The Mission Call of Joshua R. Clark (b. 1840– d. 1929)

[The following excerpts were taken from the journal of Joshua R. Clark. I have included some of the context of his life in order for the reader to get a glimpse into the day to day activities of Joshua R. Clark during the three months between his call and leaving on his mission. He was fifty-three years old when he was called to serve a mission.]

14 June 1894 Elmer Dale Woolley Clark died in Salt Lake City, Utah at 1:15 p.m.

Bought a white coffin–$35. [Elmer Dale Woolley Clark was Joshua’s third child. He was nearly eighteen years old when he died.]

15 June 1894 Art Simmons went through the temple for Elmer and “got Elmer’s endowments for him.”

17 June 1894 Sunday, funeral for Elmer Dale Woolley Clark.

Speakers: A. Erickson, A. G. Johnson, Apostle Lyman.

Opening Prayer: Bro. Jeffries

Closing Prayer: B. F. Barrus

Uncle John Woolley dedicated the grave.

19 June 1894 Tuesday. Edwin, got a letter from Reuben, enclosing a letter from President Woodruff requesting me to be ready to go on a mission to the Northern States, to be ready to start on the 19th of Sept. next. The letter came when I was in the City, and Edwin did not Know when I was coming home, so he enclosed it in a letter to Reuben and Reuben returned it to me by to-days. mail. I will go and do the best I can, if I am spared.__________________________

June 22, 1894 Friday. Little John got his left hand hurt pretty bad last evening, he was up where they were stacking hay. Edwin told him to Keep out of the way, and they supposed he was out of the way. Samuel was driving the old George horse to pull up the hay, and little John was pulling on the rope we suppose in front of the pulley, and he must have held on and the rope pulled his hand into the pulley, as soon as he screamed. they stopped the horse, who backed a little which let the little fellows hand loose. The third finger on the left hand was torn open so that we could see the bone. We bound his hand up and poured on spirits of turpentine freely all evening. Edwin and I administered to him, then I administered to him again later on. I continued to pray for him. A little after two he went to sleep and slept until about nine this morning. The boys have been hauling hay again to day, but had to quit on account of the high wind. I have been working with the bees again to day. Bro. Bost came out from S.L. City today, he rode out on a bicycle, he came out in 3¼ hours. he will stop with us overnight. I have written a letter to Pres. Woodruff to-night, stating that I would accept the call to go on a Mission.

August 18, 1894 Saturday. I have been working with the bees again to day. Mary has been assisting me. Edwin went over towards the Kimball Island and got some Salt. I received a letter from Elder D. F. Stout at Council Bluffs, he is President of the Northern States Mission. The letter contains some valuable suggestions. telling me what books to take also clothing, and that I should have at least $85.00 to start with, and that it will cost me $20.00 to Council Bluffs and 10.00 or $15.00 from their to my field of labor. I went up town this evening and made arrangements to have a suit of clothes made for my mission. I helped to settle a difficulty between W. M. Rydalch, and James M. Worthington. _____________________

Sept. 14 , 1894 Friday. This is my last night at home for some time I expect. I go to the City tomorrow and on next Wednesday I expect to start on my Mission.

Sept. 15, 1894. Saturday, A beautiful morning. We borrowed Bro. Neilson's wagon and about twelve we got ready. I bade good-bye to my children and kissed them all. We started for the Mill. Edwin brought us over. Mary brought the baby along. We boarded the train at the Mill Station, and reached the City at 4 p.m. and took the street car for Main Street got transfers to the 6th Street cars and arrived at Aunt Rachel’s before five, but she was not at home, having gone to P. L. Williams’s to stay with his children while he and his wife have gone to San Francisco. We took Supper with J. F. Simmons. We heard that Uncle John expected us up to his place to-night. So we boarded a Street Car and went down to the U. P. Depot. and at 7.30 boarded what is called the “Dummy” and arrived at Porter's in Centerville at 8:15. A few minutes walk brought us to Uncle John's and found all well. We had a pleasant chat for two or three hours.

Sept 16, 1894 Sunday. We were the guests of Aunt Ann and Uncle John last night and had a comfortable nights rest. We have had a pleasant time, took dinner with John Woolley, Jr. About five O‘Clock we got in a buggy that Uncle John had got for us, and went with him and Aunt Ann over to her house in Bountiful where we spent a short time very pleasantly, and again partook of their hospitality in the shape of supper. and at 6:15 we started for the R. R. Station. Mary and Aunt Ann went in the buggy, and Uncle John and I walked. At 6:40 we boarded the “Dummy” and rolled out for Salt Lake City, arrived all right, took a Rapid Transit for Aunt Rachel's. Reached their in Safety. Uncle John came very near getting seriously hurt yesterday. He went into his corral to repair some fence that a Jersey bull, had damaged and the bull came at him. He had a board in his hand with which he struck the bull over the nose and broke it. Then he raised to strike the bull again. His foot slipped and before he could recover himself the bull struck him in the breast and knocked him down but as his horns had been previously sawed off he only bruised him about the breast. Uncle John turned over and the bull struck him once in the back and tread on him once. He called the dog who came and grabbed the bull by the leg, which caused him to turn his attention to the dog so that uncle could get up, and a man came to his assistance, so he escaped with some hard bruises. The bull is a vicious one. He got John Woolly, Jr. down once.

Sept. 17, 1894 Monday. Mary and I went down town this a.m. I called in to the Presidents Office on our way. I saw Bro. Spence. who has or who does purchase the tickets for the Missionaries. I left $20.00 with him to pay for my ticket to the “Bluffs", and asked him to let me and my companion, Bro. Johnson, go on the Denver and Rio Grande. He promised to do what he could for us. We then went on down to Grandma Woolley's. We found her very sick. We stopped their until after dinner. About four we came up to Aunt Netts, where we spent the evening in a very pleasant manner. Uncle John is also here and will remain for the night. He is working in the temple. Edwin and Alice came in this evening.

Sept. 18, 1894 Tuesday. I went down to the Historian Office this morning and gave in my genealogy to the clerk there. I then met some brethren who were going on missions to the Northern States. We then went to the Presidents Office and the brethren who had not previously done so, handed in the money to buy their tickets. Then we went to the Juvenile Office. I paid for the books that I purchased last week and assisted the other brethren in selecting their books. I then went to the Co-op and purchased a small satchel to put my books in, then came up to P. L. Williams’ residence where I found Mary and Aunt Rachel. I took dinner with them, then returned to the Historians office, and about 2:30 we were invited into an upper room where we gave our names to Bro. Whitaker who is the general clerk of the Seventies. We gave him our names and home addresses and paid him 50 cents each to write down our blessings given to us when set apart. He writes two copies and will send them to our wives. Then they send one to us and the other is retained by the family. Apostle Heber J. Grant and Pres. Rulon S. Wells set us apart. Brother Grant was mouth in setting me apart. Their was nine set apart for missions, and one young man, was set apart to attend the college at Ann Arbor, Michigan. After they had finished the setting apart Apostle Grant talked to us for quite a length of time, and gave us much valuable instruction. Telling us how to baptize and to use the ceremony given in the Doctrine and Covenants and no more, and in confirming to only use a few words, also in anointing the sick to only use a few words, also in sealing the anointing to be brief, he also cautioned us in traveling to be careful, and to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to conduct ourselves in every respect as becometh Latter-day Saints, and to avoid debates and discussions as much as possible. The advise was all good. Went over to the Presidents Office and got our tickets. There was four of us got tickets to go by the Denver and Rio Grande R. R. I wanted to go that route, as I have been over the U. P. R. R. twice. We will board the train at 8:05 in the morning and reach Denver on Thursday morning. We will stop at Aunt Rachel's again to-night. This is the last that I shall write in this journal. I will commence in Vol. No. 22. on tomorrow the 19th and will send this home with my dear wife.