I’m sorry I’ve been AWOL so long. It’s lazy to come back only to post a letter found in my research, without background or story, but there has been such a good response where I’ve posted clips from this letter that I thought I should post the full thing here for those who might need to read it — and that includes those of us who might be prone to unkind suspicions when a missionary returns home sooner than expected, as well as those missionaries who might doubt themselves when they do come home.

I haven’t yet tried to identify the elder it refers to. I think Heber J. Grant would have written directly to the elder had he not been “annoyed” by having forgotten the name. If he had, though, that letter may not have been preserved where a historian could find it. This copy was found in the papers of John A. Widtsoe, whose papers would not be an obvious source for 1905 letters between mission presidents. Because it carries HJG’s typed name rather than handwritten signature — because the whole letter, in fact, is typed when it might have been expected that HJG wrote it by hand (although he was known to carry a portable typewriter with him on his travels and very well could have typed the letter himself without secretarial help), I wonder — just guessing, can’t say for certain — whether President Ballif did keep a copy in his “book” and whether that letter was shared for advice among mission presidents, ending up where John A. Widtsoe might have come across it in the papers of the European Mission when he served there beginning in 1927.

In any case, an important letter:

On the train near Berlin
June 19, 1905

Pres. Serge F. Ballif
Zurich, Switzerland

Dear Brother Ballif,

I am annoyed that I have forgotten the name of the Elder whose health is poorly at Zurich. You will please tell him for me that it is not the least bit to his discredit to go home now. I feel in my heart that it is better for him to go home. There is any amount of work that he can do of a missionary nature at home.

The mission of a Latter-day Saint, if properly understood, is a life’s labor.

My brother Brigham F. Grant has never been on a mission but from the day he was baptized something like ten years ago he has been laboring as did Alma of old to bring souls to a knowledge of the Gospel.

Have the Elder read all of chapter 36 in the Book of Alma. This chapter telling him of Alma’s conversion and subsequent diligence has always been one that has encouraged me when I have read it.

The Elder did not call himself on his mission and when an honorable release comes he should feel in his heart to accept it and not be downcast. Tell him for me, a servant of God whose right it is to bless the people, that if he will go home and take up the good work there, I bless him and promise him as much joy and also success as he can possibly have by remaining in this land. His release is as a matter of fact only a transfer; a change in place where he is to work for the Lord. I say to him, God bless you now and forever.

When my release came in a cable when I was in Japan I felt I could not accept of it and I did not go to sleep until after three o’clock the next morning. I was lying awake and felt that I must send a cable and ask Pres. Smith to let me remain six months or a year longer. I had done nothing on my mission and I felt I could not and would not accept of my release. I have done some good in this land and had I remained in Japan, I do not think of one thing which I could have done to aid the cause.

You keep a copy of this letter in your book and then hand this letter to our dear Elder with my love and blessings. Praying the Lord to bless you and all of your aids, I am,

Yours affectionately,

HEBER J. GRANT