Unlike with the other articles in this collection, I am not the author of the following. This is a wonderful Holy Ghost story as experienced by Duane G. Chadwick.

In 1948 before the Book of Mormon was translated into the Cook Island Maori language, my companion and I were invited to come to a Maori school teacher's home and speak in a cottage meeting.  I don't remember asking for the appointment and he hadn't shown prior interest in the church but we were happy to accept the invitation.

We arrived on the appointed evening and were cordially greeted by the host.  After a few pleasantries we proceeded to formally make our presentation about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the formation of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The room was full to overflowing, but there were no children or women present.  This seemed unusual since we thought it would be a typical family gathering, but it wasn't and we didn't know why.  In retrospect, I'm guessing it was a room full of deacons of the LMS (London Missionary Society) Protestant Church that was the dominant religion in the Cook Islands. …

After our presentation the Maori hosting the meeting said, … “good, good, but I have a book here and I'd like to read what it says about Joseph Smith.”  Slowly he opened a large red book and turned to the entry “Mormons.”  He started reading about how Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church and that he was from a low-class poor family, a horse thief and a bank robber.  He then interrupted himself and said, “Now do I believe you young elders or the wise men who wrote this book?”  Silence fell over the room as the audience waited for an answer. …

Stalling for time I asked to see the book.  I discovered it was the M volume of the Encyclopedia Americana, 1860 edition!  As I fanned through the pages I came upon the word Maori.  “Let's see what it says about the Maoris.”  I started to read.  “The Maoris are a Polynesian race that live in the South Pacific … They are cannibals 'par eminence.'  Now we don't have a word in the English language that describes how bad you are at eating people so they used this French word 'par eminence.'  Is that right?”

“No, no that's not right!”

I countered with, “Well, do I believe you, or do I believe the wise men who wrote this book?”  Any tension that may have been in the air evaporated and everybody had a good laugh.  My companion and I went home that night knowing we had been helped out of a tight spot.