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Before missionary apps, language software, and neatly printed lesson books, there was this remarkable typewritten manual—assembled lesson by lesson for missionaries teaching in postwar Japan.
Offered here is an exceptionally scarce 1954 missionary training manual titled:
“A Systematic Program for Teaching the Gospel to Non-Christian People”
Prepared for missionaries of the Japanese Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this fascinating manual was created because the standard Church-wide teaching program was not considered fully suitable for Japan’s predominantly non-Christian population. It represents an early effort to adapt LDS missionary teaching to Japanese language, culture, and religious traditions.
The manual includes:
• More than 148 numbered pages
• Missionary discussions in English and romanized Japanese
• Japanese vocabulary and pronunciation material
• Scripture references and detailed lesson outlines
• Period handwritten vocabulary, corrections, and study notes
• An original handwritten M.I.A. activity plan found inside
• A February 24, 1954 endorsement by Japanese Mission President Hilton A. Robertson
The endorsement credits “President George Kanahale” with heading the preparation of the program. This appears very likely to refer to George S. Kanahele—an LDS missionary in Japan through 1954 who later became a distinguished Hawaiian historian, author, and cultural scholar. The spelling “Kanahale” is reproduced exactly as it appears in the manual, and buyers are encouraged to conduct their own research.
This was clearly a working missionary’s copy. Its handwritten Japanese notes, underlining, corrections, and inserted activity plan provide a wonderfully tangible connection to LDS missionary life in 1950s Japan. It was studied, carried, consulted, and probably opened during more than one nervous attempt to remember exactly what to say next!
CONDITION:
Vintage, heavily used condition with substantial exterior wear. The plain black boards and spine have rubbing, scratches, chipping, exposed areas, edge wear, and losses to the covering material. Interior pages show age toning, scattered discoloration, handling wear, pencil and colored-pencil annotations, corrections, and underlining.
The binding remains together as shown. The book appears substantially complete but has not been collated page by page. The original handwritten sheet found inside is included and shows folds, staining, and handling wear.
Please examine all photographs carefully. The study notes and markings have been left entirely untouched because they form an important part of the book’s history.
An outstanding artifact for collectors of:
• LDS and Mormon history
• Missionary manuals and teaching systems
• The Church in Japan
• Postwar Japanese religious history
• George S. Kanahele material
• Hawaiian historical figures
• Rare Church ephemera and archival material
This is not the commonly encountered 1955 Church-wide manual. It is a specialized, mission-produced Japanese adaptation dated 1954, and another copy has proven extremely difficult to locate.
A battered survivor with a remarkable story—and quite possibly one of the most interesting LDS missionary manuals you will encounter.
