MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES
WHILE SERVING AS A LOCAL MISSIONARY
IN
October 1865
to
August 1869
-2-
FROM THE
MISSIONARY JOURNAL OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH WEILER, MISSION PRESIDENT OF
Friday,
October 13th, 1865
"In the morning I sent my boots to the shoemakers and
had them half soled. In
the
afternoon I took the steamer Manrwede for Gorinchem. On arriving at the
warf I
met Bro.
Brown waiting my arrival. Went to Brother Van der Pols where I received
a letter
from Pres. B. Young, Jun.,
had men
that was capable to ordain them and send them forth amongst their native
countrymen
bearing glade tidings of great joy. To a people who now lay in darkness
and in
the shadows of death and to ordain Bro. P. J. Lammers an Elder..."
Saturday,
October 14th
"The first thing on docket I write a Dutch letter to
Bro. P. J. Lammers &
P. Van Dyke
Laweirde informing--or requesting the former to come to
from
their to Gorinchem the first opportunity, as I wished him to come into the
ministry
and travel with me to preach the gospel to his countrymen. And we had
appointed
a conference to be held on the 21st in Gorinchem."
Friday,
October 20th
"...In the evening I had a visit from a Priest who had
desires to converse
with me,
who brought his Lady with him, (or supposed one). His first question
was,
'What have you come to
gospel of
Jesus Christ,' when he said he was a Preacher of the same Gospel. I then
told him
their was now too many ways of believing in the Bible--and I had learned
to
believe it just as it stood written in the Bible and not to spiritualize it
which
he said
he believed too. I told him then we should surely be Brothers then. But
we had
not spoken long when I found he had been baptized but said it was not necessary
for the
people only the Priests & Teachers should be baptized. Which he showed me
plainly
by the scripture. That baptism was only for remission of sin to the Apostles,
and the
rest of the inhabitance must remain in sin. While I was busily engaged,
Bros. H.
Van Steeter, & P.J. Lammers arrived from
acquaintance with Mr. Priest and took the lead--as he could use the Dutch language
better
than I who soon ran the learned ashore..."
Monday,
October 23rd
"...Spent the day visiting with
the Saints. During
the day several strangers
called in
to see us. Our converence had created considerable excitement in the
town. The
previous evening we ordained W. Verkey an Elder in the
Christ of
Latter-day Saints and Lienards Wm. Van der Pol a Deacon in the church to
assist
Bro. Verkey. Also ordained Peiter J. Lammers an Elder to travel and preach
the
gospel to his countrymen..."
-3-
Thursday,
October 26th
"This morning Bro. P. J. Lammers and I left at 8
o'clock to travel from house
to house
to preach the Gospel and warn the people to repent for the kingdom of
heaven
was nigh at hand. The first house we come to was Robbert Toorn, where we
rung the
bell and the good woman come to the door and inquired our business. When
we told
her we were 'Tendeling' and traveling to preach the gospel of Christ, by
this time
we had worked ourselves in the house and Brother Lammers bore them his
testimony.
But they were too busy to spend time to hear us and we continued our
travels
onto a small 'dorf' by the name of Floegels warf, where we called at a
man by
the name of Cornelius Sterk who after inquiring who we were and what our
business
was invited us to come and invited us to sit up and have some dinner with
him and
thinking the laborer is worthy his hire we very kindly accepted his
offer. We
soon found they seemed anxious to hear what we had to tell them when I
told them
no doubt our message was rather a strange language. Still if we did
not
preach the same gospel as the Apostles not to receive us in their house. Then
shortly
two or three of the neighbors came in and we spent the afternoon preaching
and
explaining to them the necessity of baptism for remission of sins. When the
time
arrived for our departure, I felt to ask God to bless them for their
kindness..."
"...we bid them good afternoon and returned back for
Gorinchern. We had not
gone far
when the Spirit said to me, 'go in hear'. When I knocked at the door
and the
word came 'kom binnen' here we found a widow woman and daughter who desired
to hear
the Gospel. When we had before them the first principles, faith, repentance,
and the
laying on of hands for the reseption of the holy Ghost, etc., who seemed
very much
pleased and invited us to have a ‘butterm en kop koffee’ with her. And
thinking
we had a pretty long journey before us we concluded to stop with her. When
felt to
leave our peace in her house and proceeded on our journey. When we had not
gone far
we noticed a room setting full of women and men. And thinking we might
have a
chance to chat with them we rapped on the door and were invited. We soon
made our
business known when all hand was soon seventy seated round to hear what we
had to
tell them, which was similar to the others who give us our suppers. By this
time the
evening begun to weare away and we had some 5 miles to walk and it had
already
begun to rain. At 9 o'clock we bid them good day and continued our journey
homewards
through one of the hardest rainstorms I have ever witnessed in this country.
By the time
we reached Jan Van der Pols I was good & tired and was rather a fast
'invitation' from the carpenters bank to a traveling
Elder--still he never offered
a word of
complaining and stood the days travel like a trump."
Friday,
October 27th
"This morning Bro. L. and I leave again at 9 o'clock
for Scharliunoene, a
small
village some three miles from Gorinchern, where we found notices stuck up on
nearly
every house 'Smallpox,' and those that had not were just recovering for it
seemed almost
every one we met had still singns on their faces. We called at three
doors
before we gained admittance. This was a watchmaker and after we talked to
him for
some time he had the servant gire make us a cup of coffee and set us some
breads
and butter and cheese which we pertook of thankfully as our morning walk had
tuned our
appetites to about the right note, to say something of this kind. The
old man
seemed much pleased and promised to attend our meetings in Gorinchem and
gave us
the name and address of the Priest when we made our way to his residence.
'one of the finest in the village.’
-4-
"We were invited into the parlor and shortly his honor
came in. I inquired
if I had
the honor of speaking with 'Myn Heer' Mr. So & So, who said yes. I then
told him
we were missionaries and learning that he was a preacher of the Gospel
we had
called on him to converse over the principles of the Gospel, as I considered
it very
necessary that we as preachers should be united and see we taught the true
principles
of Christ and the same gospel as the Apostles preached. When he inquired
where we
had graduated, I told him we had not been to school to learn to preach,
but like
it was in the days of Jesus when he called the poor fishermen to leave their
nets, I
had been called from behind the plow and my brother from behind the
carpenters
bench. He said we could not understand the bible unless we were
acquainted
with Hebrew & Latin. I told him the bible had been translated by
learned
men, but we had received a testimony though obedience just as the people
did in
ancient days when the Apostles went forth and testified that Jesus had rose
from the
dead, etc. Then he said he had been a preacher in that place for 40 years.
I then told
him our testimony was to him and the whole world that God had again
spoken
from the heavens, and we called on him to turn unto God and be baptized
and live.
And that we were going through his church to call on them to repent
and bid
him good afternoon, feeling we had ‘dared the Lion in his den.’ Then we
called on
two or three more different doors...”
Sunday,
October 29th
"This morning I go to the warfs to meet Mr. Verl
Suilens tram Robberdams
who had been
at our Conference the previous Sunday and who desired to be baptized.
In the
afternoon at 3 o'clock we held meeting. Several strangers present. At
7 o'clock
we met again. Bro. P. addressed the congragation and I spoke a short
time. We
returned to Bro. Van der Pols to prepare for the river which place
we
retired to at 8 o'clock p.m. as we had to choose the shades of night as the
laws of
this country 'much boasted land of chrisendom' does not admit baptisms
being
performed out side the walls of same buildings. But we showed them it could
be done.
After having a word of prayer I baptized Peter Van Suilen and returned
to
Brother Pols where we confirmed him a member of the
Latter-day Saints. Bro. Van Suilen then relates us an interesting storry, over
his wife
hiding his pants and raising Hell in general when he told her he was going
to
Gorinchem to be baptized if he had to go in his drawers. When after fighting
all night
he succeeded in accomplishing his purpose and felt to rejoice..."
Monday,
October 30th
"...In the evening we retired again to the river side
where I baptized Miss
Jaanje Staafast in company with F. A. Brown, P. J. Lammers, A.
Kleinekee. Must
excitement
in the town over our baptizing in the rivers..."
Tuesday,
October 31st
"9 o'clock a.m. P. J. Lammers and I leave Woudrechem to
travel from house to
house
with the Gospel message. We crossed the river at Gorinchem on a ferry boat.
When we do it
on foot a short distance to the city, where we had several addresses
which we
hunted up. But some were sick, others not at home, and some too busy
to listen
to preachers and for the greatest number, no desire for the things that
are pure
and holy along in the afternoon."
-5-
FROM A
LETTER WRITTEN BY JOHN W. YOUNG TO ELDER ORSON PRATT WHILE VISITING
THE SAINTS IN
PRINTED IN THE MILLENNIAL STAR, VOLUME XXIX, 1867, p. 111.
"There are but about 35 members in good standing, and
the faith of some of
those
will, I am afraid, be of short duration. There are two faithful Traveling
Elders
assisting in the
The latter
I did not meet, but the former, I can say, enjoys a great amount of
the Holy
Spirit, and is an Elder in very deed."
ELDER
JOSEPH WEI LER WROTE FROM
DATED AUGUST 22. 1866. (Mill. Star 28:589) (
"...Twelve have been added to the Church during my
absence, and on
last
Sunday two more were baptized in
laboring.
He is zealous of good works, and I trust will accomplish a good work
in that
place..."
ELDER FRANCIS
A. BROWN WROTE THE FOLLOWING FROM
PRESIDENT
F. D. RICHARDS ON NOVEMBER 9, 1867. (Journal History, 9 Nov. 1867. p. 2)
"I was left with two native Elders; brothers
H. Van Steeter and P. J.
Lammers,
who were indefatigable in their labors to help plant the Gospel in
the midst of their countrymen..."
MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES
WHILE SERVING AS MISSION PRESIDENT
OF
October 9, 1875
To
June 23, 1877
-7-
ELDER PETER
JACOB LAMMERS WROTE THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO PRESIDENT A. CARRINGTON,
DATED
JANUARY 5,1876. (Mill. Star 38:77) (Journal
History, January 1876, p. 2):
"Dear
Brother,--It is with pleasure that I write you a few lines about the affairs
and
condition of the Holland Mission. There are a few faithful Saints in
they are
feeling well, and are trying to live to the requirements of heaven.
As the year is new, so I feel renewed in my spirit to do
some good this year
and to
open some new fields, with the help of the Lord. In the last few weeks I
have
become acquainted with some gentlemen who are examining our principles. I
have sent
one the "Book of Mormon, " and expect to write to him this week, and
send
him the
"Key to Theology." In speaking with him about polygamy, the topic of
the day,
he said that polygamy was practiced by many holy men anciently, and was
instituted
by Jehovah.
The editors are helping me by making known that a "Mormon"
Elder is in the
land; the
sound of the Gospel is to go through all lands for a witness, and then
shall the
end come. Sometimes I have the privilege of speaking in canal boats
or in steamers,
by the wayside, and in private houses.
God bless all who are laboring for the kingdom of our Lord,
that we may
bring
many souls unto Christ. Kind love to you and all in the
Office.
Asking an interest in your faith and prayers, I remain
obediently, your
brother
in the everlasting Covenant of Peace.
P. J. Lammers
THE MILLENNIAL
STAR ALSO PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE (Mill. Star 39:140)
"By a letter from Elder P. J. Lammers, president of the
mission in
we learn
that the work is still alive, some few being baptized. He thinks he
will be
able to return to
with him,
who after a little experience in
of the
MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES
WHILE SERVING AS MISSION PRESIDENT
OF
October 17, 1882
to
November 25, 1884
-9-
ELDER J. W.
F. VOLKER WROTE THE FOLLOWING IN A LETTER REPORTING ON THE PROGRESS
OF THE
"We had a very nice time in a place called Hereween. I
was there
distributing tracts, and the Lord opened a place for us where we could hold
meetings.
I rented a
nice hall for four shillings, and had it for two nights; I also had
1,000
handbills printed, stating that missionaries from
and, with
the assistance of two local brethren, distributed them. There was not
one house
in that town, of over 900 families, but what had a warning. The people
were very
much excited over having 'Mormons' in their town, and whenever I showed
myself in
the street, which was quite often, I was called at and even threatened.
Brother P.
J. Lammers came from
filled
with about two hundred people, who sometimes would make a little disturbance.
Brother
Lammers spoke first, and then I. We both bore a strong testimony about
this
work, and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. After the meeting was over
the people
were a little unruly, but not of any consequence. A few questions were
asked,
which were answered by Brother Lammers. The next night we held another meeting
and there
were more people present than on the previous night. Brother Lammers
occupied
all the time. A few little books were sold and the people departed. We
went out
and were followed by about two hundred or more people, mostly roughs, but
the hand
of the Lord was over us, and a policeman went with us. We had to walk
about
half an hour, and the crowd followed us up to the house, but after yelling
and
threatening they separated and departed, it being about 11:30 p.m. They
knocked
one of the local brethren down twice, but did not hurt him. We rejoiced
and felt
to praise God that we had such a good opportunity to bear our testimony,
although
Satan was there trying to do all in his power to make a disturbance.
When I saw
Brother P. J. Lammers last, he was well, and, like me, glad to proclaim
the
Gospel and go forth to do that which the Lord requires..."
A LETTER
FROM PETER JACOB LAMMERS REPORTING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE
MARCH 3, 1884 FROM
"I feel to rejoice in the Lord, and the Saints whom I
have visited also feel
well. My
enemies are also alive and stirring up the people, and circulating all
manner of
lies about the Saints. There is one in
against
us, and has written an article for a newspaper containing the most shameful
slanders
on
Hollanders in
Toorenenbergen
and had it published, correcting his misstatements. Truth shall find
its level
and righteousness its plummet. Wo unto the hypocrite
who will conceal
himself
from truth; he will speedily be revealed and dealt with in righteousness.
I had a
fine time a little while ago in a small village where I had an introduction
to some
rich people, relatives of some of the Saints. They were very kind and
willing
to listen to the Gospel. On Sunday I had meeting three times in a private
house, where
there were from 70 to 80 persons present who paid the greatest
attention
to what I had to say. They even took up a collection for me, which is
something
uncommon in a 'Mormon' Elder's experience. On Monday I had another
meeting,
and had the honor of having a Rev. gentleman and a schoolmaster present,
who stood
and listened with patience while I preached for an hour and a quarter.
They afterwards
wanted to discuss religion with me, but after trying it for about
an hour,
and finding the Bible would not support them, they were glad to give it
up."
-10-
A LETTER
FROM PETER JACOB LAMMERS REPORTING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE
APRIL 26, 1884 FROM GRON INGEN. (Printed in Mill.
Star, May 1884, p. 282.):
"I am here alone, the great waters separating me from
my brethren. The
weather
here has been as cold during the last two weeks as in January, but thank
my
Heavenly Father, my heart beats warm for my brethren and the Gospel. I
rejoice
in the love of God and in His mercy and grace bestowed upon me. Truly,
His Spirit
is a comforter, a guide and a director, and we are not alone if we
possess
the same."
"Who can be happier and more contented under all
circumstances, at home
or
abroad, than a Latter-day Saint missionary? The finger of scorn may be pointed
at him;
he may be reviled, and slandered, and persecuted, and turned out of doors,
but still
he can rejoice and lift up his head in boldness, because he has been
sent by
command of the Almighty, and has a message of peace, goodwill and
salvation
to all men. The Elders know their commission and rejoice in it, and
every
word they speak by the Holy Spirit brings happiness to the soul."
"I thank God that I have been counted worthy to be a
hand-post by the way,
to tell
the people: This is the way to salvation. This is the path to walk in--
the one
in which Jesus, our Master, has gone before. This is something more
than the
hireling priest can say (truthfully), who is persecuting me, and slandering
me
through the papers and publishing ridiculous and slanderous stories about
and its
people. I must say, though, to the credit of some editors, they are
liberal
enough to publish my replies, and I have no doubt that some good will
result,
for I can preach no more than I ever could before, and the people can
judge for
themselves. The 'Mormons' are heard of throughout the whole land. I
cannot go
to any village or city without some paper announcing it. As, in the days
of our
beloved Savior, the Scribes and Pharisees would neither enter into the
kingdom
of heaven themselves nor allow others to go in, so it is to-day. When
I think I
have found one honest, humble soul sometimes, I am disappointed. It
is like
catching eels, they are so slippery. But what kind of Saints do we want?
Such as can
stand the weather, the storms and hurricanes; who will stand by the
everlasting
truth, come life or death. Give me the true Saint, and I am ready
to pass
through the world with him. Of late I have baptized two young persons
at a
place called Dedemsvaart, where some of my friends (?) would like to have
killed me
some time before. But oh! how little does the world
know of the power
of God
and His protecting care over His servants."
"We have felt the want of a hymn or song book in this
land, in keeping with
the
spirit of the Gospel. I have long prayed that we might have one and be able
to sing
the songs of
of the
Saints, we have succeeded in getting fifty songs of our own ready for the
printer,
and the Saints here are rejoicing over it. I feel well, and, like a
good
fish, keep swimming up the current. Let the dead ones float down the
stream."
-11-
A REPORT FROM PETER JACOB LAMMERS, WRITTEN FROM
( Millennial Star, July 1884, p. 444):
"Since writing to you last I have baptized a young man
of 21 years. I hope
through
him to find an opening in a new province which I visited seventeen years
ago, and
which the Gospel has never been preached in before or since." (Peter
Jacob
Lammers was stoned by the people there seventeen years before while
serving
as a Traveling Elder.) "I left several copies of the Voice of Warning
there at
that time, and possibly some of the seed then sown has germinated.
Next week I
go to
goes on
but slowly, but now and then an honest soul is found which makes my
heart
rejoice and is a great comfort to me."
ELDER P. J. LAMMERS WRITING FROM
"Since my last writing six members have been added to
the Church, but three
families
had to remove from the houses which they occupied through the persecution
brought
upon them on account of my staying with them. The Saints with me feel
well. The
local Elder, Brother Smeding, has written to me that he never thought
there was
no much joy in preaching the Gospel, and yet he had been driven out of
a little
city called Ommen with pitchforks, where I was also stoned seventeen
years
ago. In another place five students and a reverend gentleman made him so
much
trouble that the people closed their doors against him and his life was
endangered.
"
"I was at the island called Marken, in the
Gospel
never had been preached before. I distributed tracts at some of the
houses,
but I found that the men were mostly at sea fishing, and the women and
children,
cats and dogs, were in the fields, getting the hay home in small boats.
I had a
fine time with an evangelist of that place, who had built himself a church
and had a
small congregation. My boatman had directed me to his house as being
the
proper place for a missionary to go to. I thought it best to make his
acquaintance, and prepared myself for the worst. I was made very welcome at his
place as
a missionary, and treated with much courtesy. He was a bachelor, 48
years of
age, and I found him smoking and chewing tobacco as if his life depended
upon it.
I noticed though that he was ashamed of it on learning that I neither
made use
of tobacco, tea, nor coffee. He thought I must certainly be a stranger
in the
land. He was just about to go to visit a sick man who was dying, and
invited
me to go with him. We went around the island together, found the house
of the
sick person full of relatives, and I had the privilege of speaking to them
of the power
of the Gospel as restored in our day with all its gifts and blessings.
My friend,
the preacher, finally looked at me and said: 'Let us have prayer, ' and
sat down
like an old woman, dreaming she was in heaven; then remarked, 'The Lord
has done it
all for us; be of good cheer! Let us go. ' I realized
that it would
not do to
talk much in the presence of the sick, but my heart was full and I
longed to
tell the people what they must do to be saved. On returning I spoke
very
plainly to the preacher about the restoration of the Gospel; and about
Apostles
and Prophets and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and told him if he ever
expected
to go to heaven he must enter at the right door, be baptized for the
remission
of his sins, and receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
My words
seemed to have some influence with him, and he told me that the whole
Christian
church was at a loss; no power in it; disorder and contention prevailed,
and he
could not see when it would come right. He thought it not strange that
something new should be revealed; he had
expected it; he had preached for six
-12-
years at
that place, but it was always the same, there was no power, and he had
felt for
some time he would be glad to get out of it, but bread and butter lay
at the
bottom of it. Poor man! to be a hypocrite to make a
living!"
"His study room was prepared for me to sleep in, and
after much conversation
he wished
me a good night's rest and retired. In the morning at the breakfast
table he
asked me if the 'Mormons' were not living in the country I came from,
and if I
did not know something about them. I told him 'yes,' explained what a
marvelous
people they were, and finally gave him to understand that I was a
representative of that people. He appeared thunder-struck at learning that I
was a
'Mormon' Elder, for he had supposed I must belong to the Catholic Apostolic,
or
Irvingite church. And then came the great topic,
polygamy. He wanted to know
all about
it, and asked me if the statements which he read in the papers were
true. I
told him that as heaven differed at present from the earth, so did the
system of
plural marriage ordained of God differ from the practices of the world;
and that
there was more corruption in one city in
further
desire to converse with me. I gave him some of our little works to read,
bore a
strong testimony to him of the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission, and
thanked
him for his hospitality. He promised to write to me. When I was about
to leave
a student of a theological school called, whose professor had written
about me
in the papers. I also gave him some of our works and asked him to read
them, and
then give them to his master. I was very thankful to have the privilege
of
bearing my testimony to these people that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God,
that
he had
been an instrument in the hands of God of preparing the way for the corning
of the
Son of man, and that people may as well think of reaching to the moon with
their
hands as to frustrate the plans of Jehovah and destroy this latter-day
work."
THE HOMECOMING OF
PETER JACOB LAMMERS
-14-
AN ARTICLE
WRITTEN IN THE SALT
HOMECOMING
OF PETER JACOB LAMMERS:
HOME AGAIN
_____________
Elder Lammers Returns from the
_____________
"We have had the pleasure of a call from Elder P. J.
Lammers, who has lately
returned
from a mission to
in the
land of his fathers--the
which day
he has been active in the ministry, enjoying in the course of his
mission,
the association and assistance of Elder J. W. F. Volker."
"Elder Lammers met with a number of his relatives and
old-time friends, who
extended
to him courteous and cordial treatment, but showed little, if any
inclination
to listen to the Gospel of the Latter Days. Elder Lammers traveled
over the
greater portion of the eleven Provinces constituting the realm of King
William
III. As a rule, Elder Lammers was treated hospitably and kindly, though,
of
course, he was rebuffed by some opposition and persecution, chiefly instigated
by the
sectarian priests. Still he succeeded in sowing the good seed of the
Gospel in the Latter-days into the bosoms of many of the honest in
heart. He
baptized
39 in his own person, 18 more being initiated into the
under his
supervision, he being the President of what is known as the
(including some of Orson Pratt's works) into the Dutch
tongue. He also circulated
a good
number of tracts in which the various principles of the
Christ of
Latter-day Saints are set forth. "
"Elder Lammers left the land of his birth for the third
time (having been
there on
two missions from
inst., and
in his beloved
friends
took occasion to rejoice with him in his return to the associations of
his fellow
Saints. We are pleased to see Elder Lammers in our midst again, after
the
fulfillment of an honorable mission and the performance of a noble duty,
in which
he justified the confidence of his superiors and magnified his calling.
Elder
Lammers found his family in good health, as we are pleased to state he
has come
himself, and as we, with God's blessing, hope that he will remain in .
common
with his dear ones."
-15-
THE
FOLLOWING IS AN ARTICLE PRINTED IN THE
ABOUT THE
HOMECOMING OF PETER JACOB LAMMERS:
"We had a call this morning from Elder P. J. Lammers,
who returned a week
since
from a mission to
1882. His
return was quite unexpected to his family, the letter which he sent
from
the day
after he did. However, he was none the less welcome to the home circle
and among
his friends in
while absent,
and returns with satisfaction to himself and to those who preside.
over
him."
"When Elder Lammers went to
Elder for
about seventeen months, and it required quite an effort to revive an
interest
in the Gospel there. He had the assistance of Elder J. W. F. Volker,
during
the first year of his mission, but since then he has labored alone.
Fifty-seven
persons were baptized into the Church while he was there, making a
total
membership of ninety persons in that land, and there was a fair prospect
of others
coming in soon when he left. Elder Lammers was also instrumental in
translating
into the language of the Hollanders and having published five of
Orson
Pratt's tracts, aggregating 6,000 copies, for distribution, which will
materially
tend to enlighten the people of that land on the subject of the
Gospel."