Minutes of the First Public Meeting Held in Haifa, at 25 Garden Street,

May 21, 1933 – 3:30 P.M.

Upwards of sixty person were present.

The meeting was opened by the singing of song No. 1 in the Turkish hymn book.

After prayer, President John A. Widtsoe addressed those present. Mr. John Awakim translated from English into Turkish. The following is a summary of the address:

Welcome to those present. Glad to be here. Comments on the beautiful city of Haifa, a city similar to ours in Utah. Wishes to become acquainted with those present; to shake hands with them and to help them if possible. Will not perhaps be here long enough for that, but President Piranian will be your friend. Be friendly to him. Soon he will not be a stranger.

Some are here because they knew Mr. Booth and wished to do him honor. Grateful that his memory is held in honor. Thirty-five years ago my wife and I crossed the Atlantic Ocean with a tall, lean, young man who looked like some of the sons of Abraham here present, who was on his way to Turkey and who then spent most of his life here. He learned the languages – Turkish and Armenian. He learned to love the people here and always spoke well of them. This young man was Brother Booth. Four years ago last December Brother Booth died suddenly in Aleppo and is buried there. His family said that he should lie in the land which he loved so well. Last year the Church built a modest monument over the grave and in a few weeks we shall go to dedicate that monument.

Mr. Piranian and his family have now come to take the place of Mr. Booth. They will be here for some years and you will learn to know them well. If you ask what is Mr. Piranian’s business, we shall have to say that he is a missionary – but of a peculiar kind – not a trained minister. At home Mr. Piranian is a business man, not a professional man, but a man like the rest of us. He is a teacher of great truth.

Man must eat to live. We are hungry and suffer if we do not et. Man is more than body. He is a spirit which thinks, feels, understands. That is the biggest part of man. The body dies but the spirit lives eternally. We must feed the spirit, for it gets hungry and man is unhappy if the spirit is hungry. Mr. Piranian is here to feed the spirits of man to make them happy.

This may be a somewhat new and strange religion to many here, but it is a true religion. This religion teaches the story of a man’s life from the beginning. Man lived before he came upon this earth. He had a spiritual existence. He will live after death. Earth life must be happy. It is not right for a man to be hungry physically or spiritually. Religion must take care of every day. It must give man a chance to work. All we want is an opportunity.

God is our father. We lived with him before we came upon this earth. We are of his family. We are like him. He is not pleased when we are unhappy or work in darkness. He has taught his truth through great prophets, but the people have often forsaken truth and have gone their own way and wandered away. Prophets are sent to meet the needs of the day. In our day a prophet was needed to bring back the truth which had been lost.

A boy fourteen years of age, by the name of Joseph Smith, desired truth. He went into a grove and asked his Father in heaven for help. That was the beginning of the religion which Brother Piranian will teach. It is a true religion which helps man in all of his needs. The story of this religion is the greatest story of modern years. Those who have accepted this religion are the happiest people on earth; among the most healthy and best educated. Few are wealthy and few are poor. They are brethren and sisters together. All are equal. They understand the meaning of life.

The Gospel restored by Joseph Smith is true. If we investigate it, study it, dare to scrutinize it as free men, we shall find it true. It is a Gospel of freedom. We may accept or reject truth. It is a Christian religion, just as Jesus taught it. He lived and talked with the common people. He taught them how to be well physically and spiritually. He led man to happiness. He was the Son of God, our elder brother, not different from us, elder and further advanced. The Church of Jesus Christ possesses His Gospel; no more, no less. The churches generally have forgotten his Gospel. Therefore, it must be restored. In this Church every member is a preacher. There are no priests. It is altogether the most marvelous thing on earth today. Truth is better than gold.

Thank you for being here. Testimony.

Sister Leah D. Widtsoe then spoke. Glad to be here. In this Church the women have a place of activity. The Gospel unites all men All are God’s children. He is our Father. The Gospel teaches us to love one another and allows us to live as we choose if we are righteous. There must be a place for woman, for God loves women as well as men. Motherhood is the greatest pursuit. The Gospel teaches woman to be better in all things. Woman is recognized in the Church and is given work to do. For example, teaching children and caring for them properly. Sister Piranian and daughter are to help in the mission work. They are excellent people. Testimony that Joseph Smith is as great a prophet as any.

President Piranian spoke in Armenian.

Sister Piranian was then introduced who said that she would attempt to learn the language. Pleased to see so many mothers present. They must learn the Gospel for the Gospel is true. It is a Gospel of love. Visit our meetings. The Spirit of God is there present. All are children of God. We must all try to do our Father’s will. Come again. Time will be planned for the Relief Society. She has learned so much in the Gospel and there is so much to learn. Testimony.

A message from Sister Booth to the friends in the mission was given to those present.

The meeting was dismissed by President Piranian.

After the meeting a photograph was taken of those present consisting of Arabs, Armenians, and others. There were about eight children present, four babies, three men who knew President Booth, one cripple was there on crutches, one with one leg. About six could not get into the meeting hall. Every chair was taken. About six came, saw no room, and went away.

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A special meeting was held the following Tuesday, May 23, for those who had just been baptized. Instructions were given to hem. Faith, repentance, and obedience to the commandments of the Lord were explained. Baptism is a witness between God and man, an agreement, a divine symbol. The effect of baptism is that a man is forgiven of his sins and is able to start a new life in which the evil that he has done does not stand in his way of progression. The meaning of the gift of the Holy Ghost was explained. The Gospel which had been accepted is not a Sunday religion. It must be practiced every day. All must understand it. A number of questions were asked which were answered. The various candidates were then confirmed members of the Church, and President Piranian was ordained a seventy.