He recorded that on the 12th of October he was baptized for his father and brother, who were dead, and returned to Logan on the following day. Some of the children were sick with sore throats and fever and he, himself, had a bad cold and the chills. Harris and Nora were much worse than the rest. These two were administered to and Harris felt better immediately. He was able to get up and dress the following day. Then quite suddenly, without a moment’s notice, Nora died. She talked up to the last minute.

Frederick Hurst expressed thankfulness that this tragedy had happened before he left for his mission to New Zealand, feeling that it was better that way. After the death of little Nora, there were seven children for his wife to care for while he was gone. He left San Francisco on November 10, 1875 and arrived in Wellington, New Zealand a little more than a month later. He had some difficulty in locating his mother and brother, but finally found his mother, who was in a very feeble condition—almost helpless. She was very happy to Frederick and Charles Clement. At first, Alfred was happy to see them also, but soon his old hostility towards them returned.

Clement and the other missionaries were sent to labor on another island and Frederick was left to labor alone. Working alone and meeting with so much prejudice against the Mormons was very discouraging for Fred. If he did find someone inclined to listen to his message, that interest didn’t last long because of the prejudice there. Frederick did not take a room at that time, but stayed wherever he could. After laboring by himself for about six months, he received word that his brother was coming to work with him. He decided to rent a place so that they could “bach” it with Clement. Some of his acquaintances loaned him blankets and other furnishings. Part of the time Charles cut wood to pay the rent and also to sell. They often went hungry and didn’t know where the next meal would come from. They did whatever they could to earn money. Frederick painted pictures and sold them, and also carved tomb tablets out of wood. They visited their mother whenever they could, but Alfred was so bitter about their being Mormons that he wouldn’t come around anymore and wouldn’t help with her support. As destitute as the missionaries were, they used some of their income to help her. After laboring in the Wellington area for some time, the brothers went to Christchurch, which is located on the South Island.

After laboring in Christchurch for some time, the New Zealand missionaries received word on Sunday, January 28, 1877, that they were released to go home whenever they could raise the means to pay their passage home. Early in the month of February, Elder McLochlan, who had been in charge of the New Zealand mission, set sail for Utah, leaving Charles Clement in charge. Elder Frederick Hurst had written home in an effort to borrow money so that he and his brother could go home. However, one of the brethren in the church went around collecting donations to assist them in returning home, saying that it would be better for all to help so the missionaries wouldn’t have any debts to settle after they got home.

The message of the missionaries to those who had joined the church was to gather to Zion as soon as they were able. They had been called to work among the Maoris and had attempted to do so, but the priests of other denominations set the natives against them, so the mission did not accomplish much along that line. One of the interesting practices in the church at that time for the members was the renewing of their covenants through re-baptism. The brothers left Christchurch to start their homeward journey the 4th of May 1877. In Wellington they went to say farewell to their mother, “perhaps for the last time in this life.”

The first Sunday School in Cache Stake was organized in Logan in May 1866. F. W. Hurst took an active part in the organization. Later he was put in charge of the Sunday School, which position he held until he left for his mission to New Zealand. In 1881, he was again chosen and set apart as Stake Superintendent. He always had a place in his heart for the Sunday School. After returning from New Zealand he records that he and his brother had the pleasure of telling their experiences to a large congregation in the morning, stating, “It does seem heavenly to me to hear our Sunday School children sing.”

Frederick William Hurst also filled at least two stake missions in Cache Stake. He and his wife had two more children after he returned from New Zealand, a son, Clement, who died in infancy, and a daughter Nellie. He worked on both the Logan and Salt Lake Temples. After it became necessary because of age to discontinue his trade, he spent his time with art painting, keeping a very beautiful garden of flowers and vegetables, and fruit trees to supply his needs. His wife Aurelia died in April, 1907. He later married Mrs. Ann Norfold, one of his New Zealand friends that he mentions several times in his diary.

For a number of years before his passing he would good-naturedly tell his friends that he was getting homesick and would be glad when the time came for him to return home. This desire was granted him on the 30th of October, 1918—in his 85th year. His life had influenced people from all walks of life in many lands.