Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
May 28, 1961
Arose at 4:30 a.m. to go out to the American War Memorial Cemetery on the outskirts of Manila. Here are buried 17,168 war dead and on the walls are inscribed the names of an additional 36,230 who are missing. At this hour of the morning, with sun rising over the mountains, and the sea to the east, with golden clouds in the sky, it was a marvelous setting. Here we met to invoke the blessing of the Lord upon the missionary work in the Philippines. Surrounded by the reminders of war, we met in the name of the Prince of Peace.
I was the final speaker at the early morning meeting; to those present said:
"This is an occasion you will never forget. What we begin here will affect the lives of thousands and thousands of people in this island republic and its effects will go from generation to generation for great and everlasting good...
"As we gather in this beautiful and peaceful place this morning, there crossed my mind the thought that there are three debts that none of us will ever repay in full.
"The first, of course, is to the Savior, the Redeemer of mankind, the Son of God, who gave His life that we might live. Nothing that we shall ever do shall in full measure repay the debt which we owe for that.
"Another is to those who are remembered here in this cemetery, the thousands upon thousands who gave their lives that we might have freedom to assemble this morning, and freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience.
"Yet another debt which we owe to those missionaries, who in days and years passed, came at great sacrifice to us or to our forebears to bring the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
"It is fitting that we meet in this place, which has become sacred and hallowed by the sacrifices of many, to invoke the blessings of heaven upon the work which shall now be commenced here. The legal requirements have been met. The Church has been offically registered under the laws of the Philippines. The missionaries will likely be here soon...
"To the American members here, I would like to say that your hands are now free to teach the gospel to the people of the Philippines with whom you come in contact, to teach both by example and by precept, and to assist the missionaries in every way in the work which lies ahead of them. It will not be easy. It never has been easy. But, it has always been satisfying and fruitful."
I then invited all present to bow their heads and join in a prayer which I should like to quote briefly:
"Our Father and our God, with bowed heads and contrite hearts, we approach thee at this time in this sacred place, hallowed by the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the cherished freedoms of mankind...
"We invoke thy blessings upon the people of this land that they shall be friendly and hospitable and kind and gracious to those who shall come here. And that may, yea, Lord, we pray that there shall be many thousands who shall receive this message and be blessed thereby. Wilt thou bless them with receptive minds and understanding hearts, and with faith to receive, and with courage to live the principles of the gospel, and with a desire to share with others the blessing which they shall receive. We pray that there shall be many men, faithful, good, virtuous, true men, who shall join the Church and who shall receive the blessings of the priesthood and who shall accept and grow in leadership, that thy work where shall be handled by local brethren, under the direction of those who hold the keys in this day and time, according to the law and order of thy Church...
"We invoke they staying hand upon those who may be prone to scoff and sneer, that they shall be thwarted and stopped in their evil ways, that they shall not have power to destroy, nor harm, nor injure, nor deter the work of thy servants.
"We pray, Father, for thy people here who shall live together in the bonds of thy fellowship and love and peace in one great brotherhood, the brotherhood which comes with the knowledge and assurance that they are sons and daughters of thine, and that Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother."
