Robert Blair’s first mission call from the LDS Church sent him to Finland, a land far removed in every way from his home in Santa Barbara, California. He became well acquainted with winter.
When he arrived in Helsinki, he could look across the Baltic Sea and gaze at the somber lights of Estonia, which was now part of the USSR‘s expanse. Russian was spoken there (though the Estonians resisted it), but Estonia was a world away. No missionaries would be called to any part of the Soviet Union, and it appeared that the Iron Curtain would remain indefinitely.
The second World War had ended only five years before, and Finland was still suffering. Because the Finns had sided with Germany, they were now burdened with huge reparation payments to the Soviet Union. During the long winters, there were shortages of many foods, especially fruits. The missionaries supplemented their diet with cod-liver oil. (By 1953, living conditions had improved enough that they could buy bananas and oranges imported from Israel.) But the physical deprivations were only a part of the mission’s challenges. Mormonism was seen as a new “American” church, and its young ministers, mangling the Finnish language, were regarded with cynicism and anger.
Nonetheless, under the mission president, Henry A. Matis, a post-war foundation was being laid.
In the 1950’s, missions lasted three years. By the end of his time in Finland, Robert had mastered the language, learned to love the people, and was loved by them in return. The Finnish saints saw his boat off at the Baltic Sea.
It would be over forty years before he would return to that Baltic Sea, years that built his career as a professor of linguistics and a world traveler. Indeed, the gift of tongues identified in his patriarchal blessing enabled him to communicate in many languages.
His second mission call came in 1993. This one was not expected. 
Elder Dallin Oaks’s secretary phoned and invited Robert and Julia Blair to an interview. There, at the interview, Elder Oaks asked the couple if they would be willing to spend the next three years in the Baltic States, where Robert would be the mission president and Julia the mission matron. The answer was a solemn YES. A few days later, Elder Thomas S. Monson extended the call. The Iron Curtain was undone, and a new mission was to be opened. It would include Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia–the very place Robert had gazed at from Helsinki.
Elder Oaks blessed Robert, conferring on him the keys to build up the kingdom in the Baltic States. He assured him that he need not worry about anything he would be leaving behind. Some of the Blair children were facing challenges, and Elder Oaks promised that others would be raised up to help. Robert wept openly.
The missionaries in the Baltics described the Blairs in glowing terms. All expressed deep love for Julia. One said of Robert: “He is the most inspired man I’ve ever known”–a statement which made Robert’s daughter wonder if this particular missionary was from the tiniest town in America. She later acknowledged that her father had simply been magnified to match his new responsibilities.
This is from a talk Robert gave in the Baltics in 1996:
Fifty-six years ago, in July 1940, a nine-year-old boy sat in a chair under the hands of an inspired patriarch. Some of the words spoken were these:
In the ministry of the Lord, it shall be your privilege to travel both by land and by sea, to bear witness of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph, even in foreign lands and in foreign languages. It shall be your privilege to preside both at home and abroad. Your standing in the Church shall become as a passport even in foreign lands, and because of it, you shall be given privileges and opportunities. The power of expression shall be given you that in plainness and great power you may bear witness to the children of God that God has spoken anew, and his priesthood is among men. The learned men of the world shall sit at your feet, there to be taught the will of the Lord. The gift of tongues shall rest upon you, and barriers shall be removed, that as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, you may go in peace and return in safety.
I am that nine-year-old boy. It so happened that this inspired patriarch had opened a small part of the veil. I don’t know what the patriarchal blessings of these missionaries revealed to them, but I feel each one was foreordained to come into this world to be prepared by goodly parents to receive a calling to serve as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Robert and Julia helped to build the foundation for the three Baltic states, a mission which continues to do well.
Upon his passing, one of his former missionaries wrote about how all of them had wondered how many languages Robert spoke. He appeared to be fluent in Russian and all of the Baltic languages. One day, President Blair took a few of his missionaries to a Chinese restaurant. They watched in wonder as he proceeded to converse fluently in Mandarin with the restaurant owner, and so the rumors about his language skills grew beyond reason.
Some of his former missionaries wrote the following tributes:
I was saddened to learn that my former Mission President, Robert W. Blair, passed away this morning. President Blair was an amazing man with a huge smile and an even bigger heart. He was a brilliant linguist who had command of several languages. He was always so kind and encouraging to me. With a twinkle in his eye he would always remind me with the Lord’s help I could do anything (even learn Russian). The impact that President Blair and his sweet wife Julia had on my life is immeasurable. I will be forever grateful that I was able to serve as a missionary under President Blair and learn so much from them. Today as I was putting my own little Blair down for her nap. With tears in my eyes I held her tightly and told her a few of my favorite memories of her namesakes. I love the Blairs and the huge footprint they have left on my heart. Hollie
There are only a few people who can see the golden good in all of us. Even fewer still manage to make us feel capable of living up to that vision. President Blair had many gifts but that particularly rare one is what I will always remember him for. I am so grateful for his leadership, testimony and love. I cannot imagine all the burdens he took on while leading our mission but I will always be so grateful he accepted that call. Meanwhile I keep trying to become the person he believed I already was. Becky
I was saddened this afternoon to learn that President Blair had passed away. I have many fond memories of our time together in Estonia. Just a quick one that always makes me smile. My companion and I were in an apartment in Kopli when we got a phone call from President announcing that he was in Tallinn for a quick visit. He had heard that we might have a Fazer Pie, a very very chocolate pie in a chocolate crumb crust. He wanted to come try a piece. It was such a random request and seemed out of the ordinary especially as he had some eating restrictions as far as we knew. As soon as he and Sister Blair arrived at our apartment he immediately asked for a slice of our pie, too which Sister Blair issued caution and reserve. President’s eyes lit up at the sight of the chocolate slice of heaven. He wasted no time devouring it. Then, in a moment of sheer glee, he licked the plate clean and came up with a little smear of chocolate on this nose! This filled my heart with gladness as that was the exact same way I always finished a piece of Fazer Pie. He smiled with satisfaction, even while Sister Blair gently chided his behavior as she wiped off the smear from his face. After thanking us, they left as quickly as they had come. Thank you President and Sister Blair for all the lessons and love behind each one. Jared
My mission president passed away today. My heart has been heavy but still immensely grateful. He was an amazing man and he was an important part of my mission which changed my life for the better. He was a master of linguistics and even in his native tongue of English, he chose words for their precise meaning and impact. He was thoughtful and often during a meeting he would appear to be sleeping. Then, he would stand up and
comment about what was said with insight and wisdom. He was kind and patient and willing to help us understand. One of my favorite memories is when I went in to counsel with him and was trying to express a concern I was having. When he asked what it was, all I could do was cry. With love and compassion he told me to never mind, he knew what it is. He would pray about it and let me know what the Lord wants. I knew from the Spirit that the Holy Ghost had shown him my concern and I had faith that he would be guided to do what was right for me. Dani
Very few people in this world have ever been able to show me the kind of love Heavenly Father and Jesus have for me, but I think you two came as close as any two people could. I love you and I love President Blair and I am eternally grateful that you love me too. I just bought my ticket to come out to Utah for the funeral next Saturday. I will see you there and give you a big giant hug that’s been building up inside my heart for the last 20 years. Elizabeth
My dear mission president Robert W. Blair passed away Friday, Feb. 19th, at the age of 85. He was an extremely humble man, who led a life of service. I have many fond memories of times with him, including this photo of a stroll along a path at the Raganu Kalnas in Lithuania. What a great example of love. I will never forget him. He changed my life. Humble, full of faith, and definitely MIGHTY. One of my anchor points. Thank you President. Greg
In response, Robert might say what he said during his speech in 1996:
A mission is much like life. Both can be compared to a journey in the wilderness. In the scriptures, a “wilderness” is a trackless desert, lonely and desolate, untamed, uninviting, inhospitable, unfriendly, forbidding. It offers no refuge from storms, or from the blazing sun. But the wilderness works on the spirit of whoever enters it, daring them to surmount its challenges.
Journeying through the wilderness of the Baltic States Mission presented its challenges. Just to drive in the area was a challenge. There were three driving rules given to us when we first arrived. “Always pass the car in front of you.” That was the first rule. The second was, “Never let a car pass you.” The third was, “If a car is coming towards you at high speed and in your lane, don’t worry. It will move away.” We survived. There were challenges which seemed beyond solution. I was constantly saying to myself and encouraging my fellow servants to say to themselves, “We can do what is asked of us.”
Miracles go on in that small part of the Lord’s vineyard.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In