Editor's note: Cory Wilcox Bauman, wife of reporter Joe Bauman, recently discovered among family records a green ledger with handwritten notations inside. The book was among stored memorabilia that once belonged to her late uncle, Robert W. Hansen, a Marine in World War II. The ledger detailed LDS Church meetings on Majuro, Marshall Islands, during that war. Cory Bauman said she plans to donate the document to the LDS Church.
"Oct. 22, 1944
"Opening Song: Oh Say What Is Truth
"Opening Prayer: Ray W. Burgess.
"Sac. Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives
"Adm. Sac. Martin D. Bushman Jr. [,] Reid W. Hall
"Five Minute Talk: Ray W. Burgess
"Lesson: The Sacrament
"Teacher: Douglas A. Barrus
"Closing Song: Come Come Ye Saints
"Closing Prayer: Grant Morrell"
Grant Morrell leafed through the ledger, recalling a time when he served as a Marine corporal at the remote Pacific base of Majuro, Marshall Islands. "When I wasn't on duty and could make it to the chapel, it was wonderful to meet with these brethren," he said.
The ledger is a record of meetings of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held on Majuro during World War II. The record extends from July 16, 1944, until the war was nearly over more than a year later.
Usually the record is terse, as in the notation above. On other dates it goes into more detail.
"The remainder of the time was turned over to Calvin Elliott (Episcopal) Protestant Chaplain," reads a notation concerning the June 10, 1945, meeting. "He spoke of the fine examples the Mormon boys are setting as Christians. We feel humble to know that a man such as he can say that about our boys & hope we can live accordingly. Closing song: 'God be with you.' "
On Christmas Eve 1944, the lesson from Floyd Barrus at that distant outpost was "the spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of the Lord and the Blessings of the Gospel."
That day's record adds, "The necessity of laws, both spiritual and in this life was pointed out as essential in Christ's plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Science and Religion were compared from the standpoint of agreement."
The opening prayer for that meeting was by Marine Sgt. Robert W. Hansen.
The ledger surfaced recently among effects that had belonged to Hansen.
Hansen was born in Salt Lake City in 1918. He was in the Marine Corps during World War II, serving in the Pacific. After the war he was an insurance executive and bishop of a ward in LaMirada, Calif., and filled other church positions. He died in 1994.
During an interview at his apartment in Salt Lake City, Morrell noted that he was a corporal when his unit reached Majuro.
Church meetings provided comfort, he recalled. Often they were held in a tent. "I had some great friends and pals there." He remembered meeting with other LDS members and "studying like we did from the Book of Mormon and other things."
Not many church members were among the garrison on Majuro, and sometimes they had duties to perform that kept them from services. But a note in the ledger from May 6, 1945, records more men than usual gathered at the time of Germany's surrender.
E-MAIL: bau@desnews.com