The Turkish Mission
J. Wilford Booth's account of the Turkish Mission
J. Wilford Booth served three missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First as a missionary in the Turkish Mission (1898-1902), and then twice as president of the Turkish Mission (1903-1909, and 1921-1928). J. Wilford Booth and his wife, Mary, did not have children and spent years serving in the Turkish Mission. It was while serving in Aleppo, Syria, in 1928 that he had a heart attack and died. The following history was written in early 1904, some six months into his first term of service as mission president. It is republished in its entirety for the reader’s benefit.
The beginning of the work of the Lord in Turkey, in this dispensation, under the direction of the Holy priesthood, dates back to the sixth day of April, 1840, when Apostle Orson Hyde was called to take a mission to Jerusalem. Leaving his home on the fourteenth of the same month, after preaching by the way to the Jews in several of the larger cities, Elder Hyde reached the holy city in the autumn of the following year. On Sunday morning, October 24th, 1841, he ascended the Mount of Olives, the sacred spot where once stepped the feet of the Savior and where He will stand again in the last days, and consecrated the land to the gathering of the Jews. On two occasions since then has the holy land been dedicated and blessed for the promulgation of truth, and the return of Judah's long lost children. Apostle Lorenzo Snow and others visited Jerusalem in 1873; and President Francis M. Lyman, accompanied by Elders Sylvester Q. Cannon and Albert Herman, came in the spring of 1902, and, for the third time, consecrated Palestine to the work of the Father in the last days.
The year 1888 marks the commencement of active missionary work in Turkey. Elder F. F. Hintze has the honor of being called the "Father of the Turkish mission." He came to Syria in the latter part of the eighties, and the fruits of his labors are seen today in many cities of Syria and Asia Minor. Elders have been so very few in this mission during these sixteen years that we can mention them all in a few lines. As records at hand are so very incomplete, the list as given may seem to do injustice to some, and we apologize for possible omissions: F. F. Hintze (two missions), Jacob Spori, Joseph M. Tanner, James Clove, Charles Locander, Fred Diterli. W. H. Smart, Edgar Simmons (died in the mission field), Fred. Stauffer, Don C. Musser, Elder Haag, (died in the mission field), John A. Clark (died in the mission field), Albert Herman (two missions), F. A. Huish, E. W. Robinson, N. C. Christiansen, Philip S. Maycock, A. L. Larson, Apostle A. H. Lund, J. Wilford Booth (two missions), J. Alma Holdaway, Thomas P. Page, W. Lester Mangum, Henry Teuscher, Charles Teuscher, Sister Reba Booth, Reno W. Vance and Mischa Markow (two missions).
Among the Christian population of this country the history of the present generation is divided into two periods by the great massacre of 1895, in which it is said that 50,000 of their number perished. The chronology of our mission is likewise punctuated by that event. Before that date about one-half of the Elders mentioned had been here, and branches of the Church had been established in Aleppo, Aintab and Zara, with baptized members scattered from Haifa to the Black sea, and from Constantinople to the Tigris river. Over this vast area of territory, with the most inconvenient means of traveling, where weeks are required to reach from branch to branch, or from one family of Saints to another; and with that triple alliance of ignorance, prejudice and fanaticism to face, the early Elders had a hard field. They pushed on with faith and courage and hope; broke through the stubborn ranks of opposition, and now, where once their testimonies were rejected in scorn, the hand of welcome is extended to the humble messengers of truth. True there is yet much indifference, but the change has been remarkable, in our favor, especially so during the last year.
During the time of, and for two years subsequent to the massacre, the Saints were left alone with local leaders, and the Gospel being new to all, of course many things which were not understood arose and produced dissatisfaction, yet as a rule they remained firm in the faith. There was great rejoicing among them on the advent of Elders from Zion after their long deprivation.
One of the great difficulties of this mission is the extreme poverty of the Saints. Each year their chances seem to lessen of providing sustenance for their families. Many of them are. weavers of silk, cotton or wool, and the manufactured goods of Europe are coming in, doing away with the products of the little hand looms of the Orient, and the poor weavers are, year by year, hopelessly struggling to prolong the life of their dying industry. With a view to the betterment of their condition as well as to assist in the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the redemption of this land, Apostle Lund and Elder Hintze were sent from Zion to look over the ground and to select a site for a future colony of the Saints. They were here in the spring of 1898, and made a tour of Syria and Palestine in company with Elders Maycock, Larson and Shirinian, a native. The records at hand give us only the brief information that a place was selected a few miles southeast of Haifa, in the valley of the Kishon. The financial condition of the Church, the political affairs of the Ottoman government, and the spiritual standing of the Saints were taken into consideration, and these, all combined, caused the brethren to postpone the movement for an indefinite period. In its stead, however, other work was given which brought temporary relief. At present several of our sisters are engaged in making rugs, which are being sent to Z. C. M. I. and to Liverpool for sale. Fancy needlework is also coming into favor among them, and samples have been forwarded for inspection and advertisement. The workers earn from twopence to sixpence per day, and men's wages of the weaving class seldom exceed a shilling for ten hours' hard work.
With such a limited income the tithing is far below the needs of the branches, and the poor are almost daily begging assistance to keep their children from hunger. This pitiable state attracts the attention of the sympathetic Elder, and our prayers are joined with theirs for the establishment of something more hopeful and permanent, hence the recent appeal to the authorities from this mission for a colony. We have now six missionaries and about one hundred and fifty Saints, with a good representation of farmers and mechanics, and a few of scholastic attainments.
The methods of preaching the Gospel in this land are necessarily different from those of other fields. Three languages prevail among the people—Arabic, Turkish and Armenian. Each tongue is spoken among our Saints, and there are also the German speaking Saints of Haifa, who know the Gospel only in their own tongue. Until 1899, we had no books but the Bible, and almost no tracts to assist in the work of spreading the Gospel. During that year a few thousand tracts were published in the Turkish language and sent throughout northern Syria and Asia Minor, and they have been read by many people. To assist in the work of the branches a selection of twenty-eight sections from the Doctrine and Covenants was made and translated by President Hintze. Copies were made and put into book form, and they have done much good in teaching the Saints the order and regulations of the Church. So far our hymn books are only handmade, and we now feel the need of a suitable book with music set to our original hymns and to those translated into the language. The Book of Mormon has been translated into the Turkish language, and we are anxiously awaiting its publication.
Our work till now has been mostly among the Armenians, a people in whose veins runs the blood of Israel. Their ancestors were most likely in the line of the northward march of the ten tribes, and very probably associated and mingled with them. Their characteristics point strongly to an infusion of the blood of Reuben, for they are, as was that prince of Israel, "unstable as water." They are apt and industrious, yet lack in capacity for leadership, sharp but shallow, shrewd but not sturdy.
The door to the great Mohammedan race is slightly ajar, and many of them have heard the Gospel. Some of our warmest friends are among those of Islam, and a few are holding high positions in the government. A great many of these people know French, and the Book of Mormon in that language is working its way among them.
We are and have been for several years trying to secure recognition from the government, with privileges of holding schools and open meetings, and of preaching the Gospel with more liberty, and we trust in the due time of the Lord this will be given to us. For the first time in the history of the mission we now have a lady missionary, and her presence is opening the door to a new class of people who, until this time, have been difficult of access. The Lord is preparing the hearts of the people, we feel, for a better day in this field, and we hope His promises will soon be fulfilled, especially the promises referring to the redemption of this land, so prolific in prophecy, so rich in revelation.1
J. Wilford Booth, ‘The Turkish Mission,’ The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Vol. 646, No. 12 (1904), pp. 177-180.