Ralph E. Brown, Mission President
Dear Missionaries:
Through observation and contact with the missionaries and Saints thus far in the missionary field, I believe I am getting the "feel" of the problems better, and I hope that with the Lord's help, Sister Brown and I, with the co-operation also from my Counselor, Elder H. Vern Payne, and the fine office staff here in the mission home will be able to deal with all the mission problems properly.
According to my observations, I think we should talk about the following subjects:
I. Getting up in the morning. The Lord has said: "Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." D. & C. 88-124
II. Preserving the dignity befitting a missionary. The word of the Lord as set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants 42:6 "And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my Gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God."
How can you carry out this admonition if you do not follow missionary rules, and if you are not dignified and serious? It is time to grow up. Put away your foolish kid-like tricks. Do not "kid" each other in front of the Saints or other missionaries in a crowd. I heard of two Elders who pulled a big joke during a report meeting after it had been opened with prayer. That sounds like they were letting their minds wander back to their Boy Scout days and forgetting that they are grown men.
It is true we need not go around with a sad countenance. In fact, we should be cheerful and radiate good will, but at the same time be dignified and courteous to the members, investigators, and to our companions. We should not do anything to "grieve the Spirit".
I wish to admonish all of you missionaries that you should work in the field of labor and in the positions to which you are called by the Misson Presidency. You cannot all be Supervising Elders or Branch Presidents, or even at times, Senior Companions. "Let every man stand in his own office and labor in his own calling." D. & C. 84:109. It might be more important in the mind of the Mission Presidency that you be "just a good missionary" in the place you are laboring, than to be a District President in another place.
I felt, when I was a missionary, that I always did a good job, but I never was a Branch President or a District President, and I could not see that it made any difference. I assumed that the Mission President knew why he assigned me to my field of labor, and I did not worry about it. I found that I always had more than I could do, and I want to tell all you missionaries that if you catch up and do all there is to do, and there is no more missionary work to do in your area where you are assigned to work, just let me know and I will give you something else to do.
Arise early, preserve the dignity befitting a missionary, and work where you are called to work, and the Lord will bless you in all your righteous undertakings.
Sincerely your brother,
Ralph E. Brown, Mission President