“One Dirty Little Irish Boy”
Those of us who have served missions have seen the miracle in the lives of some we have taught as they have come to realize that they are sons and daughters of God. Many years ago an elder who served a mission in the British Isles said at the end of his labors, “I think my mission has been a failure. I have labored all my days as a missionary here and I have only baptized one dirty little Irish kid. That is all I have accomplished. My mission could be described as a failure.”
Years later, after his return to his home in Montana, he had a visitor come to his home who asked, “Are you the elder who served a mission in the British Isles in 1873?”
“Yes.”
Then the man went on, “And do you remember having said that you thought your mission was a failure because you had only baptized one dirty little Irish boy?”
He said, “Yes.”
The visitor put out his hand and said, “I would like to shake hands with you. My name is Charles A. Callis, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am that dirty little Irish boy that you baptized on your mission.”
That little Irish boy came to a knowledge of his potential as a son of God. Elder Callis left a lasting legacy for his large family. Serving as a mission president for 25 years and in his apostolic ministry for 13 years, he blessed the lives of literally thousands.
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