The Church’s Spanish-American Mission, organized in 1936, was something of an anomaly among LDS Missions. That is, all other missions were geographically distinct: the northern edge of the Southern States’ Mission was the southern edge of the East Central States Mission – there was no overlap of missions for any purpose.
But the Spanish-American Mission, responsible for anyone in the southwestern states who spoke Spanish, shared the same geography as several of the other missions of the Church: California, southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. Towns like Fresno, California; El Paso, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Albuquerque, New Mexico, would have two branches, one English-speaking and the other Spanish-speaking, with the members of those branches belonging to different missions, with a different mission president, different local leaders, and different conference schedules. Workers in the Spanish-American Mission depended as much on the Mexican Mission to the south for lesson manuals and hymn books and other materials as much as they did on Salt Lake City.
It must have been a difficult mission to administer. Its headquarters were located in El Paso part of the time, and in Los Angeles at other times, as the presidents tried to find the most convenient and efficient methods of staying in touch with members and missionaries over such a wide territory, with members scattered in isolated communities, many of them migrant workers whose addresses changed frequently. In one essay by Lorin F. Jones, who was president from 1943 through 1951, he writes of carrying a notebook with him when he traveled, containing the names and addresses of all members of the Church. Whenever he was “in the neighborhood” – which sometimes meant driving many, many miles out of his direct route – he called on as many of these isolated members as he could possible locate.
The mission must have been a difficult one for other reasons, too. While there had been Spanish-speaking missionaries in the Mexican Mission for many years, the Church was still relatively small there; Spanish-speaking missions in South America were in their infancy and had not yet produced many returned missionaries who could assist with the still relatively small Spanish-speaking population in the United States. And, of course, there was the coming of World War II so soon after the mission was organized – this mission, like all others, found itself short of elders as young men were called into military service, a problem magnified by the vast territory covered by the mission and the scarcity of Spanish-speaking converts with enough experience to lead branches or give local missionary service.
By the beginning of 1945, the Spanish-American Mission had only 19 missionaries – including two elderly couples, some sisters – two of whom were trying to keep the branch in Brownsville, Texas in operation, without any Melchizedek Priesthood holders – and some local missionaries, both Anglo and Latino. There were only two Spanish-speaking missionaries assigned to all of California, with a few missionaries returned from Spanish-speaking missions who were members of the California Mission helping to operate the Spanish-speaking branches in San Diego and Los Angeles. The entire state of Arizona had a grand total of one elder, working alone in Phoenix. No one was working in Colorado among the scattered communities in the south or even in Denver where a Spanish-speaking branch existed. Most of the limited missionary pool was assigned to various communities in Texas, mostly along the Mexican border.
That will explain the emergency appeal sent out by the First Presidency in January, 1945, addressed to stake presidents throughout the United States. “We have urgent need for missionary help in the Spanish American Mission,” they said. “The urgency is such that we feel that some sacrifices will be warranted in filling our obligations to the Mexican people residing in this country.” Proselyting could wait, perhaps, but they were “alarmed over the prospective disintegration of organizations and the falling away of members.”
I don’t know what immediate response came from this appeal, although obviously work among Spanish-speaking Americans survived and thrives. I do know that I have seldom if ever seen quite such an element of emergency in letters to or from missions, or about missionary work.
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(I think the picture helps convey some of the urgency, but the color and size of type may make it difficult to read. So: )
February 8, 1945
TO PRESIDENTS OF STAKES
Dear Brethren:
In re: Spanish-speaking Missionaries
We have urgent need for missionary help in the Spanish American Mission. The branches and districts of this mission are widely scattered over many states. Nearly all of the missionary elders have left the mission. Unlike other missions there are so few members of the mission holding the Melchizedek Priesthood that it is most difficult, and, in many cases, impossible to select local missionaries or officers of branches and other organizations. The Mission President is therefore justifiably alarmed over the prospective disintegration of organizations and the falling away of members.
Under these circumstances we ask that you carefully canvass your stake in an effort to find and recommend for service in this mission brethren who have had some experience in speaking the Spanish language and preferably some who may have filled missions in this field.
Such brethren will probably be found among older groups who are not now subject to draft. of course, it is desired that their calling interfere as little as possible with the war effort but the urgency is such that we feel that some sacrifices will be warranted in filling our obligations to the Mexican people residing in this country. In some instances it may be considered wise for a wife to accompany her husband. Either short or long term missionaries will be acceptable. You may facilitate calls by having prospective missionaries for this field interviewed by visiting members of the General Authorities.
There is a particular need at this time for a man who may act as secretary, having some knowledge of office procedure.
Inasmuch as the food, climate and living conditions are very different among the Spanish-speaking peoples, a careful investigation should be made into the health of the missionaries recommended.
Your immediate cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely your brethren,
Heber J. Grant
J. Reuben Clark Jr
David O. McKay
The First Presidency
Thanks, Ardis. This is a great introduction to the history of the Spanish-American mission and a revealing window into a moment of crisis. I have a personal interest in this subject because I served my mission in Los Angeles, Spanish speaking, at the turn of this century. Although the Spanish American mission had long since been disbanded, with Spanish-speaking missionaries assigned to geographic missions alongside English-speakers, the nick-name “Span-Ams” persisted among the latter group to refer to the former group. Jessie Embry’s book, “In His Own Language”: Mormon Spanish Speaking Congregations in the United States later helped me fill in some of the gaps as to the origins of the nickname and even the existence of the Spanish American mission. This post has helped fill in other gaps.
I can hardly imagine being the lone missionary in all of Arizona!