President Doxey's Remarks on 21 March 2010

• President Doxey shared the account of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball leaving their wives, children, and humble homes to journey to Great Britain in response to their mission calls to that faraway land. Heber C. Kimball records the event in these words:
• “ ‘September 14th, … President Brigham Young left his home at Montrose to start on the mission to England. He was so sick that he was unable to go to the Mississippi, a distance of thirty rods, without assistance. After he had crossed the river he rode behind Israel Barlow on his horse to my house, where he continued sick until the 18th. He left his wife sick with a babe only three weeks old, and all of his other children were sick and unable to wait upon each other. Not one soul of them was able to go to the well for a pail of water, and they were without a second suit to their backs, for the mob in Missouri had taken nearly all he had. On the 17th, Sister Mary Ann Young got a boy to carry her up in his wagon to my house, that she might nurse and comfort Brother Brigham to the hour of starting.
• “ ‘September 18th, Charles Hubbard sent his boy with a wagon and span of horses to my house; our trunks were put into the wagon by some brethren; I went to my bed and shook hands with my wife who was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by her side; I embraced her and my children, and bade them farewell. My only well child was little Heber P., and it was with difficulty he could carry a couple of quarts of water at a time to assist in quenching their thirst.
• “ ‘It was with difficulty we got into the wagon, and started down the hill about ten rods; it appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. I felt as though I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop, and said to Brother Brigham, “This is pretty tough, isn’t it; let’s rise up and give them a cheer.” We arose, and swinging our hats three times over our heads, shouted: “Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.” Vilate, hearing the noise, arose from her bed and came to the door. She had a smile on her face. Vilate and Mary Ann Young cried out to us: “Goodbye, God bless you!” We returned the compliment, and then told the driver to go ahead. After this I felt a spirit of joy and gratitude, having had the satisfaction of seeing my wife standing upon her feet, instead of leaving her in bed, knowing well that I should not see them again for two or three years’ ” (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967, pp. 265–66).
• They were willing to make any sacrifice asked of them to build the kingdom of God.
• When President Doxey first served in the Hokkaido branch, there were only 8 people but on his last day there, there were 70.
• President Doxey told another story from his mission: There was a 16 year-old girl who used to attend the free English classes taught by the missionaries. When President Spencer W kimball went to Japan to announce the building of a temple there, her parents wouldn't allow her to go. She then wrote a letter to President Kimball and in his reply to her, he mentioned that her parents would join the church. The leaders there started trying to teach her parents the gospel to no avail. When they decided to send Japanese elders there, they managed to get into their home but there was still a lot of resistance. Being Japanese was most important and this included things like tea, sake, etc. One day, they decided to go to church and they heard someone gave a talk about Joseph Smith. The father started to cry and knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Since then, he never smoked again, never drank tea or sake again. He served two terms in the temple presidency.
• We need to be obedient and do the things that our branch president asks of us. We need to prepare. We are the Lord's hands.
• President Uchtdorf counseled us to lift where we stand.
• This is not about splitting the branch. This is about building Zion.