From 1910-1912 Marriner served a mission in Scotland for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Courtesy of Spencer F. Eccles After leaving high school, Marriner returned to Oregon as a commissary manager. Rather than struggle with many workers' Greek and Japanese names, he assigned each a number. During a Christmas reunion in Logan with his family, Marriner prepared to fulfill an LDS mission in Scotland. "Wearing my high silk hat and frock coat on Sundays," Eccles wrote, "I would pick out the largest crowd gathered around a speaker, and as he reached the end of his observations on the fate of man, I would work my way forward to the speaker's stand. The instant he was through, I would hold up my hand and cry out: 'Now just a minute here!' and would launch my own talk in defense of the Mormon Church. But despite these ruses, I regret to say, the number of converts I made could be counted on the fingers of one hand." More memorable than street-corner preaching was a visit from his parents, who likely were accompanied by one of Marriner's sisters and one of his half-sisters, for David liked to integrate his daughters for travel or holidays. As they toured, David pointed out the adobe hut he remembered from childhood and the train stations where he had scrambled for tips. The impact on Marriner was twofold: he basked in the uninterrupted time with his father; and he witnessed his father's steep ascent from poverty to plenty. He wondered if he could ever measure up. Upon returning from his mission, Marriner was sent to manage a hydroelectric power plant being built southeast of Logan. During one visit from his father, Marriner mentioned that the project needed funds. David wrote a check for $35,000, and then another for $5,000, explaining that the latter represented Marriner's own investment. Marriner accepted the check as a tangible compliment for his work. The symbol became even more precious as the last praise Marriner received from his father. "Late at night on December 5,1912," Marriner wrote, "while in the camp at the project, 1 was awakened and told that my father had died suddenly. The news left me numb with shock."