Thomas Levi Whittle

         In 1849, Thomas Levi Whittle went to California and joined others in a search for gold on a financial mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was while there that he received a call to go and help open up a mission in the Sandwich Islands. In 1850 he with nine other Elders, one of whom was George Q. Cannon, went in response to the call. A day after their arrival the group climbed a hill above Honolulu (Pacific Heights), constructed a small, makeshift altar and said a prayer. A week later, nine missionaries received their assignments. 

       There is a bronze plaque at the front entrance of the Hawaiian Temple with a picture of this group of missionaries, with names of all inscribed, including that of Thomas Levi Whittle. Underneath is written, “The first missionaries to the Islands.”

        

       Thomas Whittle was an energetic Church worker. Because of his agreeable and pleasing manner, he made many friends, both young and old. On many occasions, he succeeded in getting the good will of groups of rowdy youngsters bent on nights of adventure and mischief, and in a short time he would have them all home and in bed. He was known as a Peace Maker, and many times was called to settle disputes and bring harmony where people were laboring under wrong impressions and misunderstanding.

         Despite the endurance of many hardships, he never lost any of the members of his family, and always retained a devout faith of ‘Divine Guidance.”

         His untimely and accidental death came at the age of fifty-six years and was caused by the falling of a log which struck him while he was engaged in the building of a house. He died on July 3rd, 1868. On the following day, July 4th, the flag was hung at half mast, attesting the love and esteem of his neighbors and fellow townsmen.