Hilton, “Without Purse or Scrip: Experiences of a Mormon Missionary” (reviewed by Trudy Thompson)

Review
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Title: Without Purse or Scrip: Experiences Of A Mormon Missionary — Mission Journal, Written in 1947, in the state of Maine
Author: Elder Lynn M. Hilton
Publisher: Hilton Books LLC 141 West 1820 South, Perry, Utah 84302
Genre: Non- Fiction
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 102
Binding: Softcover
ISBN-13: 9781516950386
Price: $12.95

Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association for Mormon Letters

As a young girl growing up on a farm in South Dakota, I was always intrigued by stories of the missionaries associated with the small rural Methodist church that my family and I attended. One was a woman who never married, and spent her whole adult life in voluntary mission service among the “natives” in Haiti. The superstitions of the people of that land, coupled with the abject poverty, and lack of education of so many of the inhabitants, made the work challenging and slow. The other missionaries were a married couple who took their two young daughters to Brazil and raised them there while performing their missionary labors. The conditions that all of these missionaries lived under were difficult and a burden, and they often found themselves teaching people the basics of life, such as reading, writing, proper hygiene and diet, instead of teaching about God and Jesus Christ. Government regulations regarding foreign missionaries changed constantly, and fear and faith were always present in their daily lives.

Upon joining the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I met a whole new crop of missionaries, and as always, were equally enthralled by their reasons for serving missions, where they were from and so forth. With the possible exception of those missionaries laboring on the Indian reservations of South Dakota, the living conditions for the missionaries serving there were a far cry from those I had known who served in “third world countries.”

In this small but fascinating new book, “Without Purse Or Scrip,” Lynn M. Hilton tells of his service as a young missionary, through his personal journal entries, of his service in the mission field of Maine, from November 1945 to November 1947. As the first veteran of WW II to go on an LDS mission, out of the thousands that followed, he was indeed a trailblazer and a pioneer. Mr. Hilton had honorably separated from the Army in October of 1945, and ten days later was interviewed by his Bishop, Stake President and Elder Stephen L. Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for an LDS mission. Those interviews and his ordination as a Seventy of the Melchizedek Priesthood all took place on the same day. On November of 1945, Elder Hilton arrived in Salt Lake City for missionary training, dressed in his U.S. Army officers uniform. The reason was that his black missionary suit could not be altered in time before he had to catch the train from his home in California to Salt Lake City.

In the summer of 1947, New England Mission President, S. Dilworth Young made the decision to ask all of the young male missionaries, including Elder Hilton, to serve without purse or scrip, for the duration of the summer. President Young called this new assignment “country missionary work.”

Both the Bible and the Doctrine and Covenants contain scriptures describing the principle of “without purse or scrip.” In Luke 10 we read: “Go your ways: Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes….And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house…..And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.” From Doctrine and Covenants 84: “But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given-from you it must be preached unto them…traveling to preach the gospel in my power; For I suffered them not to have purse or scrip, neither two coats.”

It was delightful to read of the simple, matter-of-fact attitude that Elder Hilton and his companions took to this new mission “rule.” They did as instructed with determination and faith, got off the bus and started walking down the road with their suits and hats on, carrying nothing but their “grips” ( a small case carrying only the basics, including copies of the Book of Mormon to sell at fifty cents each, and tracts to hand out). They had been instructed to carry one bar of soap, a razor, toothbrush, comb and a few other small items.

They had to walk from town to town and stop at farm houses and other places along the way as directed by the Spirit. Elder Hilton tells many faith promoting stories from this time on his mission, including the following: One morning, Elder Hilton and his companion were invited by a local preacher to attend an upcoming meeting of the County Ministerial Association. Prior to going to this meeting on the appointed date, he and his companion had dreamed, in the same night, of preaching to the gathered ministers at this meeting. They prayed together that the way would be opened so they could. At the meeting, the minister who had invited them said nothing about the “new brethren” talking, until he suddenly stood up, said they had no prepared program, but that they had two visiting brothers here, and they were welcome to speak for as long as they cared to talk. Elder Hilton spoke for 25 minutes on the Restoration, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Afterwards he pled with those present to aid them in delivering the message to the people of that area. Some were furious and others offered the young missionaries the use of their churches and congregations. There was one young minister, among the 20 assembled ministers, who was so impressed by their fearless presentation that he bought a Book of Mormon. The missionaries were then served lunch and played volley ball with those present.

There is one entry in Elder Hilton’s journals where he tells of the time they arose early one morning, at the home where they had been invited to stay the night before, had breakfast with the family and started on their way. The road that day was long and hot and they had a meager snack for lunch. They had been invited to stay in a barn that night, but had gone to bed without any supper. The people of the house had given them blankets to use in the hay, but they still had no food and they were hungry. The elder states in his journal, “God’s will be done.” The next morning, Elder Hilton records in his journal that they “felt sorry for their attitude yesterday night, for the Lord has demonstrated His power in His continued goodness to us.” After writing in his journal the night before, and praying for food, the Catholic woman who had invited them to stay in her barn brought them sandwiches and very sweet milk. In the morning they each had another sandwich for breakfast, and they went on their way. Later in the day after praying for food again, they met a fine family that fed them royally.

Thus goes the story of Elder Hilton and the other missionaries under the guidance of President S. Dilworth Young. Equally entertaining as the stories of mission life were at that place and time are the written instructions from the mission president to his young missionaries that summer. These guidelines included the following admonitions: They were instructed to keep $5.00 in their pockets at all times, so they would not be considered vagrants. If the missionaries were given rare donations from strangers, they were to use those funds to purchase postage stamps, bus tickets, soap, an umbrella, a hat, shoe repairs, and the dry cleaning of their suit. (The latter rarely happened – laundry was usually done in a stream and laid out to dry in the sun.) They were also instructed to consistently refuse money from strangers — instead they were to tell them that it was hospitality they wanted and the chance to explain the Gospel.

Later on, they were counseled if they did accept cash they were to spend it right then and go find lodging and food immediately. They were taught to not stay longer with one family than the family could afford to keep them, without paying them. One set of Elders had stayed in a town for a week, staying at a different home each night. Other guidelines included: Remembering to pray in people’s homes lest “they think that something is wrong with you,” informing the mission president if you are suffering with hay fever out in the country and just how bad it is affecting you, phoning the president at once if you are enduring more than you can stand, because he “does not want you to suffer just to be suffering,” rent an apartment and use buses if the weather gets cold, and returning to a community, where they have been received well, within two or three weeks, if not sooner, for a second visit and “check-up.” The same was to be done with particularly receptive families, and they were encouraged to not go too far from them and to stay longer if the family could afford that.

It is truly inspiring to read of the faith and strong-willed intent of Elder Hilton and his fellow missionaries during this time. They constantly prayed for food and a place to stay and to find those willing to listen to their message; and always, one way or another, and at given times and intervals, their prayers were answered. At times, walking between the villages of southern Maine, they found themselves sleeping outdoors, bathing and laundering their clothes in rivers and lakes, and walking to the next town wearing wet clothes. But through it all, they never lost their faith, their testimonies, or their resolute desire to fulfill their duties as missionaries, called by God, and sent forth to preach His Gospel.

And, perhaps most importantly of all, they never forgot to offer prayers of sincere gratitude for the multitude of blessings that had been so richly bestowed upon them.

Lynn M. Hilton discovered his old missionary journals in July of 2015 while looking through some old boxes in his basement. He had not seen these booklets since he wrote them 68 years before. Many fine black and white photographs add to the charm of this book. Readers will indeed be blessed by this wealth of stories from a faithful missionary. This uplifting volume could easily be read to children of all ages, as a means to teach of faith, testimony, sacrifice and trials and triumph. I can’t think of a finer gift for a newly called missionary.

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