August 12, 2001, Marks 100 YEARS of the Church in Japan

The following information is taken from the NFE Returned Missionaries Assoc. Newsletter

Brother McCune, Editor

 

ELDER HEBER J. GRANT OPENED First MISSION 

There were LDS missionaries who passed through Japan to other fields of labor prior to 1901. One such occasion was experienced by Elders William Willes, Milson R. Pratt, George H. Booth, and Henry Frederick McCune on their way to the East Indies Mission in Calcutta via Yokohama and Hong Kong in July 1884.

On July 3, [1884] Henry Frederick McCune recorded in his journal: 
"July 3rd. A sick young Chinaman committed suicide today by jumping into the sea. At 6:30 P.M. we sighted the island of Japan. Entered the bay after dark and cast anchor for the night. 


"July 4th. Steamed into Yokohama at 4 A.M. Our ship was decorated from stem to stern with flags and bunting and the warships in the harbor were firing a salute as we entered in honor of our American Independence Day. We went ashore and enjoyed a good breakfast at a Japanese restaurant. The food was excellant [sic.] and well served by pretty Japanese girls. 

"After we had breakfasted, we took a stroll about the beautiful city of Yokohama. The buildings were very pretty and the streets were clean, the most of them being paved with a transparent portland cement, and looked like flint glass. Horses and cattle were not allowed on the streets, all transportation and drayage [sic.] being done by man power, jinrikishas being the only means of traveling about the city drawn by sturdy little Japanese on the dog trot all day at ten cents an hour.

"I finished writing letters to my beloved wife and children seated in a beautiful park. The next day, July 5th, we went ashore at 7 A.M. and had breakfast and mailed our letters for home, then took a train for Tokyo 20 miles away, a very enjoyable trip through rice fields and lovely gardens. We arrived in Tokyo at 9 A.M., hired a jinrikisha each and started on a tour of the ancient city of Tokyo.

"We visited a magnificent park or estate of the Mikados and tycoons, also an imperial cemetery where royal personages and warrior chiefs were interred for many generations. Their grand monuments (thousands of them) were all of bronze and the imperial temple (Buddhist) was richly carved and gilted [sic.] with gold leaf. It was a most magnificent building. We spent a very interesting and instructive day and was [sic.] loth to leave Tokyo and its wonderful sights.

"Took dinner at a Japanese restaurant and returned to Yokohama. Brother M.R. Pratt and I strolled about the town until dusk. Ate supper, then went aboard the steamer and to bed.

"Sunday, July 6th. Steamed out of Yokohama at 5 A.M. I was very loth to leave this fairyland and I believe that the day is not far when a mission will be established in this land . . ." 

The call came 16 years later when Pres. George Q. Cannon of the First Presidency declared in a meeting of the presidency attended by 44 year old apostle Heber J. Grant, "We are going to open a mission in Japan." Elder Grant felt mixed emotions as he received impressions they were going to call him. He was in financial debt. But the call was given.

Elder Grant had one time said he would like to travel the world if he was free from debt. President Lorenzo Snow then asked him, " Elder Grant, didn't you remark once about being free from debt and going around the world?"

"Yes," he answered, then added with emphasis, "if" but assured the presidency he would accept the call and take care of his financial situation.

Elder John W. Taylor was in the meeting and after the meeting prophesied to Heber that the Lord would bless him to make enough money to go to Japan a free man financially.

The prophesy was fulfilled in four months and thereafter, Pres. Grant always said the Lord had commanded him to go to Japan and prepared a way.

Elder Grant, Horace S. Ensign, Louis A. Kelsch, and 19 year old Alma O. Taylor received a farewell reception at the Beehive House on June 26, 1901, boarded the Empress of India on the West Coast, and arrived in Tokyo Bay the morning of August 12, 1901.

It was on Sunday morning, September 1, 1901, when the four elders went to woods east of Yokohama, sang a song, and prayed individually. Elder Heber J. Grant then dedicated the land of Japan for the preaching of the gospel of the restoration.

Elder Alma O. Taylor records the experience: "His tongue was loosened and the Spirit rested mightily upon him; so much so that I felt the angels of God were near; for our hearts burned within us as the words fell from his lips. I never experienced such a peaceful influence or heard such a powerful prayer before. Every word penetrated into my very bones, and I could have wept for joy.

"The Japanese islands were dedicated 'for the proclamation of the Truth and for the bringing to pass of the purposes of the Lord concerning the gathering of Israel and the establishment of righteousness upon the earth.'"

Sources: Matthew McCune Family History, Vol. 2AB, edited by George M. McCune (Salt Lake City:McCune Family Association, 1993), pp. 31-32); Journal History of the Church, April-June 1901, pp. 5-6, LDS Historical Department, SLC, Utah; History of the Japan Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1901-1924, Appendix A, Part II, by Murray L. Nichols, M.A. Thesis, (Provo:Brigham Young University, November 1957); The Church Encounters Asia, by Spencer J. Palmer (Salt Lake City:Deseret Book Company, 1970), pp. 55-57.