Andrew, Will You Go?

Have you ever been asked to do something that you did not know how it would be possible to do?  This story is about  my great grandfather, Andrew King Jr., and how he was faced with a decision he wasn't sure he could do.

Sarah Ann Jacobs and Andrew King Jr.

Andrew was a night watchman (Policeman) for Logan City.  It was his job to walk the boardwalk of the streets of the business district at night to make sure everything stayed safe.  The story goes that he was on his way to his night job when he decided to check the mailbox.  It was a snowy day and he wasn't sure anyone had checked it that day.  When he opened the mailbox, he found a white envelope with his name on it from BOX B, which meant it was from the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He wondered what was in the envelope so he hurried on until he could find a street light to read the contents of the envelope.

He was called to be a missionary to North Western States Mission.  I am sure he had many mixed feelings at this point.  He had spent his whole life preparing himself for this day.  He had a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the restored gospel.

He loved his family so much so how could he leave them for two years?  He was married with four little children, ages 11 to one less than a year old. They had had 3 children die.  It would mean there would be no income from his night watchman job and his wife would have to figure out how to support the family and send him money to support him on his mission.   How could they do this?  They had just lost a baby girl to death and his sweet wife was still grieving but she was so strong too.  He whispered, "Lord, Please, not now."

As he tucked the letter in his pocket and was contemplating all the reasons why he couldn't do this mission, he walked past the coffee shop.  His heart sunk.  He said, "I can't go.  I am not worthy."  He had no problem passing the coffee shop tonight and was grateful when the lights went off.  It was here that he had drank his first cup of coffee.   He had stopped there before heading out on his beat and he was so tired.  The waitress handed him a cup of coffee and said, "Have a cup of coffee, Andy.  It will keep you awake tonight and one cup can't hurt you."   He unwisely drank it thinking that he would never take another one but there came other nights when he was tired and soon the drug was in his system.  He had become a prisoner to it.  He remembered how hurt his beautiful wife was when she discovered he was drinking coffee.

She had reminded him that he was breaking the Word of Wisdom, which we must keep to make our bodies clean and free from injurious substances.   In return God promises us that we will run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.

He thought over this and realized that even if it wasn't hurting his body physically, it was hurting him spiritually and hurting his marriage.  He needed to stop.

When he got home from his night shift, he saw Annie, (as he called her) was awake and handed her the envelope and letter.  He said, "Here is the answer to your prayers."

Her response was, "Andrew you will go, won't you?'

He tried to tell her all the reasons he couldn't do it.  How could he leave her and the children with no income?  He had a Word of Wisdom problem, drinking coffee.  But to every excuse he said, she just came back stronger and reminded him that there isn't any problem that they couldn't solve with the help of the Lord.   This was a call from the Lord, how could he not go?

She reminded him of the many times his life had been preserved and that maybe that is why he had been preserved for this mission call.  The Lord knew he could touch many people's lives for good.  She told him she felt that he not only had a strong healthy body but also his mind was alert, he loved the gospel and that he would be an instrument in the Lord's hand to the convincing of many souls of the truthfulness of the gospel.

With a wonderful wife like Annie that trusted him and trusted in the Lord with all her heart  that she and the children would be okay and that she would find ways to support both of them while he was out serving the Lord, all of his excuses were vanishing and he knew the only way to move forward was to accept the call the Lord had extended to him at this time and trust in the Lord.

Andy met with the Bishop and told him about his problem with coffee and his worry for his family but that he trusted the Lord would help them.  He asked the Bishop to check on them too so that he could feel comfortable knowing someone was watching over them. 

The Bishop said he would keep an eye on Andy's family but he also knew how independent Annie was and that he, too, was sure they would be fine.  He told him  he felt he was worthy to go because if he said he was done drinking his coffee, that was good enough for the Bishop because he had never known him to break his word.

Andrew left for his mission in March 1898 on a train.  He was 37 years old.  He taught the gospel and helped so many people.  This mission continued to make his testimony stronger.   The Lord took care of him while he was gone from his family.

He was released to return home in December 1899.   It was a little earlier than he expected and he was sad to leave his mission but the Mission President said, "It is time for you to go home to your family.  Your wife needs you.  You have served faithfully and honorably."  He arrived home on December 24, 1899, which was a surprise for his family because they didn't know he was coming home.  It was the best Christmas gift ever.

People in above Story

• Andrew King Jr. b. 11 May 1861, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; d. 23 July 1956, North Logan, Cache, Utah
• Sarah Ann Jacobs King (wife) b. 31 January 1868, Logan, Cache, Utah; d. 6 July 1946, Logan, Cache, Utah