[President George Albert Smith Journal] "LeRoy Snow came to see Arthur about Brother Romney writing the story of his father's lifePresident Lorenzo Snow. I instructed Arthur to have LeRoy see me at some time so that I could talk with him concerning this matter. I am sure that there is some phase of the book that Roy might like to include which would be inadvisable." (1)
-- Sep 27, 1950
Instructions on calling of missionaries-- Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Instructions governing the calling of missionaries into service of the Church.
September 27, 1950 To Stake and Mission Presidents and Ward Bishops:
Dear Brethren,
We wish to call to your attention the following information in connection with the calling of missionaries:
Age: Young men should be twenty years of age before they depart for their missions unless they have had two years of college or military service, in which event the age requirement is waived. Young women should be twenty-three before they are recommended for missionary service. However, because of special requests from mission presidents for more experienced help, the age limit has temporarily been lowered to twenty-one.
Selective Service: Inasmuch as young men called for the ministerial service must make extensive preparations such as securing permission to enter countries, obtaining passports and visas, notifying employers, arranging farewell testimonials, securing space on steamships, and planning well in advance their educational programs the following arrangement has been worked out with the officials of Selective Service:
If young men of draft age have received their Certificate of Acceptability they should not be recommended for missionary service. If young men who have been called by the Church to serve as missionaries receive their Certificate of Acceptability ten days before they enter the Mission Home, the Church will excuse these young men from ministerial service. If, however, the Certificate of Acceptability is not received ten days before entrance into the Mission Home is scheduled, the young men will be deferred from military service for the duration of their mission terms. This plan will avoid borderline cases. If a young man who has received his Certificate of Acceptability be not inducted within a period of five months, he may be recommended for ministerial service.
We urge Bishops to cooperate in every way with the members of the Selective Service who in turn will cooperate with the Bishops, that the needs and well being of all concerned will be best served. At the conclusion of a missionary's mission he will be expected to report to his draft board within five days after he returns home, and failure to do this makes him delinquent and subject to immediate induction.
Military Reserves: Young men holding commissions in any of the military reserves should not be recommended for missionary service. Young men who are members of the enlisted reserves should first discuss with their commanding officers the possibility of their being released and secure permission to be released before they are recommended for missionary service. Such young men now serving as ministers for the Church already in the mission field have been deferred from military service for the duration of their mission terms and will be expected to report to their reserve units within five days after their return home.
National Guards: Young men holding commissions in the National Guard and belonging to units that have been activated should not be recommended for missionary service. Young men who are members of the National Guard, but on the inactive listing, should first discuss with their commanding officers the possibility of their being discharged and permission assured before they are recommended for ministerial service.
We believe the foregoing will be helpful to you in the selection of young men and women to assist in carrying forward the program of the Church.
With best wishes we are Sincerely your brethren, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1950-September 27-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church} (2)
-- Sep 30, 1950
[Quorum of Twelve] David O. McKay becomes President of the Quorum. (3)
-- Oct 2, 1950
Proper wearing of temple garments by men in military service-- Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
The renewed calling of men into military service for the Korean War rendered it desirable, on the part of the First Presidency, to reaffirm certain observations in the matter of wearing the temple garment.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Office of the First Presidency Salt Lake City, Utah October 2, 1950 To Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of Wards
Dear Brethren:
The renewed calling of men into military training renders it desirable to reaffirm certain observations heretofore made during the last World War in the matter of wearing the temple garment.
1. The covenants taken in the temple incident and attached to the wearing of garments contemplate that they will be worn at all times. No exception to these covenants is found anywhere in the ceremonies. These covenants run between the one making them and the Lord. These covenants so made take on the nature of commandments of the Lord.
2. In the early days of the Church the Lord announced that where men prevented his Saints from carrying out the commandments he had given them, the Lord would relieve the Saints from rendering obedience to the commandment, and would visit the iniquity and transgression involved in such disobedience upon the heads of those who "hindered" his work. The Lord said this rule was given for the consolation of the Saints "who have been commanded to do a work and have been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression." (D&C 124:49 ff.)
3. Where the military regulations are of a character that "hinders," that is, makes impossible the wearing of the regulation garments, either in training on the drill grounds or in combat zones, effort should be made to wear underclothing that will approach as near as may be the normal garment.
Where military regulations require the wearing of two-piece underwear, such underwear should be properly marked, as if the articles were of the normal pattern. If circumstances are such that different underwear may be turned back to the wearer from that which he sends to the laundry, then the marks should be placed on small pieces of cloth and sewed upon the underwear while being worn, then removed when the underwear is sent to the laundry, and resewed upon the underwear returned.
The wearing of the normal garment should be resumed at the earliest possible moment.
4. Every effort should be made to protect the garments from the gaze and raillery of scoffers. This may cause considerable inconvenience at times, but tact, discretion, and wisdom can do much to alleviate this inconvenience. If the scoffing became unbearable and the wearer should decide that the Lord would consider he was really "hindered" by the scoffers from wearing the garments, and if he should therefore lay them aside, then the wearer should resume the wearing of the normal garment at the earliest possible moment.
A certain amount of curiosity and light comment may be frequently expected, wherever, for one cause or another, the garments are brought into view, but this is not the "hindering" of which the Lord spoke as excusing obedience.
The blessings flowing from the observance of covenants are sufficiently great to recompense for all mere inconveniences.
The wearing of the garment is the subject of direct covenant between the Lord and the covenant maker, who must determine to what extent he will keep his covenants. To break our covenants is to lose the protection and blessings promised from obedience thereto.
Faithfully yours, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1950-October 2-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church} (2)
Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
