President Shumway honored President David O. McKay and the labor missionaries—"those we call the university’s and the Polynesian Cultural Center’s first donors"—in a Jubilee devotional yesterday.
"Heavenly Father works through living prophets and by the power of His spirit through other people to bring about his purposes," President Shumway testified, speaking specifically of President David McKay and the labor missionaries. "These are ordinary people who do extraordinary things, monumental things in spite of their weakness and frailties as human beings."
"I have the distinct sense that ... the men and women who carried the work forward from the beginning, who are now beyond the veil, are still involved in some meaningful way, and are part of the Jubilee, if not as direct participants, then as special visitors.
"Two weeks ago in the unveiling of the beautiful 'Genuine Gold' display in the Aloha Center Mall, I sensed President David O. McKay was looking in," he continued. "He showed deep affection for this place."
President Shumway then honored the labor missionaries who worked and sacrificed "to create the institution the prophet saw in his vision."
"[They] gave time, talent, treasure, and testimony ... not out of their affluence, but out of their poverty. In the prime of their lives, when they were most productive, they accepted mission calls to construct this campus."
The first wave of construction included hundreds of laborers from the U.S. mainland, as well as dozens of local brethren called to the work. A second wave brought dozens of building missionaries from among the young men of southern Polynesia.
President Shumway then showed a documentary video with pictures and current interviews with those brethren who stayed in Hawaii, sharing their stories and testimonies of the work. Many of those in and around Laie were in attendance.
In tribute to the labor missionaries, "whose hands were the Lord's hands in creating this school," President Shumway played a slideshow set to the song, "My Hands are the Lord's Hands," and invited listeners to take the lyrics to heart:
"My hands are the Lords hands, without me, how can his work be done? I will reach where he would reach, loving kindness in my touch, I'll be his healing hands to everyone.
"My feet are the Lord's feet without me, how can he walk with the poor? I would go where he would go, blessing others as I do for him, I walk where I've never walked before.
"Help me Lord, let me give to my neighbor what you would give if you were here. Help me, Lord, let me live so my neighbor will know that you are always near.
"My mouth is the Lord's mouth, without me how can his voice be heard? I will say what he would say speaking love and life each day and everyone who's near will hear his word."