NOTES ON THE DEATH OF
CLERMONT
ABNER OBORN
May
11, 1922 – Tongan Mission
FROM THE FAMILY:
Clermont A. Oborn completed his mission in
Haapai, Tonga, became the District President and made a trip through all the
area. And having no pills for
water, finally had a drink of water, contacted Typhoid Fever, giving his life
there in Tonga, died 11 May 1922. Oborn
family
At the end of Clermont’s missionary journal, the following note was typed in
by Estella Oborn Sorensen, Clermont’s sister:
“My brother, Clermont Abner [Oborn], died May
11, 1922, Haapai Tongan Mission. His
grave is still there, being kept up by the natives that still speak of him
with great love. It is a half
block from a new church school there in Haapai Tongan Mission.
He died of Typhoid Fever from drinking water
after 4 days without a drink. He
was District President at the time of his death and had made a boat trip
around all the islands to check on each one.
He held a conference on his death date having to throw up before he
finished.
He was a treasure to all of us with courage and
faith to fulfill his mission, a happy, lovable young man.
Through letters of his and those of Blanche
Holmes, we were privileged to have them sealed together by word of President
Grant after he had read their letters. Blanche died with an appendix operation before Clermont died.
This was all taken care of by our parents.
I had a wonderful manifestation from Blanche that this was right.”
Estella also told her children
that on the day he died, Clermont was at a cottage meeting [missionary
discussion]. Feeling sick, Clermont
turned his chair around, put his head down on the back of the chair and died.
Clermont was buried next to the king. The
grave was decorated with black and white rocks.
Elder Rasmussen is also buried there? Graves are still honored and being
maintained by the Saints in Tonga. [Enter pictures here.]
Clermont’s mother, Emily Millgate, wrote that they visited the
Rasmussens……in Utah, around Fillmore?
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY
FROM
OGDEN STAKE PRESIDENCY
To
Elder Heber C. Oborn, Wife, and Family on the Death of their Son, Elder Clermont
Oborn, which occurred on the 11th of May 1922 while laboring as a
missionary in the Tongan Mission in the South Sea Islands.
It is with profound sorrow and feelings of sadness that we extend to you, each
and all, our deepest sympathy, in the passing of your dear Son and Brother –
Clermont. He was a dutiful and obedient Son, a kind and affectionate
Brother, a true servant of God, having lived a life of purity, sincerity, and
faith. While we mourn with you, we
also rejoice with you in a knowledge of his worth, and of his continued activity
in the missionary field in another sphere, and with the positive assurance that
he still lives. He will, in the due
time of the Lord, receive his immortal body and be reunited with you in the
family circle.
If you were privileged to look beyond the veil and see Clermont, the expression
of contentment would be upon his face because of his opportunity there to
gratify his earnest desires to save the souls of men.
In his present surroundings, his cheerful, happy disposition will be
intensified, his capacity for doing good increased, the opportunity for service
multiplied; and unhampered by the flesh, his desires to serve will be fulfilled
more abundantly.
May the Lord comfort and sustain you in this trial, as He alone can do.
May He bless you with His Holy Spirit and sanctify this bereavement to
the good of all, who are permitted to remain a little longer in mortality, is
the earnest desire and prayer of your Brethren and fellow servants of the High
Priests’ Council of the Ogden Stake.
IN
MEMORIUM
FROM
OGDEN STAKE SEVENTIES QUORUM
The Two Hundred First Quorum of Seventy of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, herewith records with deep sorrow, the
passing of one of its faithful and loyal members—Elder Clermont A. Oborn,
while serving as a Special Witness of our Master in the Tongan Mission.
Though
a youth, his spiritual attainments fitted him to mingle with those many years
his senior, and his knowledge of the Gospel could do none other than cause him
to adhere to that principle of philosophy, “That Death is never the end of
life, but only an incident in life; that whenever Death may come, it is simply a
rebirth; that, as the earthly garments fall away, the real Self continues to
unfold unto evermore Abounding Life.”
Clermont’s
faith in the mission of the Savior that led him forth to the dark-skinned
descendants of Laman; his hope that salvation and even exaltation might come to
them thru Him, who died for the world; and his charity for all mankind made him
the possessor of the three great virtues, which are dominant in the perfection
of Deity. He was a kind and
considerate son and brother, a consistent Latter-Day Saint, in very deed, a son
of God.
We
shall miss Clermont, and we know there is a void in the hearts of his loved
ones. Let, however, that void be filled with assurance of the truth
that in life and death, we can become like the Great Teacher, and that our
likeness unto Him will appear in just the degree that we learn how to substitute
for all discordant thinking the God-like thoughts of love.
We affirm that Clermont, in his life, in a large measure, gave heed to and
practiced these virtues.
“Our
little systems have their day,
They
have their day and cease to be;
They
are but broken lights of Thee,
And
Thou, O Lord, art more than they.”
By
Its Committee
Memorial
Services for Elder Clermont A. Oborn
Held in the
Thirteenth Ward Amusement Hall on Sunday, July 2nd, 1922 at 7:00 p.m.
Bishop J. Howard
Jenkins, Presiding and conducting, under the direction of Elder David O. McKay,
of the Quorum of the Twelve.
The following visitors were
present: Apostle David O. McKay, President John Halls of the Ogden Stake
Presidency, President George E. Browning of the Weber Stake Presidency, Elders
Hyrum Belnap, Thomas Clarke, Elijah A. Larkin and Ambrose P. Merrill of the
Ogden Stake High Council, Patriarchs Edward A. Olsen and George W. Larkin, and
Bishop Albert B. Folger of the Ogden Sixth Ward.
The Elders and Seventies were
seated as Quorums upon the stand.
The choir rendered, “Now is
the Voice that Nature Breathes”.
The prelude was rendered by
Sisters Mary and Kathryn Fisher on the Violin and Piano.
Prayer was offered by President
and Alfred H. Summerhill, of the Seventies Quorum.
A Male Quartet, composed of
Elders William S. Wright, William T. Pickett, and Gerard Klomp, and Joseph
Madsen, rendered, “Lead Us, O Father”.
Elder F. L. Clark, whom Elder
Clermont A. Oborn, succeeded as President of the Haapai Conference of the Tongan
Mission, spoke of the sterling qualities of Elder Oborn.
A vocal solo, “One Fleeting
Hour”, was rendered by Sister Ethel C. Boggs.
Elder J. K. Rollison, a
Missionary Companion of Elder Oborn, spoke.
A Resolution of Condolence by
the Seventies Quorums, was read by President Frank J. Foulger.
Elder Hyrum H. Goddard presented
a Resolution of Sympathy, on behalf of the High Priests Quorum of the Ogden
Stake.
A Resolution of Sympathy, on
behalf of the Ward Genealogical Committee, was read by Elder Charles H. Taylor.
President Dilbert C. Stuart, of
the Elders Quorum, spoke of noble efforts put forth by Clermont while in the
Presidency of the Elders Quorum.
The Quartet rendered, “Praise
Ye the Lord”.
Bishop Jenkins stated that our
Ward has been splendid and nobly represented in the Mission Field.
He read a letter from the Elders of the Haapai Conference of the Tongan
Mission stating the high esteem and regard in which he was held by the Elders
and Saints of that Conference.
A Vocal Solo entitled, “Twill
Not Be Long” was rendered by Elder William H. Manning.
Elder David O. McKay spoke of the splendid manner in which Elder Oborn
represented the Church in the Tongan Mission.
His life was one of service and sacrifice.
Elder McKay stated that he died a Martyr to the Cause of Righteousness.
He told how Elder Oborn was able to address the conference in the Tongan
tongue, after being on the Islands for but four months, and he read a synopsis
of his address. The name of Elder
Clermont A. Oborn will ever be held in reverence, and his grave will be a sacred
spot to the people of the Tongan Island.
The Choir rendered, “Though Deepening Trials”.
The benediction was pronounced
by Patriarch Edward A. Olsen.
Adjourned at 9:15.
There were 464 Souls present.
Laurence
S. Burton, Clerk
Elder Clermont
A. Oborn, Son of Heber C. and Emily Millgate Oborn, was born on May 15th,
1900, at Ogden, Utah.
He was active since his boyhood in the Quorums and organizations of the
Church, and at the time of his being called to fulfill a mission, was in the
Presidency of the Elders Quorum. He was ordained to the office of Seventy on October 26th,
1920, and on November 17th, 1920, departed for the Tongan mission.
After being on the Island for four months, Elder Oborn was able to
address a conference of the local Saints in their native tongue, which shows the
wonderful spirit that characterized all his missionary labors.
On July 2nd, 1921, he was set apart as President of the
Haapai Conference, which office he held at the time of his death.
On May 6th, 1922, Elder Oborn was taken sick with Typhoid
Fever, and on May 11th, he passed away.
His life was one of true service, and devotion for the cause of
Righteousness, and his memory will ever be cherished as one of God’s noblest
sons. Elder Clermont died a true
Latter-Day Saint, and his reward is sure.
Laurence
S. Burton, Clerk