Belonging to Heaven, page 16
“Yes, thank heaven for that.” Jonathan put his hand on George’s arm. “And thank heaven for you, George Cannon. You have given me much.”
George shook his head. “I am grateful to you, Jonathan Napela, for your friendship and help with the language. And you and Kitty have given me a home in which to live . . . a home . . .” His voice trailed off.
“But you miss your home with your family.”
“I do. But I want to return to them having served well.”
Jonathan chuckled. “There is no worry about that.”
George’s mind jumped to another subject. “And just think what we are accomplishing with the translation of the Book of Mormon! I could never have done that without you.”
“Someone else could have helped you.”
“No. I think the Lord has chosen you for this, Brother Jonathan. You are well educated. You are a descendant of the old chiefs of the island of Maui, and in your family the language has been preserved and spoken in the greatest purity. Besides, you have thoroughly studied the principles of the gospel. Few in the nation are as well qualified to help me in this work.”
Jonathan shook his head, looking ill at ease with the praise. “It is a gift for me to help.”
George smiled. “A gift, is it? Well then, I say we get back to the work! We have the translation to do, a conference of the Church to prepare, and a chapel to build.”
Jonathan smiled. “I think there is some Calvinist in you, Brother George.”
“Why is that?”
“You agree with their sentiments that ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’”
George smiled. “I wonder if President Brigham Young was a Calvinist before he converted.”
The rain stopped, and the two friends came out from under their shelter. Jonathan stretched and lifted his arms to the sky. A snatch of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone briefly into the valley.
“Ka hana a ka makua, o ka hana no ia a keiki,” Jonathan chanted.
What parents do, children will do, George translated silently. It was a fitting tribute for Jonathan’s beloved mother. She had taught her son well, and there was no doubt in George’s mind that Jonathan would, in turn, teach his child well.
Chapter 24
Iao Valley, Maui
April 6, 1852
Brother Cannon stood in conversation with the Maui missionaries and several of the native converts in a beautiful place in the lower part of the Iao Valley. A bold mountain stream tumbled down from the mountain swirling past a grove of kukui trees, whose pale leaves fluttered in the wind. Normally, the trees afforded a delightful shade against the sun, but on this day, sun was not the problem. George had seen these dark, bellied clouds often enough to know that rain was inevitable.
“Brethren, I know we have been fasting and praying for a fair day that we might hold our conference outside in nature’s beauty, but these clouds threaten rain.”
“And at any moment,” Brother Keeler said.
George nodded. “Therefore, I think we should direct the Saints to a building in Wailuku where we can hold our meeting.” He turned to go, and most of the men followed, except Jonathan Napela, Kaleohano, and Akuna Pake. George glanced back and stopped, noting the puzzled look on Jonathan’s face. “Brother Napela?”
“You are not going to hold the meeting under the beautiful kukui trees?”
“Well, we would love to, but the rain makes it impossible.”
Jonathan looked at the sky. “Impossible?” He looked George squarely in the face. “Brother Cannon, did we not pray to the Lord for good weather for our conference?”
“We did, but . . .”
“And should we not have the faith that our prayers will be answered?”
Jonathan asked the question simply without any hint of judgment or condemnation, but George felt the rebuke. He was about to say that sometimes the Lord says no to things requested, but the Spirit restrained him. Instead he gave his friend a slight smile. “Of course, Brother Napela, you are right. We will trust the Lord and hold our meeting where we have planned.”
As the congregation moved off toward the grove, George and Brother Keeler went to walk with Jonathan and Kitty. Kitty held their baby daughter in a soft cotton quilt. Jonathan smiled meekly as the two missionaries approached. “I am sorry for questioning you brethren,” he said sincerely.
“We are not offended, Brother Jonathan. We all need a reminder of our faith,” George said.
Brother Keeler smiled timidly at Kitty Napela. “How are you and your beautiful daughter?”
“We are well, thank you, Brother Keeler.” She looked over at George and then to her husband. “Little Kaiwaokalani has come to ask you for a gift, Brother Cannon.” She kissed the baby’s forehead and waited for her husband to speak.
Brother Napela smiled. “We are having a gathering of friends at our home after the meeting, and we wondered if you would like to give our Hattie her blessing and speak her name.”
George beamed over at Jonathan. “It would be such an honor, thank you.”
“What is the name you’ve given her, Brother Napela?” Brother Keeler questioned. “If you don’t mind my asking?”
Jonathan reached over and ran his finger gently over his daughter’s cheek. “Her full name is long, but her missionary name is Hattie, and we call her Panana. Harriet Panana Kaiwaokalani Napela.”
“Panana? What does it mean?” Brother Keeler asked.
“One who guides. It was the name given her by King Kamehameha III.”
Brother Keeler looked impressed. “The king gave her a name?” He turned to George for explanation.
“Don’t look at me. I have not heard this story either.”
The two waited for further explanation, but Brother Bigler came to them at that moment, and they were distracted with business for the meeting.
“I will tell you the story after the meeting,” Jonathan said as he and Kitty went off to settle themselves under the trees with the rest of the congregation.
***
When George stood at the front of the gathering, two hundred faces looked up at him, yet he did not feel like running or passing along the responsibility of speaking to someone else; this time he felt only to bless them, tell them of his love, and preach to them the simple truths of salvation and the principles of the gospel that would unite them.
“Brothers and sisters, we meet together as one family—the family of God. We are pleased to see so many with us today, and we feel blessed . . .” he looked over at Brother Napela, “that our weather is good.” Brother Napela smiled. “Today is an important day. Twenty-two years ago, April 6, 1830, our Prophet Joseph Smith, stood in a small home in Fayette, New York, and, under the direction of the Lord, organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time there were six members of the Church—think of it, only six, and now there are thousands from many parts of the world who have heard the truths of the restored Church and are coming as sheep into the fold. Through all the persecution the Saints of the Lord have endured, the work has rolled on and will continue to roll on until the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” He paused and looked over the congregation. “And now the kingdom is being established in these beautiful islands. We have five hundred members of the Church on the island of Maui and five branches, one at Waiakoa, Keanae, Wailua, Waianu, and Honomanu.”
He looked at Brother Bigler and Brother Keeler. “Those of us who came to these islands as the first missionaries felt deeply that the gospel should be preached to the native people—a people whose hearts are pure and open to the truth. Since that time many have been baptized, and many men have been called to the priesthood. Today we will ordain Brother William Uaua and Brother Jonathan Napela as priests in the Aaronic Priesthood. We will also call Brother Uaua and Brother Kaleohano as clerks.” In the congregation many heads nodded, and Brother Cannon felt the power of their commitment. “Many of you have suffered persecution because of your decision to join with the Church.” He glanced at Jonathan and Kitty. “It is not easy to be a member of this Church, and some who have joined with us have turned back because of the falsehoods preached against us and the threats made against their person and property.” George’s words caught in his throat as he thought back to that horrible day in Nauvoo. He saw again the throng of weeping Saints, and the wagons carrying the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. His voice thickened with emotion as his focus came back to the attendant faces of the congregation. “I know something of persecution and sacrifice. I saw what Joseph and Hyrum Smith gave for their testimonies of this gospel. They gave their lives. Can I offer less? Those of you who have felt the spirit know that there is no other choice. There is no other choice but to join with us and meet the challenges. Others may falter, but we pray for you. We pray that you will find the strength to be faithful.”
The Hawaiian words flowed with grace and power. Brother Cannon spoke the language like one of them, and they loved him for it. The people listened carefully to the words as they came from this haole boy with his tattered shoes and pale blue eyes. He did not speak with arrogance or superiority, but with caring and kinship. He brought into their minds and hearts their place in the Lord’s kingdom. Ohana. All God’s children.
The meeting continued long into the afternoon with singing, preaching, and the teaching of new principles of the doctrines of the kingdom.
The clouds hovered, but rain did not fall.
***
A heavy rain caused the imu in the Napela’s backyard to steam and smoke, but the guests inside the house were not concerned. The roasted pig, chicken, fish, and sweet potatoes were safe inside the pit, and sharing the meal together would be a glorious finish to a glorious day. In their meetings they had been taught the principles of fasting, prayer, and tithing. They had been called to lift themselves above the world and to prepare themselves to receive the Book of Mormon in their native language. Many rejoiced, knowing that this would be a great blessing. Several of the native brethren had given powerful sermons and testimonies, and Napela and Uaua had been ordained priests in the Aaronic Priesthood.
George now sat in a chair on the lanai, enjoying his meal, and thinking of the blessing given to Hattie Panana Napela. She would grow to be a woman of grace and influence of whom Jonathan and Kitty would be proud. George stared out at the rain and thought of the Lord’s goodness. He shook his head. Here he was eating poi and roasted pig, surrounded by native Hawaiians, and feeling as much at home as if he were sitting in Aunt Leonora’s kitchen and eating boiled potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and sliced beef. From inside the house came the beginnings of a comical mele about a man in love and his attempts to win the girl of his dreams. George smiled and sang along with his brothers and sisters.
Notes
The faith manifested by the Hawaiian elders concerning holding the meeting outdoor in spite of the threat of rain is written in Cannon’s journal.
Missionary name: After 1850 the Protestant missionaries mandated that Hawaiian mothers give their children Western names. Many adhered to this practice, but also gave their children secret Hawaiian names.
Chapter 25
Wailuku, Maui
April 8, 1852
Dear Mary,
We have just held the first conference of the Church in Hawaii and I thought of you and the family and the Saints in the Great Salt Lake Valley also gathering to unite the Church. I am sure our meetings were very different as we did not meet in a building, but within a grove of beautiful kukui trees. And we did not have President Young or members of the twelve apostles to speak to us, but heard good words of counsel from the missionaries and several of the native brethren. Their faith is strong, Mary, and they so desire to do what the Lord requires, but many are tied to the superstitions of their old culture or the teachings of the Protestants. Many struggle with tobacco and drink, but are attempting to put away their pipes and shun the bottle.
We taught them the law of tithing and Brother Napela gave a stirring address on following every word that comes from the mouth of the prophets. He pledged that he would embrace this new law. My heart felt to rejoice, dear Mary, for the spiritual strength of my friend. His wife Kitty has not yet come into the waters of baptism, but she treats me and the other missionaries kindly and we feel to bless her for that. I wrote you about the birth of their daughter, Hattie, and today she was blessed and received her name. I will write the name out for you, so the younger children can practice their Hawaiian. Her name is Harriet Panana Kaiwaokalani Napela. The name Panana was given to her by King Kamehameha III. It is said that when the king met Kitty Napela, he was so taken with her beauty that he could look at no one else in the crowd of people. He made Kitty promise that when a child came to them, that he would be allowed to give the child a special name. It seems that promise has been kept. Panana means compass, or one who guides, and she is a darling infant who I am sure will grow up to be as beautiful as her mother.
The work is moving forward at such a pace. Often we are baptizing and confirming twenty or thirty people at a time. The people have been blessed with dreams and miracles. I will relate one miracle to show you their faith. Since I hear that Angus and David Henry are lagging a bit in their commitment in the Church, perhaps you can relate this to them. One of Brother Napela’s friends, William Uaua, was away from his home for several days. When he returned he found people in his house wailing and lamenting that his wife was dead. She had died three hours prior to his arrival and the family and friends were mourning her. Brother Uaua took the blessed oil, anointed her, and by priesthood power called her back. Within moments, the spirit returned to her body. I know you can relate to this, Mary, having been pronounced dead when that wagon rolled over you. You were brought back to us by faith and the power of the priesthood. It is a mighty power and I rejoice that it has been restored to bless the lives of the people.
I am often humbled by the faith of the Hawaiian people. Just days ago I believed that a storm up in the Iao Valley would doom our outdoor conference, but by the faith of the native Saints, we had not one drop of rain.
The work progresses, Mary, and we seem to be busy day and night. There are times I wake in the morning to find people standing at the door waiting to be baptized. With all the activity, letters may be longer in coming. Know that I think of you in the Valley and pray for your success. Please share this letter with Uncle John and Aunt Leonora as I will not have time to write separately.
Your loving brother,
George
P.S. Please pray for the Saints in their acceptance of the law of tithing. We have fasted and prayed about teaching this principle as the people are mostly poor, but it is a command from the Lord, and has been through all the ages of time from Father Adam and Mother Eve. Some came into the Church because we required no subsidy from the members, only food and lodging for the missionaries when we needed. This was different from the Protestant ministers who require much from their members. Brother Napela says that some of the weaker Saints will give up on us because of this principle, but that does not mean that we should go against offering it. He says it will be a way of tying the members more closely to the Church and to each other. He is a very wise man. He has written a letter to President Young, which I translated into English for him. I think the President will be pleased that we have such stalwart native members.
Be well, my Mary, and pray for my pants that they do not fall to pieces before I get a new pair.
Love again to the family.
Chapter 26
Wailuku, Maui
March 19, 1853
And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them . . .” George put his finger on the verse and looked up. “Are we satisfied with the translation for that line?”
Jonathan nodded. “Yes.”
“So, on to the next line: ‘Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.’”
Jonathan sat with his eyes closed, listening intently to the words Brother Cannon was translating. He mumbled the words iloko ona a‘u i hoonani ai Ko‘u inoa several times. “Hoonani means to make something beautiful. Is that the proper word for glorified?” It was a struggle for him to say the word glorified in English, and George smiled.
“I think that is just right.” George put down the pen, stretched his fingers and squeezed his eyelids together. His hand and eyes were sore from hours of translating. He looked down to his side and jumped. Hattie Napela stood staring up at him with alert brown eyes. “Oh my!” George barked. His abrupt words frightened the child, but instead of crying, Hattie squawked at him in gibberish and hit him on the leg with her little calabash cup. “Moku, moku, moku!”
Jonathan laughed. “She has been standing there for the past five minutes, hoping to distract you from your work. I suppose she thinks she can interrupt us because it’s her birthday.”
George picked her up. “Of course! It’s your special day!” He put his hands on either side of her waist and balanced her on his legs. “I’m sorry, dear one. I get lost when your daddy and I work.” He looked over at Jonathan. “Especially when we are so near the end.”
Hattie smacked him on the nose with her cup and started in again with her scolding.
“Ow! I don’t think she likes my excuse,” George said, standing and holding her like a sack of potatoes. Hattie squealed with delight. He looked down at his borrowed pants and light cotton shirt. “Good thing we are already wearing our play clothes.” Hattie burbled out unintelligible words, and George laughed. “I agree! Let’s get on with our picnic at the beach.”
Jonathan stood. “Yes. Perhaps I will teach her to surf on the waves.”
Kitty came to the doorway of the room just in time to hear this last remark. “She is not quite old enough, foolish man. She is barely walking by herself. Give her time to get sturdy on her legs.”
