Called to Preside

"...you will have a numerous posterity which will become mighty in the Holy Priesthood. Their dominion will extend far and wide. Your sons will be endowed with much faith and power in the Holy Priesthood, and they will preach the Gospel of Christ and the learned men of the world will be confounded at their wisdom and power and their enemies will quake and be dumbfounded at their power."
Patriarchal Blessing of Maggie Elizabeth Taylor, mother of Asael T. Sorensen, received May 23, 1908

An excerpt from the autobiography of Asael T. Sorensen:

July 28, 1953. We were ushered into President David O. McKay's office and received a most cordial welcome from the prophet. Upon learning my age, he commented, "You're just a boy" (35 years old). And with that, he called us to preside over the Brazilian Mission.

"Do you know that we have four small girls," asked Ida, "and that we live in California, a long way from our aging parents?"

"Yes, young lady, we know all about you," he replied. "How far do you live from your parents?"

"About 600 miles."

Gesturing with his hands, he said, "We will just lengthen the distance a little" (about 10,000 miles). We were truly surprised and humbled.

"This is a great honor," I said.

"No," he corrected me, "it is a great trust!" Later in my labors in Brazil, I would come to more fully understand his comment.

We met briefly with President Stephen L. Richards, who explained that it would be a very challenging assignment, informing us that the Brethren were seriously considering closing the mission unless we could realize more growth in that area.

Not knowing much about the responsibilities of a mission president, I inquired if it would be permissible to engage in any sales work on the side, to which he replied, "No, you must keep the blinders on and concentrate only on the ministry." He wished us well and ended by assuring us that "the members will love your little children."

He sent us to meet with Gordon B. Hinckley, then executive secretary to the missionary committee, who gave us about 20 minutes of instruction, counseling us, among other things, not to be in a hurry to redecorate the mission home. Apparently, this had been a problem in some missions. He informed us that prior to our departure, we would receive a week of further instruction at the end of October in the Salt Lake Mission Home.

At the end of October, we sold our home as suggested by President McKay. Ida drove to Utah with the children, leaving me to finish with the packing and storing. Ten days later, when I finally arrived in Ogden, Ida's parents and Norma and Ronnie and Ann and Lynn had prepared a great farewell dinner for us. Norma had even made a very cleverly decorated cake that was a replica of the ship on which we would be traveling from New York to Brazil. And we found that our pictures had been published in the Church News under the heading "SORENSENS TO PRESIDE IN BRAZIL."