The Lord has declared that missionary work is the responsibility
Elder Arthur and Alice Anderson were called to serve in the East Central States Mission. They had their mission farewell January 8, 1961. Alice recalled over 500 people attended their missionary farewell.
Here is their farewell program. My father Norman Hawks was one of the speakers. Norman is a son-in-law to AR and Alice. Norman married their daughter Faye. I found a copy of Norman's talk. Here it is.
"My brother and Sisters, no one, not in my situation can appreciate my feelings of gradute of being ask to speek tonight. I expect no greater privilage. From the kindness of brother and sister Anderson—I owe everything. They are high moments in the life of each of us, moments when we are lifted up out of our daily grind to higher levels. When we raise superior to the little things---that tantalize our lives. entagle our feet and impete are progress. Brother and Sister Anderson being called on this mission will be one of the happiest and joyious parts of their lives. Leaving their home on the farm where they developed their strength of character, and give meaning and purpose to life. Their children who has grown up under these conditions can never forget them. We all know how the bringing of Children is the greatest obligation laid upon man. What a wonderful job they have done. The Spriit of the Lord would have had to be with them. How else could they have accomplished so much. Their fondest memories cluster around their children, from the time they were able to walk, they would be out in the fields with there parents. They always worked together as a family. The days they toiled in the fields with their father and mother to help and guide them in the ways of life. Arthur always said the happiest days of his life were spent with his children, working in the field. I can still remember the first time I was in their home, it has been about 20 years. You could just feel the warmeth and spirit of the Lord, that was always prevelant. There is nothing that Brother and Sister Anderson would not do for their children. And then there is grandma---God bless her. She has such a humble understanding of everybody. What a wonderful job she has done with her children. She always works so hard. Evey summer as soon as the tomatoes were rip grandma would be up to the factory. They will surely miss her. Grandma with her genology work- with genology sheets scattered from her living room to her kitchen. What a wonderful work she is doing for the dead. The garden she had while raising her family—the fruit trees, the raspberried, the dewberries. Then her beautiful flower garden. No matter what she planted it would always grow. There lives have been adorned with deeds of kindness and service to others. What greater joy can one get, than to serve in the way God would have us. Life is madeup of problems. Try as we may we cannot avoide them, but we can learn to face them wisely and calmly. By doing so, we not only make our lives happier, but others also. That is Brother Andersons motto—He could always face and solve problems. He is truly the Anchor man of the Anderson family.
A TRIBUTE TO A.R. ANDERSON- by Faye A. Hawkes
They had a good father
His honor they wear.
He gave them a name
Free from shame, to bear.
He taught them the good things,
The way they should go.
And took them to Church
In the Gospel to grow.
A lot he has done
For his children five.
From his judgement
They have all thrived.
He counselled in wisdom
And taught by the “Rule”
Helped them in troubles
And sent them to school.
His life he lived well.
For he can tell you many a tale
Of his experiences one by one
His job here on earth—is well done.
Now they are going on a mission to teach the Gospel of Eternal Life. I pray that the Lord will Bless them and guide them always I do this is Jesus Name AMEN." (I made no corrections in Norman's talk. The spelling and grammatical errors are his. The original talk was typed.)
In the "olden days" the missionaries use to have "Missionary Cards" with their contact information and a picture of the temple. Here is Elder & Mrs. Arthur Raymond Anderson's Missionary Calling Card. The Articles Of Faith were typically on the back.
“Missionary work isn’t the only thing we need to do in this big, wide, wonderful Church. But almost everything else we need to do depends on people first hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and coming into the faith. … With all that there is to do along the path to eternal life, we need a lot more missionaries opening that gate and helping people through it.” —Jeffrey R. Holland “We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 46–47
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