who fear his influence. He counters this through consistent, patient teaching, eventually baptizing influential figures and translating scripture.

A permanent legacy The final stages focus on the lasting impact of his work and the deep emotional bonds formed with the native Saints. He departs with a sense of fulfillment and a firm belief in the future of the church on the islands.

The People

The memoir centers on the author, George Q. Cannon, whose journey from a timid, insecure youth to a determined, authoritative missionary provides the book’s arc. He is driven by a sincere, almost desperate need to validate his faith through action. James Keeler, his chosen partner, serves as a steadying influence, offering the author the companionship and shared prayer needed to survive the isolation of their work.

Jonatana H. Napela is the most significant local figure, a judge and educated leader who becomes the author’s primary contact and advocate. His evolution from a curious listener to a baptized believer and eventual martyr for the faith underscores the author’s belief in the universal appeal of his message. The Presbyterian missionaries, specifically a man named Green, represent the primary antagonist. They view the author as a threat to their established social and religious order, resorting to slander and political maneuvering. While they successfully complicate the author’s life, they ultimately fail to stop the spread of his movement, serving as a foil to his own perceived sincerity and "plain" approach to the gospel.

In Its Own Voice

The author describes the intense, often debilitating fear that accompanied his early attempts at public life:

"The feeling of dread was terrible. He had been in places of peril where life was in danger; but he never felt as he did about preaching."

Reflecting on the transformative power of his work in the islands, he writes:

"We had gone forth weeping and bearing precious seed. The Lord had given us souls for our hire."

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is a defense of the missionary lifestyle as a process of refinement rather than a hardship. The author argues that religious conviction is not a static state, but one that is constantly tested by adversity, language barriers, and social rejection. He posits that true authority comes not from status or education, but from the "Spirit"—a guiding, supernatural force that enables individuals to overcome human limitations. The book also touches upon the clash between traditional indigenous culture and encroaching Western influence, framed through the lens of a religious outsider who views his own message as a corrective to the destructive aspects of colonial "civilization."

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious missions or the nineteenth-century Pacific will find this an invaluable primary account. It is a deeply personal, often vulnerable look at how someone from a sheltered background navigates a completely foreign culture. The author’s prose is direct and accessible, though readers should be prepared for the mid-19th-century worldview he carries. He is quite candid about the "destructiveness" of white settler influence, providing a perspective that is critical of his own peers while remaining firmly grounded in his religious mission.

What stays with you is the author's relentless optimism in the face of failure. Even when he is broke, hungry, or being slandered by local authorities, he finds a way to frame the experience as a "providential" test. It is a quiet, contemplative book, not an action-packed adventure, and it feels like a long, honest conversation with an elder reflecting on his youth. It offers a clear, unvarnished window into the mindset of a man who believed, with every fiber of his being, that he was changing the world one conversation at a time. It is recommended for those who appreciate memoirs that value spiritual endurance over worldly success.