John Charles Hailes, born in Reading, England, in 1881, wrote a letter to the Latter-day Saints of Great Britain in the fall of 1908, about his conversion to the Church:

My Dear Brethren and Sisters,

I am serving on board the first-class battleship Vengeance, Home squadron. I feel desirous of bearing my testimony with regard to the truth of Mormonism, and relating how I found the truth.

From my childhood I always had a desire to serve my Creator, but my mind was always confused. I used to think when a child that every country had its own religion: England, Church of England; Ireland, Roman Catholicism; Scotland, Presbyterianism; and so on. Of course, as I grew older I learned that my idea was absurd.

I was drafted to China in 1903 on a foreign commission. During my stay out there I associated a good deal with some of my shipmates who were of the Wesleyan faith. Although I could not see much in their belief to admire, it brought me nearer to God. On one occasion a chum and I knelt down and asked God to forgive us our sins, and we would try to live a better life. Although I had never been addicted to drinking or smoking, my conscience told me I was not obeying the commands of my Heavenly father as fully as I should. I became very desirous of being right with God. I visited the Church of England Cathedral in Hong Kong, but I was not satisfied with what I saw and heard there.

On returning to England I stopped at Chatham. It was there I heard the first gospel sermon preached by authorized servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On August 25th, 1905, I read the book named The Voice of Warning. I felt very anxious to know who Joseph Smith was and about the Book of Mormon. I could ask no one on board, as religion is held very lightly in the navy, I am sorry to say. I was struck with the kind spirit of the young man who gave me the book. He was an utter stranger to me.

I went home to my relatives and friends after an absence of nearly three years. I related all I had read about the boy, Joseph Smith, and judge of my surprise when they began to leave the house. They told me that the Latter-day Saints were the worst people on earth, but the young man whom I first became acquainted with bore no marks of sin. Soon after this I was introduced to some elders and saints, who treated me with the greatest hospitality, which I appreciated very much, considering I had not been inside a private house for three years. I continued to investigate the gospel for five months, although I was convinced of its truth almost as soon as I heard it, but I lacked courage to accept it. I prayed more earnestly to my father in heaven. I considered the things I would have to give up. One great test of my faith was tithing. I did not like the idea of parting with my money, but remembering that “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,” and seeing that it was a command of God, I accepted it, and decided to be baptized. Elder G.M. Howell performed the ordinance on December 10th, 1905, at Eastney, Portsmouth. Since then I have enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord, through obeying the commands of God, and I have also had great sorrow when I have disobeyed any of the laws of heaven. I might add that I have prospered temporally as well as spiritually which I attributed to the paying of tithes. I know Joseph Smith is a true servant of God, and also that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer, that He did work for me which I could not do for myself. I realize that through strict obedience and righteous works I shall reach the kingdom of heaven. I hope I may continue to keep a straight course for the harbor of eternal life.

I remain, your brother in the cause of truth,

J.C. HAILES

John was still a sailor in 1910 when he posed with his brothers and sisters for this photo, at their father’s funeral. By 1912, he was married, out of the Navy, and had emigrated to Salt Lake City, where he would work for the rest of his active life in the copper smelting business. He and Nellie also lived the rest of their lives – more than half a century – at the same address where they settled upon arrival in Utah.

In 1938, John recalled his 1908 letter and wrote another, with a rosy view of his life since joining the Church:

I have the desire in my heart to again bear my humble testimony to the people of Great Britain.

It is interesting to me to go back to that other writing, and see what it was that led me to join the Church. “I read the book named The Voice of Warning. … Soon after this I was introduced to some elders and saints, and continued to investigate the gospel for five months, although I was convinced of its truth almost as soon as I heard it, but I lacked courage to accept it.”

When I look back on my hesitation I realize the blessings I have received are so much greater than what I had to give up, that there is little comparison. My life in the Church has brought me opportunities that I could not have found elsewhere.

I have lived in Utah for twenty-six years and mixed with thousands of Mormon people during that time. I have found their friendship to be one of love and devotion. Their lives, when investigated, reveal outstanding characteristics Mormon people all over the world are in most cases excellently cared for from the cradle to the grave. They are taught to be useful men and women, to seek after education, to be self-sustaining and to build up town sites. If only the people of the world as a whole could see this happy, industrious people, living unitedly together as brothers and sisters, they would alter their ways and follow the teachings of Mormonism.

John enumerated some of the blessings he had found in the gospel: The leadership of a prophet; religious education for his children (he had seven, including a son who was then serving as a missionary in Great Britain); the operation of the priesthood; the Word of Wisdom.

So, friends and members of the Church in Great Britain, I am continually thinking of the experiences I had in hearing the Gospel in Chatham more than thirty years ago. If we study the scriptures and do the things that Christ would have us do, such as helping our neighbours and returning good for evil, we will indeed be happy.

I bear you my testimony that this is the work of the Lord, and that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, and great will be your joy and satisfaction in being obedient to th teachings of Jesus Christ.

John Charles Hailes passed away in 1966, still bearing the testimony he had borne for nearly 60 years.

John Charles Hailes was the father-in-law of another Keepa brother, Eldin Ricks. Eldin was one of the World War II chaplains featured in The Chapel Built by Cigarettes, and a series of letters written to encourage servicemen in the closing months of the war (one example: To LDS Servicemen in Italy).