Church Beginnings in Korea Part Two

September 1959 to July 1962

By Paul C. Andrus

President of The Northern Far East Mission 1955-1962

Kaneohe, Hawaii, December 10, 2002

Introductory Note. In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the baptism of President Ho Jik Kim the Church in Korea under the direction of Elder Won Yong Ko, Korea Area Seventy, published in 2001 in Korean and In English a beautiful book entitled Feed My Sheep chronicling the life and achievements of President Ho Jik Kim. At the request of Elder Ko I compiled and sent to him in December 2000 Part One of Church Beginnings in Korea for his reference in publishing Feed My Sheep. In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary in 2005 of the dedication of the land of Korea for the preaching of the gospel by President Joseph Fielding Smith on August 2, 1955, the church in Korea under the direction of Elder Ko is planning to publish the history of the church in Korea from the earliest beginnings right up to the present time. Elder Ko has requested me to send him this Part Two so that together with Part One he will have available to him information on all of the years I presided over the church in Korea. from 1955 to 1962. Part one covered from December 9, 1955, up to the death of President Ho Jik Kim on August 31, 1959. Part Two covers from the death of President Kim up to the creation of the Korean Mission on July 8, 1962. There is a time line of important events at the end.

On Wednesday, September 16,1959, I flew to Korea to visit the missionaries and to take care of some important matters. Elder Lowell Brown is my First Counselor and he is directly in charge of the church in Korea so he and I took care of these matters together.

President Brown and I visited the missionaries in the Seoul Central Branch, the Seoul East Branch, the Seoul East Gate Branch, and the Seoul West Branch and found them all well and happy. I let the missionaries know that the First Presidency has shortened the term of service for Elders in the Northern Far East Mission from three years to thirty months and they were all disappointed and saddened to know that they would not be in Korea as long as they thought.

President Brown and I visited the family of President Ho Jik Kim twice and shared their grief over the sudden passing of their husband and father. I had a serious conversation in Japanese for over an hour with Mrs. Kim about the church and its teachings. She has never been baptized but I was impressed that she is now seriously thinking about joining the church. Their oldest daughter, Chung Sook and their younger daughter, Young Sook, are both members but even so, they are suffering much grief at the sudden loss of their father.

President Brown and I spent many hours at the Korean District Headquarters office at the Sam Chung Dong property going over the statistical procedures, the financial procedures, and in drawing up the budget for the Korean District for the coming year of 1960 We also met with Brother Shin and discussed the status of the church religious corporation (Zaidan Hojin) and what steps should be taken now that President Kim is no longer with us.

We were pleasantly surprised when Brother Antone K. Romney, younger brother of President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency, and Head of the Education Department at BYU came to see us at Sam Chung Dong. He is in Korea with an American education research group. We enjoyed a pleasant visit and we think he learned a lot about how the church is doing in Korea.

On Saturday, October 31, 1959, Sister Andrus and I flew to Korea aboard Northwest Airlines and were met at the airport by President Brown, Elder Hawkins and Elder Till.

Soon after arriving I went to the Sam Chung Dong property and visited Elder James Bradshaw who has come down with hepatitis. He is feeling quite well and the doctor says that his case is relatively light and that with rest in bed he should be all right.

We are doing some renovation work at the Sam Chung Dong property. We have built a new wall around the property and we have remodeled the Korean residence building to serve as the District Office and printing room. This building also serves as missionary quarters. We are also constructing an addition to the Seoul Central Branch meetinghouse and I was pleased at the progress being made.

Sister Andrus and I attended sessions of the Korean District Conference Saturday evening and on Sunday morning at the Duck Soo Girls College in Seoul. We enjoyed an excellent drama at the Saturday night MIA session. There was a heavy rain falling Sunday morning but over 250 turned out for the General Session in spite of the rain. Before the General session I interviewed six Korean brothers and found them worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained Elders. They were sustained in the General Session.

In the afternoon Sister Andrus and I attended the LDS Servicemen's meeting at the 8th Army Post Chapel. We could not get past the front gate in the Korean civilian taxi in which we were riding so we had to walk to the post chapel in the rain. We enjoyed a good meeting with about forty in attendance. After this meeting I met with Brother (Lieutenant) Cornford who is the acting president of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District. Brother and Sister George Robinson took us to their home for dinner and then drove us back to the Duck Soo Girls College.

In the evening at the fireside session at the Duck Soo Girls College Sister Andrus and I spoke on marriage. After this meeting I conferred the Melchizedk Priesthood on the six men who were sustained this morning in the General Session and aordained them to the office of Elder. In Korea many more men than women are joining the church which bodes very well for the future growth of the church in Korea.

Beginning at 8AM on Monday, Sister Andrus and I met in a fast, testimony, and report meeting with all the Missionaries in Korea except Elder Bradshaw and Elder Taylor. Elder Taylor became ill last night and was taken to the Swedish hospital in Seoul by his companion. Elder Taylor was fine when we left him after the fireside session last night, but later on he was stricken with pains and cramps in his stomach. He is feeling better this morning but will undergo tests in the hospital to determine the nature of his illness. It was good for the missionaries to meet together in testimony meeting and mutually strengthen and encourage each other.

In the afternoon after the missionary meeting, Elder Till became ill and had to go to bed. The other nine Elders, Sister Andrus and I, and President Ho Jik Kim's daughters, Chung Sook and Young Sook, drove out and visited President Kim's grave. It is a beautiful spot but it was a sad occasion.

Tuesday morning I finished interviewing each missionary. Elder Till was fully recovered from the illness which struck him yesterday so he and Elder Jenkins were able to return to Pusan today. After interviewing the missionaries I met with President Brown and took care of necessary District business. We then went to back to the Bando hotel and checked out. We then looked at property for sale in the East Gate area and then we intended to visit Elder Taylor at the Swedish Hospital but we got lost and had to leave for the airport with out seeing him. I spoke to him on the telephone earlier in the day and was pleased to learn he is feeling better, but the doctors still do not know the nature of his illness.

On Wednesday, November 25, 1959, Elder Donald Hill from Sacramento, California, and Elder Lynn Waddell from Driggs, Idaho, arrived in the mission. I was impressed to assign these two missionaries to Korea. We were able to obtain visas for them within three weeks and they flew to Seoul on Wednesday, December 16th.

On Wednesday, December 30,1959, Elder Vearl Taylor and Elder David Strebe flew to Tokyo from Seoul. They have honorably completed their missions and are scheduled to depart for America on Saturday, January 2, 1960, by Pan American jet. Elder Strebe is still recovering from hepatitis but is feeling well.

On Wednesday, January 20, 1960, I flew to Seoul for a six day visit in Korea. Sister Andrus flew to Seoul and joined me on Friday. Brother (Colonel) Harold Malan who is the LDS Servicemen's Coordinator for the Northern Far East Mission also flew in on Friday from Tachikawa Air Base in Tokyo to be in attendance at the Korea LDS Serviucemen's District Conference. My First Counselor, Elder Lowell Edward Brown and I spent the afternoon looking at land for sale in Seoul and then visited the family of President Ho Jik Kim We had a good visit with Sister Kil Pun Park, President Kim's widow and with his two daughters, Chung Sook and Yung Sook.

On Thursday I flew to Pusan to visit the four missionaries now laboring in Pusan. I was met at the airport by all four missionaries and about ten Korean members.. In the evening I attended the Pusan Branch MIA meeting and there were about 120 Koreans in attendance.

I flew back to Seoul on Friday and joined sister Andrus at the Bando Hotel where we are staying.

In the evening Brother Malan took us out to dinner at the 8th Army Officer's Club.

Beginning at 7 AM Saturday Sister Andrus, President Brown, Brother Malan, and I met at the Sam Chung Dong property with all eighteen of the missionaries now laboring in Korea. We enjoyed a business meeting where the flannel board lessons were introduced and discussed. This was followed by an inspiring Sacrament and Testimony Meeting. In the evening Sister Andrus, President Brown, Brother Malan, and I were guests at the home of Sister Do Pil Kim-Lee and were treated to a sumptuous Korean dinner prepared entirely by Sister Kim-Lee and her son.

It is very cold in Korea during the wintertime. Last night the temperature dropped to 6 degrees Fahrenheit and tonight it went down to 1 degree Fahrenheit.

On Sunday, January 24, 1960, I attended Priesthood Meeting in the Seoul West Branch in very cold weather. There were 30 Korean men in attendance even though this branch was only organized last September. After this Priesthood Meeting, I returned to the hotel and met with Brother Malan and Brother (First Lieutenant) George Cornford, acting President of the Korea LDS Servicemen's District. Brother Cornford will be returning to the USA in March so we decided to install Brother Petersen who is now serving as the Seoul Servicemen's Group Leader as the new President of the Korea LDS Servicemen's District. We then met in Priesthood Meeting at 1:30 followed by Sacrament Meeting at 3PM with the Korea LDS Servicemen's District and installed brother Petersen as the new President.

Monday, January 25, 1960. Before returning to Tokyo today, President Brown, Elder Waddell, and I again visited the family of President Ho Jik Kim. I again spoke at length in Japanese with Pil Kun Park, President Kim's widow, encouraging her to join the church.

On Thursday, March 31, 1960, Elder George Glayde Maw from Roy, Utah, and Elder Robert M. Adams from Blackfoot, Idaho arrived in the mission field. The next day I assigned both of these Elders to go to Korea and we submitted applications to the Korean Diplomatic Mission in Tokyo for visas for them to enter Korea. Their visas were issued with no problem and we made reservations for them to fly to Seoul on Friday, April 22nd.

In April, anti-government demonstrations broke out in several cities in Korea. These demonstrations climaxed on April 19th when hundreds of demonstrators tried to storm President Synghman Rhee's residence and were fired upon by Korean soldiers killing and wounding many of the demonstrators. I tried to phone President L. Edward Brown but could not get through to Korea. The next day. President Brown telephoned me from Korea and reported that all the missionaries in Seoul were safe and that as far as he knew all the missionaries in Pusan were also safe. President Brown reported that things had quieted down in Seoul. I decided to send Elder Maw and Elder Adams to Korea as scheduled and they flew from Tokyo to Seoul on Friday, April 22nd.

New demonstrations broke out in Seoul on Tuesday, April 26, 1960, and 30 were reported killed and a hundred injured in fighting among police, soldiers, and demonstrators. President Singhman Rhee issued a statement agreeing to resign if it is the will of the people. The next day the Korean National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling on President Rhee to resign and in response President Rhee did submit his resignation to the National Assembly. The next day on Thursday, April 28th, the vice-president elect of the Republic of Korea, his wife, and their two sons died in a family suicide pact in an annex building on the grounds of the presidential mansion. Student demonstrators had vowed to kill him for his sponsorship of police brutality and for rigging the national elections on March 15th so the family apparently agreed to die together. The oldest son shot his father and his mother and his younger brother and then shot himself. The older son was only 23 years old and just last year had been legally adopted by Singhman Rhee. This same day the National Assembly accepted President Rhee's resignation and peace and calm returned to Korea. Order was restored and martial law was lifted. All our missionaries came safely through this period of political unrest and fighting in Korea.

Monday, May 9, 1960. Elder Lowell Brown and Elder Ray Hawkins have completed their missions in Korea and flew to Tokyo today. Elder Brown has served as my Second Counselor in the Mission Presidency since last May. The next day, Tuesday May 10, 1960, Elder Brown and I spent the entire day reviewing all the affairs of the church in Korea. In the evening Elder Brown and Elder Hawkins departed by Pan American Airways for their homes in the USA.

Saturday, May 14, 1960, The father of Elder Ross Tyler who is laboring in Seoul, Korea was killed yesterday in an accident. I received a telegram this morning from his mother and immediately put in a telephone call to Korea but the call was delayed and did not go through until 5:45 this evening. However I was able speak with Elder Tyler in person to inform him of the loss of his father. Elder Tyler will remain in Korea and will not return home for the funeral.

Saturday, June 4, 1960. Today Brother Hinckley made his first trip to Korea. He, Sister Andrus, and I flew from Tokyo to Seoul and were met at the airport by about 100 enthusiastic missionaries, Korean members, and LDS Servicemen, headed by Elder James Bradshaw who is the Korean District President, and Warrant Officer Allan Petersen who is the Korean LDS Servicemen's District President. Brother Petersen had made arrangements for us to stay at very comfortable military quarters at South Post of the US Army Seoul Area Command.

This afternoon we made a courtesy call on Colonel Kersey, the 8th Army Chaplain, and were well received. Chaplain Kersey is well acquainted with LDS Chaplain Theodore Curtis and with his brother, LDS Chaplain Reuben Curtis and through them has learned much about the church.

In the evening Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus, and I attended and spoke at the MIA session of the Korean District Conference at the Seoul Boy's Commercial High School. It was an excellent meeting with about 500 in attendance. This meeting was highlighted by the singing of American rock and roll songs by the Korean members. Brother Hinckley enjoyed this meeting very much.

Sunday June 5, 1960. The Priesthood Session, The Relief Society Session, and The General Session of the Korean District Conference were all held this morning at the Seoul Boy's Commercial High School. Brother Hinckley and I attended and spoke at the Priesthood Session while Sister Andrus attended and spoke at the Relief society Session. We then met and spoke in the General Session of the Korean District Conference with over 500 in attendance. In the afternoon Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I met and spoke at the LDS Servicemen's meeting at the 8th Army Chapel with about 60 in attendance. In the evening Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus, and I attended and spoke at a joint Korean-LDS Servicemen fireside in the Seoul Boy's Commercial High School. It was a day filled up with excellent meetings.

Monday, June 6, 1960. Beginning at 7:30 AM Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I met with all the missionaries laboring in Korea. We met at the Seoul Central Branch (Sam Chung Dong). This was a very spiritual meeting and everyone opened their hearts and poured out their innermost feelings. Brother Hinckley gave us all a very inspiring message. I announced at this meeting that today is Sister Andrus's birthday and all joined in wishing her many happy returns. After the meeting President Hinckley interviewed each missionary one by one while I took sister Andrus out to the airport and put her on a Northwest Airlines flight to Tokyo.

Tuesday, June 7, 1960. Brother Hinckley and I flew to Pusan today aboard Korean Airlines and were met by the missionaries and about 25 members. En route back to the city from the airport we visited the United Nations Cemetery. After lunch at the missionary quarters, Brother Hinckley and I and the missionaries went out to a public park in Pusan overlooking the city and held an outdoor meeting. A crowd of over 100 people quickly gathered and listened attentively. Elder Gene Till conducted the meeting and spoke to the crowd in Korean. Brother Hinckley and I then spoke while Elder Till interpreted for us. We returned to the Missionary Quarters for dinner and then Brother Hinckley and I attended and spoke at a special meeting of the Pusan Branch.

After this meeting Brother Hinckley and I went to the Pusan train station and boarded our train for an overnight trip to Seoul. We had reserved a private compartment from Pusan to Seoul but when we arrived at the station we were informed that the railroad car with our compartment had broken down and that they were holding two lower berths for us instead.

Wednesday, June 8, 1960. I had a pretty good sleep but Brother Hinckley had a miserable night. Our pillows were stuffed with unthreshed rice which aggravated Brother Hinckley's hay fever which kept him awake all night. The train was old and dirty and very uncomfortable. We arrived in Seoul at 7AM tired, dirty, unshaven, and bleary eyed. We were met by Elder James Bradshaw and three other missionaries at the Seoul railroad station. We decided to go ahead with plans to go inspect the Seoul West Branch property and then to look at other property for sale in the Seoul West Branch before returning to our quarters to clean up. Brother Hinckley and I arrived back in our quarters about 9AM and we both really enjoyed the luxury of a shave and a shower. At 10:30 Brother Allan Petersen, president of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District, took Brother Hinckley and me to make a courtesy call on US Army Brigadier General Snider. General Snider seemed to be a fine gentleman and we enjoyed a pleasant visit. This afternoon Brother Petersen drove us out to the airport in an army staff car and Brother Hinckley and I returned to Tokyo aboard Northwest Airlines. This concluded Brother Hinckley's first visit to Korea.

Friday January 6, 1961. Sister Andrus and I flew to Seoul today and were met at the Bando Hotel by Elder James Bradshaw, Korean District President, and Elder Brian Sellers. This evening I met with Elder Bradshaw at the District Headquarters at Sam Chun Dong for a review of how the missionaries and members are doing and how the work is progressing.

Saturday January 7, 1961. Sister Andrus and I met with all 22 missionaries now laboring in Korea in a testimony and instruction meeting at the Sam Chung Dong meeting house. This was a spiritual and inspiring meeting which took up the entire morning until well after noon. We then enjoyed a sumptuous feast at the Sam Chung Dong property prepared and served by the Korean cooks employed by the missionaries. I then interviewed each missionary privately and then met with Elder Bradshaw to work out new missionary assignments. Sister Andrus returned to the hotel earlier in the afternoon and I returned to the hotel at about 8:30 PM.

Sunday January 8, 1961. Sessions of the Korean District Conference were held this morning in the Seoul City High School auditorium. The weather was very cold and the temperature inside the auditorium was near freezing. There were two small charcoal briquette stoves in the auditorium but they did not seem to change the temperature at all. Sister Andrus attended the Relief Society Session while I attended the Priesthood Session The General Session was held after the conclusion of the Priesthood and Relief Society Sessions. In spite of the freezing cold temperatures all meetings were well attended and were inspiring meetings. After the General Session I conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on Brother Ke Hi O and Brother Suk Mo Kim and ordained them to the office of Elder.

This afternoon Sister Andrus and I attended the LDS Servicemen's Conference at the 8th Army Post Chapel and enjoyed an excellent meeting with a truly remarkable spirit. President Lewis Franck who is the LDS Servicemen's Coordinator for the Northern Far East Mission and who is also an Air force Lieutenant Colonel stationed in Tokyo, flew himself over to Korea to attend this conference in a US Air force T-33 and it was good to have him in attendance. After the conference session, President Franck and I met with the Korean LDS Servicemen's District President, Glannis Cloward who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, and with all the LDS Servicemen's Group Leaders to review financial procedures.

Monday January 9, 1961. This morning I again met with Elder Bradshaw and finished up our discussion of the church in Korea. We then visited Sister Do Pil Kim-Lee at her apartment. She is suffering from arthritis and has made arrangements to go to the USA for treatment. I interviewed her and issued a Temple Recommend to her. She is a wonderful lady and we enjoyed a very pleasant visit with her. We then went over and took another look at the property which Brother Harold Burton and I looked at together last October. The owner is asking $200,000 which about makes it impossible for us to give any further consideration to buying it. Returning to the Bando Hotel Sister Andrus and I caught the airport limousine which is a Volkswagon Van to the Seoul Airport and enjoyed a pleasant 2 ½ hour flight back to Tokyo

Saturday May 13, 1961. Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is touring the Northern Far East Mission for the second time. This morning Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I flew from Tokyo to Seoul aboard a Northwest Airlines DC-8 jet making the trip in about two hours. We were met at the airport in Seoul by Elder James Bradshaw, President of the Korean District, Brother (Lt. Colonel) Lewis Franck, Northern Far East Mission LDS Servicemen's Coordinator who flew over from Tokyo, and Brother Brinton, Acting President of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District.

Brother Brinton had made arrangements for us to make a trip to the demilitarized zone and visit Panmunjom, so we left our baggage at the hotel and departed immediately. We enjoyed a pleasant drive to Panmunjom on a beautiful spring day and Brother Hinckley was much interested in the joint security area there.

We returned to Seoul in time to attend the Priesthood and Relief Society meetings beginning at 6;30 this evening at the church property at Sam Chung Dong. These were excellent meetings with 168 in attendance at the Priesthood Meeting.

Sunday May 14, 1961. Beginning at 10 AM Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I attended the morning session of the Korean District Conference at the Seoul Central Branch meetinghouse at Sam Chung Dong. This was also a historic and inspiring meeting with about 400 in attendance. At this meeting for the first time Korean men were sustained as Branch Presidents: Brother Byung Sik Hong was sustained as President of the Seoul Central Branch, Brother Ho Nam Rhee was sustained as President of the East Gate Branch, and Brother Ba Yul Kum was sustained as President of the Pusan Branch.

After this meeting we returned to the hotel for only about five minutes and then departed for the LDS Servicemen's Korean District Conference at the 8th Army post chapel in the Seoul Area Command. We arrived just in time and enjoyed an excellent meeting with 93 in attendance. Colonel Hale, a Protestant Chaplain also came in and joined us at this meeting. At this meeting Brother Brinton was sustained as the new President of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District and Brother Delles Manning was sustained as his First Counselor.

Following this meeting a Leadership Meeting was held with the Servicemen's District Presidency and all the Group Leaders at the home of Brother and Sister Stevens on Seoul South Army Post. Brother Hinckley then set Brother Brinton and Brother Manning apart as President and First Counselor, respectively in the Korean LDS Servicemen's District.

We then returned to our hotel and took time out for something to eat. We had had nothing to eat since breakfast. We could see that we were going to be late for the next meeting with the Koreans but we decided to take time to eat before departing. We were under the impression that this meeting was scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM but when we arrived at 7 PM they were juist giving the closing prayer! Nevertheless, we went in and Brother Hinckley spoke to the congregation after the closing prayer. After this meeting Brother Hinckley set Brother Ho Nam Rhee apart as President of the Seoul East Gate Branch and Brother Ba Yul Kum as President of the Pusan Branch. Brother Hinckley then bestowed the Melchizedek Priesthood on three Korean men and ordained them to the office of Elder. I also bestowed the Melchizedek Priesthood on three Korean men and ordained them to the office of Elder.

Monday May 15, 1961. Beginning at 7:30 AM Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I met with all twenty three missionaries of the Korean District at the Seoul Central Branch in Sam Chung Dong. During my talk I asked the missionaries to work at least 60 proselyting hours each week and to work toward a goal of baptizing 500 converts this year. During his talk, Brother Hinckley asked the missionaries to work between 65 and 70 proselyting hours each week and said he felt that 1,000 converts could be brought into the church in Korea during a one year period!

After this meeting we enjoyed lunch together with all the missionaries at Sam Chung Dong. After lunch Brother Hinckley interviewed each missionary separately while I met with Elder Bradshaw and Elder Waddell to work out new missionary assignments. I then met with Brother Hong and Brother Shin. On our way back to the hotel we stopped off at the home of Brother Shin where I gave a name and a blessing to his two month old daughter. Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I enjoyed dinner together at the hotel.

Tuesday May 16, 1961. Early this morning the military forces of the Republic of Korea took over the government in a military coup. There was considerable shooting and some casualties and Brother Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I were right in the middle of it.

At 4:30 this morning Sister Andrus and I were awakened by what sounded at first like a string of Chinese firecrackers exploding in the street directly beneath our hotel room window. When the explosions continued we went to the windows and looked out and about then the explosions increased in intensity and became much louder. I then recognized the sounds to be gunfire including automatic weapons. It seemed incredible at the time but when I saw a tracer bullet fly past our window, I was convinced. The heavy firing continued unabated. We put on our clothes and then decided it would be a good idea to have brother Hinckley who was in a room one floor below us, come up to our room so that we would be together in case we were rounded up by the troops. I went down to Brother Hinckley's room and found him standing in his pajamas in his room with heavy firing going on in the street right below his window. Together we looked out of his window and I caught sight of a Korean soldier standing with his rifle at the ready position. Brother Hinckley said he would get dressed and come up to our room so I returned to be with Sister Andrus in our room. When Brother Hinckley arrived, heavy firing was still going on but we had no idea who was doing the shooting or why. Firing then began to subside and then resumed again with new intensity so Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I lay down on the floor for safety. We remained lying and sitting on the floor until the firing finally subsided. The heavy firing had continued from 4:30 AM till about 5:00 AM. Even after the nearby heaving firing had stopped, we could still hear distant sporadic firing continuing in other parts of the city, but this too finally subsided and we ventured out of our room to go up on the roof to see what we could see. By this time it was quite light and we could see armed troops filling the street below. We met a Korean man who had a transister radio and he told us that the military forces had taken over the government. We then went down to our rooms and freshened up and then went down to the hotel lobby. At 7:00 AM we went into the dining room and sat down to breakfast. At 7:15 there was another outbreak of distant gunfire but it only lasted for a minute or two.

We had been right in the midst of some heavy shooting as evidenced by the number of bullet marks on the walls and the number of bullet holes in the windows of the building across the narrow street from ours. This building is only about 100 feet or 150 feet at the most away from our hotel rooms. We counted 26 bullet pock marks and bullet holes on the wall and in the windows of this building. The Korean Government Ministry of Home Affairs building is located behind our hotel on the other side from the side our rooms are in. The Ministry of Home Affairs building and compound was surrounded by Korean Marines and much of the shooting had taken place there. Prime Minister Chang has been staying at the Bando hotel which is only about a block from our hotel and the Korean troops entered the Bando Hotel and took him by force from his quarters there. We usually stay at the Bando Hotel but this time we were not able to obtain rooms there. Brother Hinckley observed that this was providential and we agreed.

About 6:30 AM I phoned elder Bradshaw at Sam Chung Dong and instructed him to have all the missionaries stay off the streets today. I also instructed him to send some Korean members to the Soul West Branch and to the Seoul East Branch to let the missionaries know they should stay off the streets today. There were some missionaries scheduled to return to Pusan today so I instructed Elder Bradshaw to instruct them to stay in Seoul and stay off the streets. At 8:00 Am Elder Bradshaw phoned back saying that all missionaries had been contacted and instructed to stay off the streets. Brother Hinckley then wrote out a telegram and we sent it off to the first Presidency letting them know that all missionaries in Korea are safe.

Things were quiet until 9:50 AM when another outbreak of gunfire took place. This gunfire seemed to be taking place in the area of the Bando Hotel and only lasted for two or three minutes. A heavy guard has been thrown up around the Ministry of Home Affairs compound immediately behind our hotel and there are troops scattered all over the city.

At 10:15 AM Brother Hong came to our hotel to bring us up to date on what is happening and about thirty minutes later Brother Shin arrived at our hotel.. They said that the military coup was carried out simultaneously in all of the major cities throughout the nation and that all cities are now under martial law. All seaports and airports have been closed, the banks have been closed, meetings have been banned, a curfew has been placed in effect from 7PM until 5AM, and plundering has been forbidden. We all listened to the 11AM American news broadcast and heard official statements by General Macgruder and by the American Charge d'affairs supporting the constitutionally elected government and Prime Minister Chang. These same statements were repeated on the 12 Noon broadcast. This makes the situation very dangerous because the American armed forces do not support the Korean revolutionary forces in this coup and have taken a stand supporting the government which was overthrown. The American armed forces are opposing the Korean armed forces. The situation is very dangerous.

Brother Hinckley, Sister Andrus and I spent the rest of the day in the hotel listening to the radio broadcast every hour and staying off the streets in accordance with the instruction from the American Embassy. there were no further news announcements but Brother Hong and Brother Shin came to our hotel again in the afternoon and filled us in on what meager news had filtered out to the Korean citizens. We went to bed early not knowing what would happen during the night and hoping that things would remain quiet.

Wednesday May 17, 1961. The night was quiet and another beautiful day weatherwise dawned quietly on Seoul. After breakfast Brother Hinckley and I telephoned the American Embassy and were told that Americans should still stay off the streets except for essential business. Brother Hinckley and I decided it was essential to go visit the missionaries and then inspect the land in the Seoul East Branch. We jumped in a taxi and were at the District Headquarters in Sam Chung Dong by 7:30 AM. We met with Elder James Bradshaw and Elder Lynn Waddell for about two hours finishing up important church business. We then took a taxi over to look at the East Gate property once more. This is a beautiful meetinghouse site and has a nice wall around it now which it did not have when Brother Hinckley looked at it one year ago. We then returned to our hotel and checked out and arrived at the Northwest Airlines office in the Bando Hotel by noon.

Northwest Airlines informed us that our flight would depart on schedule so we said goodbye to the missionaries and members at the Bando Hotel and rode out to the airport in the Volkswagon Van limousine bus. Upon arriving at the airport we were surprised at the small number of military guards and soldiers on duty there. All things went smoothly with the government checkout procedures but after everyone had been cleared and boarded the airplane we had to wait about two hours before the military authorities finally cleared the airplane to take off. We were at last in the air by 4PM Korea time and arrived in Tokyo at about 7:30 PM Japan time. There was a large group of photographers and reporters out to meet the airplane in Tokyo because it was the first flight to arrive from Seoul since the military coup took place yesterday. So ended Brother Hinckley's second visit to Korea.

Monday May 22, 1961. Today Elder James R. Bradsaw who has served as President of the Korean District for the past year and Elder Glen Underwood who has served as the Mission Secretary for the past six months were honorably released from their missions and sailed for America from Yokohama.

Wednesday May 24, 1961.Elder John R. Leasure and Elder Sterling G. George have been assigned to labor in Korea and flew from Tokyo to Seoul today.

On Saturday August 24, 1961, Sister Andrus and I flew to Seoul for a three day visit with the missionaries and members in Korea. We were met at the airport by Elder Waddell, Supervising Elder for the Korean District, his companion Elder Harris, and Brother Husted, an LDS Serviceman. Brother Husted had arranged for a USA government sedan so we rode to the Bando Hotel in style.

On Saturday evening we attended the Priesthood and Relief Society Sessions of the Korean District Conference. Sunday morning we attended the General Session of the Korean District Conference at the Kyung Buck High School and enjoyed an excellent meeting with about 350 Koreans in attendance. In the afternoon we met with the LDS Servicemen's Group in their regular Sacrament Meeting at the 8th Army Chapel with about 20 servicemen in attendance. Sunday evening we attended th MIA Session of the Korean District Conference at the Kyung Buck High School and enjoyed another excellent meeting with about 350 Koreans again in attendance. On Monday we met with all 20 of the missionaries now laboring in Korea at the District Headquarters at Sam Chung Dong before we returned to Tokyo in the afternoon. Our missionaries are all well and happy in their work and our visit with them was inspiring.

The church in Korea is making good progress among the Korean people. At this Conference six more Korean men received the Melchizedek Priesthood. Three of the five branches in Korea are now operating with Korean Priesthood holders filling all positions in the Branch Presidency. In the other two branches Missionaries are still serving as Branch Presidents but the Counselors in the Branch Presidency are Korean Priesthood holders and we are working toward having all the Branch Presidencies fully staffed by Korean Priesthood holders in the near future.

Saturday, December 2, 1961. I flew to Seoul this morning and was met at the airport by Elder Waddell, Supervising Elder for the Korean District, Elder Royce Grant his companion, and Brother Husted, an LDS Serviceman. Brother Husted had arranged for an army jeep in which we all rode into the city.

Saturday evening I attended the Priesthood Session of the Korean District conference which was held at the Sam Chung Dong meeting house. This was a good meeting and I felt that I was led by the spirit in my remarks. After the meeting, a Presbyterian Minister who was in attendance came up to me and told me that I had answered many of the questions he had in his mind about the Mormon Church. Also after this meeting, I was invited into another room to meet eight Korean Boys who are the first Boy Scouts for the church in Korea.

Sunday at 8:30AM I met with the members of the Branch Presidencies in a special leadership meeting held at the Duck Song University. The General Session followed beginning at 10:30 AM. At this session three more Korean men were sustained to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Right after this meeting Elder Waddell and I took a taxi to the US Army Seoul Area Post and attended the Korean District LDS Servicemen's Conference. I was happy to meet Brother (Lieutenant) Hanson who is now the President of the LDS Servicemen's Korean District. After this meeting Elder Waddell and I met with all LDS Servicemen's Group Leaders and Assistants in a Leadership Training Meeting. Right after this meeting Elder Waddell and I took a taxi back to the Duck Song University to attend the MIA Session of the Korean Conference.

After this meeting Elder Waddell and I went with Sister Young Sook Kim to visit her mother, Sister Pil Kun Park, widow of President Ho Jik Kim. We found Sister Park to be suffering with sugar diabetes and not well at all. She is worried about her son in France and also about her son in America. She is also worried about her business which is not doing well. Elder Waddell and I administered to her and joined our faith with the faith of herself and her family that all these problems could be worked out satisfactorily.

We now have 22 missionaries laboring in Korea and I met with all of them on Monday beginning at 7 AM at Sam Chung Dong.. Elder Royce Grant is not well and we all administered to him at the beginning of this meeting. After our meeting he went to the hospital and was examined but the Doctor advised him to rest in his quarters and he should feel better. The health of the missionaries in Korea continues to be worrisome.

Saturday March 3, 1962. Brother and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley have been touring The Northern Far East Mission since February 18th and today Sister Andrus and I flew to Korea with them to attend Conferences of the Korean District and of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District in Seoul. We were met at the airport by Elder Waddell, Supervising Elder of the Korean District, Brother Husted, an LDS Serviceman, and by Brother (Colonel) Robert Slover who is in Korea temporarily on US Army business. Brother Slover had arranged for an Army staff car to drive from the airport to our hotel in Seoul.

This afternoon Brother Hinckley and I and Elder Waddell looked at property for sale in Seoul and then met with all the missionaries at the Sam Chung Dong District Headquarters.. In the evening Brother Hinckley and I attended the Priesthood session of the Korean District Conference while Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus attended the Relief Society Session. These meetings were very well attended and had a fine spirit and all in attendance were benefitted by the messages delivered by Brother and Sister Hinckley.

Beginning at 7:30 AM on Sunday President Hinckley began interviewing the missionaries while I

interviewed five Korean brothers for ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood. The first General Session began at 10 AM at the Duck Soo Girls College in Seoul. The meeting hall was filled to capacity with over 500 Koreans in attendance and we enjoyed an excellent meeting highlighted by the talks by Brother and Sister Hinckley and the sustaining of five Korean men to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood.

After this meeting Brother Hinckley and I administered to Sister Pil Kun Park, widow of President Ho Jik Kim. Sister Park has been ill with sugar diabetes for some time and has been under great pressure because her business has not been going well and because of concern for her son in France and her son in the USA.

This afternoon Brother and Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I attended the General Session of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District at the 8th Army chapel in the Seoul US Army Command Post in Seoul. There were about 60 servicemen in attendance and we enjoyed another uplifting meeting highlighted by the talks of Brother and Sister Hinckley.

In the evening Brother and Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I attended the final General Session of the Korean District Conference. Again the attendance was well over 500 Koreans and we enjoyed another inspiring and uplifting meeting. After this session Brother Hinckley and I administered to a Korean brother who was ill and requested a blessing from Brother Hinckley.

Brother Hinckley and I also met with Brother Byung Sik Hong and a Brother Kong who wanted Brother Hinckley's advice on a business project they are considering.

On Monday Brother and Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I and Elder Wadell caught an early morning flight to Taegu arriving in Taegu at 9:30 AM. We caught a taxi into the city and then looked at two pieces of property for sale there. The second piece of property impressed all of us very favorably and we went right over to the real estate office and began negotiations on the price. The salesman said he would again negotiate with the seller and come back with a firm price. Brother and Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I then walked through the streets of Taegu. Taegu was devastated during the Korean war and is still in the throes of trying to rebuild its buildings and its economy and it was a sobering experience to view the struggles of the people of Taegu firsthand amidst all the debris of and the squalor of poverty. For several years I have looked forward to the church becoming established in Taegu and I believe that especially after today's visit Brother Hinckley will help us move ahead in getting started in Taegu right away.

From Taegu we traveled on to Pusan by railroad train and were met at the station by my cousin Vaughn Terry who is a Major in the US Army stationed at Camp Hialeah in Pusan. Vaughn had an army staff car and his own Ford station wagon on hand to transport us around and he drove us out to inspect the Pusan Branch meeting house and the missionary living quarters. Renovation of the missionary living quarters had just been completed and Brother and Sister Hinckley and Sister Andrus and I were pleased with the living conditions for the missionaries in Pusan. Vaughn then drove us out to his home on base at Camp Hialeah where we enjoyed a pleasant visit with his wife and children before leaving for the airport to catch our flight back to Seoul.

Tuesday March 6, 1962. This morning Brother Hinckley, Elder Waddell and I inspected the Seoul East Branch property, the Seoul East Gate Branch property, and also some property for rent in the East Gate Branch area. We then returned to the hotel and checked out. Brother Daley

had arranged for an army staff car to take us out to the airport. Elder Waddell, Elder Royce Grant, and Sister Pil Kun Park, President Ho Jik Kim's widow, came out to the airport to see us off and while waiting for our flight to be called, Brother Hinckley and I and Elder Waddell had a good visit with Sister Park and once again reviewed her problems with her health, her business and her son in France and her son in the USA.

In March Sister Andrus and I learned from Brother Hinckley that we will be released in July and on June 10th we received a letter from Brother Hinckley letting us know that our replacements, President and Sister Dwayne Andersen, will arrive in Tokyo on July 12th. The First Presidency have also let me know of their decision to divide The Northern Far East Mission by creating the Korean Mission. President Gail Carr, one of our former missionaries in Japan and in Korea, has been called to be the first President of the Korean Mission. The First Presidency have authorized me to organize the Korean Mission and install President Carr as the Mission President. We will fly to Seoul with President and Sister Carr on July 6th and organize the Korean Mission on July 8th. We will then return to Tokyo to welcome President and Sister Andersen on July 12th. I will turn the Northern Far East Mission over to President Andersen on July 19th and Sister Andrus and I and our five children will depart from Tokyo for Honolulu in the evening of July 19th. President and Sister Carr and their baby son Aaron arrived in Tokyo on July 4th and Sister Andrus and I met them at the airport and took them to their hotel.

Friday July 6, 1962. Sister Andrus and I and President and Sister Carr flew from Tokyo to Seoul this morning. There was fine group of missionaries and members at the airport in Seoul to welcome us. The Korean members had planned a Welcome Social for President and Sister Carr and a Farewell Social for Sister Andrus and me this evening at the Sam Chung Dong meeting house. The program consisted mostly of dances performed by a troupe of small Korean girls and a good time was enjoyed by all.

Saturday I met all day with President Carr and Elder Bruce Adams and turned over the affairs of the Korean District of the Northern Far East Mission from myself to President Carr. In the evening President Carr and I attended the Priesthood Session of the Korean District Conference while Sister Andrus and Sister Carr attended the Relief Society Session.

Sunday July 8, 1962. The Korean Mission came into existence today during the morning General Session of The Korean District Conference attended by over 500 Koreans. During this meeting, having been authorized by the First Presidency, I proposed that The Northern Far East Mission be divided and that The Korean Mission be organized and received a unanimous vote of approval from the congregation. I Then proposed that Gail Carr be sustained as President of the Korean Mission and that Gwenn Carr be sustained as President of the Relief Society of the Korean Mission. This proposal was also unanimously approved by the congregation. At that moment, The Korean Mission had come into existence and President and Sister Carr had been installed.. Korea was now on its own. I had presided over the church in Korea for six years and seven months and on this historic occasion I left Korea in the good hands of President Carr.

In the afternoon President and Sister Carr and Sister Andrus and I attended the a specisl conference of the Korean LDS Servicemen's District at the 8th Army Chapel in Seoul. At this meeting I obtained a sustaining vote from the congregation for the division of the Northern Far East Mission and the creation of the Korean Mission. I also obtained a sustaining vote for President and Sister Carr. At this meeting those who had been serving as the LDS Servicemen's Korean District Presidency were released and Brother William D. Daley was sustained as the LDS Servicemen's Coordinator for the Korean Mission.

Monday July 9, 1962. Beginning at 6:30 AM President and Sister Carr and Sister Andrus and I met with all 19 missionaries in a fast and testimony meeting at Sam Chung Dong. Our plan was to end this meeting at 10:30 AM so that President Carr and I would have two or three hours to finish up all the details of turning all the Korean affairs over to President Carr. Unfortunately President Carr let the meeting get out of hand and it did not come to an end until shortly before noon. Because President Carr was presiding I felt that I could not interrupt and ask the missionaries to be brief in their remarks and President Carr did not do so. The meeting went on and on while we were running out of time to complete our business. Nevertheless, we did rush through all the remaining business and we did make it out to the airport on time to catch our plane back to Tokyo. A small group of Korean members including Sister Do Pil Kim-Lee and Sister Pil Kun Park, President Ho Jik Kim's widow, had come to the airport to see us off. After saying goodbye to everyone we boarded our plane and enjoyed a comfortable flight back to Tokyo. Our experiences working with the members and the missionaries in Korea for six years and seven months created a bond of friendship and love which still binds our hearts to theirs and which time has not weakened. We count the members and missionaries we worked with in Korea as our everlasting friends and we look forward to continuing this love and friendship forever.

Time Line

July 28, 1955	The Northern Far East Mission organized.

August 2, 1955	Korea dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by President Joseph Fielding Smith.

August 2, 1955	Ho Jik Kim set apart by President Joseph Fielding Smith as president of the Korean District of the Northern Far East Mission.

November 1, 1955	Paul C. Andrus set apart as president of the Northern Far East Mission and given the responsibility to move ahead in Korea.

January 20, 1956	President Andrus, President Kim, and President Groves meet in Seoul to lay plans for missionaries to enter Korea.

February 29, 1956	President Andrus, Colonel Robert Slover, and President Ho Jik Kim meet in Tokyo. President Ho Jik Kim is assigned to translate the Book of Mormon into Korean and to form a translation committee to assist him. Translation of the Joseph Smith Story pamphlet is completed and will be published in Seoul. President Kim expects to finalize missionary quarters in Seoul by April. President Andrus agrees to have missionaries ready.

.March 17, 1956	Elder Don Powell and Elder Richard Detton assigned to go to Korea.

March 23, 1956	President Ho Jik Kim finalizes lease of missionary quarters in Seoul

April 20, 1956	Elder Don Powell and Richard Detton arrive in Korea.

June 4, 1956	Elder Dean Andersen and Elder Newell Kimball arrive in Korea.

June 5, 1956	Elder Richard Detton and Elder Dean Andersen assigned to Pusan.

August, 1956	Elder Gail Carr, Elder Larry Orme, Elder Karl Fletcher, and Elder Claude Newman arrive in Korea..

September, 1956	Elder Don Powell returns home to his wife and daughter.

Elder Gail Carr appointed Supervising Elder.

Brother Young Bum Lee called as first Korean full-time missionary.

October, 1956	Church purchases Yurak Dong property in Seoul.

January 1957	President Andrus and President Kim meet in Seoul and decide to gain recognition of the church by the Korean government. They decide to form a religious corporation according to Korean law and register the church with President Ho Jik Kim as Responsible Officer.

July, 1957	Church purchases Sam Chung Dong property in Seoul.

August, 1958	President Andrus meets with Korea missionaries in Seoul and discusses the hepatitis threat to the missionaries health.

January, 1959	Elder Dean Andersen appointed Supervising Elder succeeding Elder Carr.

February 4, 1959	President Ho Jik Kim, Elder Dean Andersen, Elder Lowell Brown, and President Andrus meet with Mr. Han, Chief of the Korean Immigration Bureau, in Seoul and resolve the visas for missionaries problem. .

May 15-18, 1959	Elder and Sister Mark E. Peterson visit Korea.

Elder Lowell E. Brown appointed Second Counselor in The Northern Far East Mission Presidency. Brother Byung Sik Hong and Brother Ho Nam Rhee appointed counselors to President Ho Jik Kim.

Purchase of property in Pusan authorized.

August 31, 1959	President Ho Jik Kim Dies.

September, 1959	Term of service for missionaries laboring in The Northern Far East Mission is reduced from three years to two and one-half years.

April, 1960	Anti-government demonstrations force President Syngman Rhee to resign.

June, 1960	Elder Gordon B. Hinckley visits Korea for the first time.

May, 1961	Elder Gordon B. Hinckley visits Korea for the second time.

May 14, 1961	Brother Byung Sik Hong sustained as President of Seoul Central Branch

Brother Ho Nam Rhee sustained as President of Seoul East GateBranch.

Brother Ba Yul Kum sustained as President of Pusan Branch.

May 16, 1961	Military Coup overthrows the Korean government. Elder Hinckley, and President and Sister Andrus witness shooting from their hotel windows.

March 3, 1962	President and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley arrive in Korea.

July 8, 1962	Korean Mission organized with Gail Carr as President.

The End