This is Odessa Tolman Clawson, fourth daughter of Judson Adonirum Tolman Jr. and Jennie Call Tolman, born in Preston Idaho March 26, 1912. My husband, Orin Clawson, the third son of Joseph Inkley Clawson and Celestia Durfee Clawson, born in Colonia Dublan, Mexico the 6th of May, 1905, and I recently returned from a Mission in South Australia. WM. O Tolman has asked us to write a report of this choice experience for publication in our next family magazine.
Although our call to serve for eighteen months came from President Joseph Fielding Smith, by the time we went into the Mission Home on the 12th of August 1972 he had been called home, and it was President Harold B. Lee who spoke so movingly to us in the Temple Solemn Assembly.
One Elder asked him if he had ever seen the Savior. After a slight pause, this was the answer, "Elder, you have asked a question that even we, the General Authorities, never ask one another. It is something to precious and sacred, but this I will say, I have seen and I have heard."
Our ninth and youngest child, David LeRoy Clawson, was in the Mission Home the same time as we. He being called to serve in the West German Mission, will return to Salt Lake on the 5th of August. Pres. Whitesides said it was the first time a missionary and his parents had been in the Mission Home together during his term of office.
On the day we boarded the plane for Australia, David took the bus to the Provo Language Training Mission.
Our plane left Los Angeles at 9:30 P.M., went to Honolulu and on to Sydney, Australia before we saw the sun again (18 hours of darkness). We landed in Melbourne, our Mission Headquarters, at 10:30 A.M. and were met by our Mission President, George Z Aposhian Jr. (a most energetic, devoted, talented and spiritual leader).
Our first assignment was in the Bendigo area, strengthening the members and working especially with inactive and part member families. Bendigo Branch covered an area about 150 miles North and South and 50 miles East and West.
The District Leader and his companion shared the same house with us. All expenses we split four ways, and we took turns cooking. One day we would cook and the Elders would wash dishes. The next day they would cook and we would wash dishes. Monday was our "P" day (preparation day). This was the day for shopping, cleaning, washing, writing letters, and fun activities, plus District Study Meeting was to be held in the evening.
Because of left hand drive and insurance policies, we were not permitted to drive the first three months, so almost everywhere we went the Elders were with us.
Every morning before leaving the flat we had a study period, testimony meeting and prayer. This was always a choice spiritual occasion.
Because of this close family situation our Elders became very dear to us. They were just like our own boys. In fact, they frequently called us Mom and Dad.
So you will understand a little more what our work consisted of at this time, I'd like to share one or two experiences.
The Branch President went over the records and told us a little about each family, and those we should not visit. One lady he didn't know. We finally traced her down and she was in a Hospital. After giving her a blessing, we made an appointment to go teach her and her family the discussions.
She kept house for a non-member farmer about sixty miles from Bendigo. She had two adopted daughters and one adopted son living with her. We gave them a discussion each week and held Sacrament Meeting every other week. Almost every meeting she would have some of her non-member friends in attendance. She WAS VERY enthusiastic. Finally her son was rebaptized (his records could not be found), and they started coming into Bendigo for Church.
Then I noticed something was troubling (..an elder..) He promised us before leaving that he would remain active and come back into the church as soon as possible. The last we heard, he was keeping his promise.
As a word of caution to any member of our family who may be going on a mission. This wouldn't have happened if the Elder had followed the rules of the Mission. Satan works overtime on missionaries. If you follow the rules and do what you should, he, Satan, can have no power over you.
The Sunday School Superintendent was a School teacher from the United States who lived one hundred miles from Bendigo. He and his family [faith]fully traveled the two hundred miles every Sunday to attend Church. That's dedication.
About a week after we arrived in Bendigo, the Elders baptized a sweet young lady who was studying to become a nurse. Orin gave a talk on the importance of baptism and I bore my testimony.
Although there were only about thirty-five active members, this Branch had the blessing of a beautiful modern Chapel. The President is a tremendous spirit leader.
When we arrived, there were only two young people attending MIA, so we talked with the Elders, the Branch President and MIA President about a program to get the young people involved. I'm happy to say we [were] able to boost attendance to nine or ten. Our Halloween party and other activities were a real success.
At Christmas time missionary work was almost at a standstill. Everyone was too busy shopping, visiting and participating in sports, to be bothered, so we decided to have a special Christmas program at out flat. Our Elders built a small manger with pine sticks and made a scene on the mantle with shepherds, Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, animals, star of Bethlehem, etc. We played a tape telling the time of the birth of the Savior on the American continent as well as at Jerusalem. When the tape came to the part where the shepherds went to the manger, we put a spotlight on the star and manger scene. Almost every night for a week and a half we had a different group there for our presentation and light refreshments.
About two months before leaving Bendigo, we had an Elder from our home ward in Salt Lake and a new (Kiwi) Elder from New Zealand come to live in our flat. They were extra special young missionaries. Never a moment was wasted. They were either tracting, teaching, studying, praying, or seeking answers to questions.
Shortly after we were transferred, the Elder from Salt Lake was killed in a car accident. His sister was flying to the funeral service and while enroute a famous TV Star sat down beside her and asked her questions about the Church. She didn't know the answers and suddenly she heard her brother's voice telling her what she needed to know. His study and diligence was not in vain. We feel he was called to perform a special mission on the other side.
By the time we were transferred to Millicent, we had helped in the finding, teaching, baptizing and fellowshipping of nine non-members.
After seven months in Bendigo which was a part of the Melbourne Stake, we were transferred as District President to an area in the Southwest section of the Mission. It was originally five branches, be was later condensed to four.
Each week we visited a different branch to check records and do what we could to strengthen and help them to understand more fully the programs of the Church. It was my responsibility to supervise the Relief Society and Primary. We gave special programs on how to be better teachers and leaders. We also had the responsibility of helping them understand the new Priesthood MIA.
Every three months we held District Conferences with a different branch acting as host. President and Sister Sposhian and sometimes Brother Broadhead, our Regional Representative, presided while we conducted the various Meetings.
We were blessed to attend Conference in Melbourne three different times at which a member of the Twelve apostles presided. The first one was Thomas S. Monson, next Franklin D. Richards, an Assistant to the Twelve. Then Gordon B. Hinckley. Toward the latter end of our mission Brother A. Theodore Tuttle held meetings with the missionaries in different areas.
This really gave is a boost spiritually and helped us in carrying forward in the Lord's work.
Through the week we contacted inactive members and held family home evenings and special teaching engagements in which we used tapes of General Conference and other special talks by General Authorities. It was our privilege to strengthen and fellowship new members also.
The last month before coming home a young man and young woman from two inactive families came to our flat two or three times a week to listen to the Book Of Mormon Tapes and read along with them. (They are planning for a Temple Marriage.) We understand the young man was ordained an Elder at the last District Conference.
In this area the members gave the Elders several choice referrals. Because we were not withing a regular Stake and had no Chapel, our baptisms were performed in the ocean or Y.M.C.A., depending on the area. (We lived in Millicent about eight miles from the beach.) The Elders had six baptisms in Millicent. There were three in the Y.M.C.A. in Mt. Gambier.
The mother of a counselor in the Mt. Gambier Branch attended church regularly, but refused to be baptized because she was too old (in her eighties), sickly, and could not give up her coffee. The man, his wife and granddaughter went to the New Zealand Temple in January. There was such a change in their spirit and attitude that she told us she wanted to be baptized. I asked her when. We would love to have it happen before we go home. When do you go home? In two weeks. "I'll be baptized on Sunday. And I'd like to have Pres. Clawson help Len baptize me."
We were scheduled to attend Church in Warrnambool, one hundred twenty five miles away. We told her to make it for 6:30 and we would be there. She did, and we were. As she was confirmed, her face was smiling and radiant.
Although we lost a third of our American dollar when it was changed to Australian, and we did a tremendous amount of traveling (3000 miles per month) The Lord blessed us and we were able to take care of our needs. For instance, when [we] were at the Kaniva-Horsham Branch (130 miles away) we spent the night in the Branch President's home or with one of his counselors. When they hosted the District Conference and had many visitors, he paid our expense at the motel. Another couple we had helped fellowship back into activity kept us in flour and wheat germ. (He worked for a milling company.) When we went to the Warrnambool Branch we spent Saturday night in the Branch President's home. (He took our place as District President when we left.)
Besides teaching the Gospel, we had a side "hobby." In Bendigo, Orin chopped three tons of wood for a sweet widow lady. In Mt. Burr (Millicent) the last three months of our Mission we went several mornings each week and gathered, sawed and chopped wood for another widow lady, before holding an instruction period with her. When we met her she said she didn't know anything about the Gospel. We asked her why she was baptized: she said, "To make the Elder happy." How grateful we were for our tapes of the 1972 and 1973 Conferences. They were a source of enlightenment and inspiration not only to others but to us as well.
We were also grateful to have two fine Mission Couple serving in our area. (One in Mt. Gambier and one in Warrnambool.)
Each of the Branches gave us a farewell party and gifts on our last visit with them. On our way home from our mission we were permitted to spend five hours in Fiji, Four Days in New Zealand, Two Days in Hawaii and one week in California. We arrived in Salt Lake on the 4th of March. In time to see a record snow storm for our area at that time of year. (Our first snow for two years.)
While in New Zealand, we stayed in the home of a Moari family (Kakas), we met and loved and worked with in Kaniva. He was a member of the Branch Presidency, Sister Kaka's brother was the Branch President. Besides showing us a few points of interest, we attended three sessions in the Temple and helped in sealing 150 young men to their parent[s].
In Hawaii we couldn't find a vacancy in the motel at Laie. The Manager called a member of the church, a Brother Covey, and they took us into their home. We went to a session of the Temple and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
It was wonderful to have a week in Rialto, California with our son, Dennis, and our daughter Klar and their families. Also we were able to see and visit with some of our dear friends we loved and worked with for so many years.
We will be eternally grateful for the privilege that has been ours of getting to know and love those dear people in Australia. We also will never forget the beauties of the country and wild life through which we traveled constantly, but above all we must express our gratitude to our Father in Heaven for his guidance, blessings and sweet spirit that was showered upon us.
Dear Family, May we bear you our witness that this is truly the work of the Lord. We do have a Prophet to guide us, and if we will follow his teachings we will have the greatest joy and happiness that can be found anywhere.
Sincerely your Sister in the Gospel
Orin and Odessa
