(Compiled and written by David Kenison,
Elder David O. McKay made a year-long "worldwide tour" of the
missions of the Church from 1920-1921. As part of that tour, on
"Elder Hugh J. Cannon and I have traveled continuously since last
Tuesday with the sole purpose in mind to be here in
"Before we left home, President Grant suggested that when we were in
"The sky was cloudless. The sun's bright rays tempered the winter air to pleasantness. Every impression following our earnest prayers together and in secret, seemed to confirm our conclusions arrived at last evening; viz., that it seems that the time is near at hand when these teeming millions should at least be given a glimpse of the glorious Light now shining among the children of men in other and more advanced nations.
"Accordingly, we strolled almost aimlessly, wondering where it would be
possible to find a secluded spot for worship and prayer. We entered that part
of the imperial city, known as the '
"Under the century old limbs and green leaves of this, one of God's own temples, with uncovered heads, we supplicated our Father in heaven and by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, and in the name of the Only Begotten of the Father, turned the key that unlocked the door for the entrance into this benighted and famine-stricken land of the authorized servants of God to preach the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Brother Cannon, with well-chosen words, and with a spirit of deep earnestness and humility, blessed the chosen spot as one of prayer and supplication to the Almighty. It was plainly evident that he was sincerely affected by the solemnity of the occasion.
"Acting under appointment of the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and by virtue of the holy apostleship, I then dedicated and set apart the Chinese realm for the preaching of the glad tidings of great joy as revealed in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and prayed particularly that the present government may become stabilized, if not by the Chinese themselves, then by the intervention of the civilized powers of the world."
Brother Cannon, who was the only other person with Elder McKay when the dedication was offered, wrote this description:
"Elder David O. McKay, in the authority of the holy apostleship, dedicated and set apart the Chinese realm for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, whenever the Church Authorities shall deem it advisable to send out missionaries for that purpose. Never was the power of his calling more apparent in his utterances. He blessed the land and its benighted people and supplicated the Almighty to acknowledge this blessing. He prayed that famine and pestilence might be stayed, that the government might become stable, either through its own initiative, or by the intervention of other powers, and that superstition and error, which for ages have enveloped the people, might be discarded, and truth take their place. He supplicated the Lord to send to this land broad-minded and intelligent men and women, that upon them might rest the spirit of discernment and the power to comprehend the Chinese nature, so that in the souls of this people an appreciation of the glorious gospel might be awakened.
"It was such a prayer and blessing as must be recognized in heaven, and though the effects may not be suddenly apparent, they will be nonetheless real."
(Middlemiss, _Cherished Experiences from the Writings of David O. McKay_, pp. 46-50)
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Copyright 1998, David Kenison and LDS-Gems,
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