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Kansha ni Naritai Ka Page
The Story of the “Kansha” Lamp in
by R. Lee Richan LeeRichan@yahoo.com,
from e-mail exchanges in May through June 2006
Assembled
My nearly-forgotten story recently came alive when I
attempted to explain to a friend my life-changing epiphany whilst on my mission.
I then learned of multiple epiphanies that literally changed our world.
As I told my story to this fellow missionary from
almost 30 years ago, he listened, then opened up another side of things I never
knew— and unfolded even more stories that we would otherwise never have known.
First, here’s what I wrote to the other missionary,
former Elder James Gregory Selander:
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ot long into my mission in
Japan Nagoya (November 1976 to November 1978), I was having a rough time. My
Japanese language skills were weak. My attitude easily beset by the many
rejections to our message, and the bitter, seeping cold of early March all but
sapped my spiritual strength, too. My reasons for being on my mission began fading,
and faced with these challenges, I started to wonder why I’d been called to that
faraway country.
My
mind drifted back to just a few months previous. I’d been playing drums since
age eight. Drums were my love. By my mid-teens I was known in parts of 
time).
When
I got to
One
foggy morning I stood in the city of
But
that's the preamble. The real conversion came when I was walking away from the
house. All at once heavy guilt hit me when I realized (1) I could speak Japanese… when it benefited
me, (2) I could get into the homes…
when I really wanted to do so, and (3) I could
indeed teach… things that were dear to me.
Why
then, couldn't I teach what was dear to the Savior? Obviously my heart wasn't
centered on His purpose, which suddenly made me very sad.
I
covenanted then and there that I would forego ANY drum-related thoughts or
actions for those two years... and I almost made it, excepting one time.
In
the summer of 1978 (when I was about 18-months into my work) the mission
adopted a super proselyting program entitled, 'Kofuku ni Naritai ka?' (Do You Want Happiness?) utilizing a
little pinup of a candlestick lantern flame. I thought it was an inspired
program, and I’d heard rumors it was developed by our own Elder Robert Edwards Evans.
It caught on like wildfire on the villages lining the
I didn’t
know who recorded the original song (although I’d heard Bob probably played all
instruments), but when the song was to be performed in
For more than
an hour people pleaded with me to play with the band, including my senior, my District
Leader, my Zone Leader, the Mission Assistants, and a few others, too. I
declined, thank you, without revealing my reasons (my covenant). The Old
Testament was clear how Sampson's power had been lost, and with only six months
left on my mission, potentially my most productive time, I would not abrogate
my promise to the Lord and lose whatever good I could do.
Finally
President Tanaka sat me down. “This performance is crucial,” he said, “and
you're the only one who can do it...” I then explained my quandary about not
wanting to break my promise. He sat back and smiled. “That's good—" he
said, “but let me assure you that the Lord will bless you all the more for
using your talents precisely where He wants you to put them. This day you are
released from your promise, with all attendant blessings yours for the rest of
your mission, and in your life.”
I
performed.
I then wrote to
Robert Edwards Evans, in 2006, Anchor at
“Yes,
it is true; I wrote the song,” Bob wrote back. “Elder Duane Lyle Cooke, my
district leader at the time, provided considerable support. I played piano and
drums. Duane played guitar. Doak Douglas Duncan played bass. And another
missionary sang lead vocal, after coming all the way to
“President
Tanaka approved the lyrics, and we recorded the song at a studio recommended by
an investigator, Mr. Kato, who was a musician as well. He was a tremendous
help. Every time we came to rehearse at his house above his book store he fed us
like royalty, too.
“The
whole thing was designed to be used in partnership with the Kansha (Thankfulness) and Shinsetsu (Kindness) Lamps. Can't remember exactly
how the two worked together. But yeah, that was us.”
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’d never known these things for certain. When I wrote
back to the former Elder Selander, I was astounded when he added an important item
to my life’s experiences:
“…Since
you brought it up… I may be ultimately to blame for the dilemma you found
yourself in when you were asked to play the drums for the performance in
“The
inspiration for what developed into that program originated through me and very
quickly became much bigger than myself. It seemed to take on a life all its
own. However, it all started in very humble circumstances.
“The
area of ‘Dai 5’ (“Section Five”) in the southeast corner of
“We moved into
a new apartment on the third floor of a five-story apartment complex and our
branch meetings were held on the fifth floor of this same building. I was told
by President Tanaka that this new area had not been worked before, although I
thought this comment a bit strange since it had long been a part of the city.[3]
Nevertheless, we were full of excitement to be in a new area, with new
circumstances, anxious to start meeting people never before contacted by
missionaries.
“We traveled
out a distance from our apartment to slowly work our way back. Honestly, I had
never encountered heard such hard hearts in all my mission experience. These
people were almost mean, so out of character for the Japanese people I had
encountered for eighteen months previously. Most Japanese people were at very
least cordial, if not downright polite, in communicating their disinterest in
our message. I was baffled.
“Over
the course of the next few days, we found this rudeness and meanness to be unrelenting.
We finally came back to the area around our apartment. I had hoped we’d see a change
in the attitude of the people we were trying to share the gospel with, as I
certainly didn’t want to be surrounded by people who really hated us. But it was
almost as if Satan himself had already been through this area disguised as a
Mormon missionary, causing everyone to hate what we represented. To my great
disappointment, the same bad attitude prevailed here as well as everywhere we
had been.
“I
thought that this situation must be made to change; I thought we’d have to find
a way to make a difference so as to turn things around.
“It
was at this point that the inspiration came to me to create little badges to
wear on our lapels. The idea hit me suddenly and with great force. I thought, ‘How
can these people maintain such hardness in their hearts when faced with someone
obviously bearing a message of kindness and gratitude, as these badges would
indicate?’
“With
a huge dose of enthusiasm my companion[4]
and I returned to our apartment for lunch, well before our normal time. I
proceeded to make a badge for my companion that said ‘Kansha’ (Thankfulness) and
another for myself that read ‘Shinsetsu’ (Kindness). By the time I was done
making the badges, the other companion set returned for lunch totally depressed
about their own experiences that day in contacting people (remember that they
were Japanese— I was the only foreigner in the branch). It wasn’t just me: The
Japanese were being equally rude to their own.
“So
confident was I about this new idea that I handed the just-completed badges to
the other companion set, saying, ‘You would not believe the difference these badges
will make in the attitudes of the people! You must put them on as you go out
this afternoon and I promise that you will see a big difference.’ I then proceeded
to make another set for my companion and me. Before we were done, the other
companion set excitedly went back out wearing their new badges.
“We went back to some of the same
neighborhoods previously attempted, but our experience was as different as
night is from day. I remember one woman coming to the front door. Our badges
immediately caught her eye, but her husband, out of sight in the other room,
yelled out for her to get rid of us (in not-so-nice language). She got down on
her knees (somewhat customary), but I will never forget how surprising was the
intensity she begged our forgiveness on behalf of her husband. Her obvious
embarrassment at the dichotomy of our badges and her husband caused me to feel real
empathy for her, too.
“We
continued to use our badges with amazing results over the next four or five days,
but it was our secret. No one else in the mission knew anything about what we
were doing.
“Then
one evening, as we were preparing to retire, I received an unexpected call from
my Zone Leader.[5] He simply
asked if I would speak at our upcoming zone conference. Though I was
approaching my 18-month mark, I had never been asked to speak at anything,
including the many zone conferences I’d attended. I was truly surprised. I
accepted and then asked him on what subject he wanted me to speak. Would you
believe he said, “We would like you speak on door approaches!” I practically
fell over, but managed to say, “I can do that!”[6]
“I
gave my talk and shared our district’s experiences with using the Kansha / Shinsetsu
badges. I noted President Tanaka listening intensely, and when the talk was
over he asked a number of related questions about our experiences. The next
thing I knew a big program was being rolled out throughout the Japan Nagoya
mission. It ultimately expanded to other missions of
“I
cannot play the part of Paul Harvey and say ‘that’s the rest of the story’
because, honestly, I don’t know the rest of the story. I only know the story’s
beginning. My part started in our apartment, and ended with my talk.[8]
Other than utilizing the program as a tool like any other missionary, I had
nothing more with its growth. I surprised to see that a band had been
assembled, music had been written, bicycle banners and posters had been created,
etc.
“Lee, it is so easy to see God’s mysterious workings
and guidance in how all this transpired. Perhaps our stories are more connected
than either of us could have imagined even yesterday.
“I can think of only a handful of
people that know how the Kansha / Shinsetsu story originated. Of course these
would include the three Japanese Elders serving in Dai 5 with me, President
Tanaka, the Mission Assistants serving with him at that time.[9]
Also perhaps there were a few Elders present at the Zone Conference when I
spoke who had not dozed off.[10]
“I
have found that this is one of those stories not easily or fully comprehended
unless you were there and were caught up to feel its impact. It made a great
impression on us because we struggled so much and this represented a huge
breakthrough. New Elders struggling to learn Japanese had not experienced much of
mission life without this program, and didn't have the perspective that you and
I share. And of missionaries already returned home before this Kansha / Shinsetsu
introduction—well, how could they comprehend what transpired without them?
“I have
a deep desire to thank those before me that left a positive impact on me,
because they were a part of my every success that followed.
“I
have shared this story with almost nobody else. In fact, I think you may be the
first with whom I've shared this story who can appreciate the significance of
what took place.
“As
for Bob Evans… I myself had no idea who wrote the music to Kofuku Ni Naritai
ka. President Tanaka was good at helping people to utilize their talents to
further the work. For you, one such evidence of this was his gentle ‘calling’
on you to play the drums. I could easily imagine President Tanaka being aware
of Bob Evans’ talents and asking him to put Kansha / Shinsetsu to music.
“It
would certainly be of interest to know how it all came to be.”
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have never forgotten the feeling of focus and Divine
partnership following my covenant with the Lord that cold, foggy morning 30
years ago. I promised to simply forego the drums for two years, and in return,
I earned power to teach His son in tongues.
I’ve now been blessed to learn how many people using
their talents to build the Lord’s kingdom changed all of our lives. Hidden to
each of us, we were each directed to do our part in a program that ultimately opened
the doors to many hearts and conversions of many Japanese Saints. I’ve been provided
with a new, and much larger, epiphany about the Lord’s works.
Lee
Richan,