Messages from the Missions

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to aid the young men in obtaining subscriptions for the new vol- ume. The canvass for subscriptions is in the care of the Y. M. M. I. A., whose officers will appoint agents in each ward to act for

our magazine. The priesthood should support them heartily by re- sponding when solicited to subscribe. The ward and stake authorities may also greatly assist the cause by seeing that this work is properly attended to, and by saying a good word in public for the Era, as opportunity affords. A glance at the prospectus in this number, showing the special features of the next volume, will,we believe, convince you that the contents of the coming vol- ume will meet the requirements of all who are especially interested, as well as the approval of the general reader. Doctrine, travel, descriptive matter, religious essays, stories, scientific and miscel- laneous articles by our foremost writers, will find place in the pages of the Era. We hope to make it worth while for all who desire clean, home literature. The illustrations, which are a well- liked feature of the magazine, will be carefully selected with a view to interest and instruct, and only the best reading to be ob- tained will be admitted to its pages. It is safe to place the Era in the hands of the young people. We aim to make its literature in- spiring and uplifting.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Standing on the hearthstone of the home where the Prophet Joseph was born. President Ben E. Rich, of the Eastern States mission, with thirty-six elders, organized the Vermont conference at Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, on July 24, 1909. It was an event of great significance. There was a feast prepared by Elder Junius F. Wells, and the day was spent in games, a program in honor of the Utah pioneers, and at 7:30 the conference was organized.

The elders of the Northern states Mission have lately visited Lamoni, Iowa, headquarters of the Reorganized church. They were sadly disappointed, after reading the literature of that church about Lamoni, their headquarters, to find it a village of 1,500 people. The mud was hub deep, and there was an old time town pu np in a principal cross-street— a signal of anything but progressiveness .

Togo is the railway station, the population consisting of the agent and his wife, and Lamoni is three miles distant. There are two hotels in Lamoni, but neither would do credit to a town half the size,'jin Utah, fiftyfyears ago. The only hall

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in town was condemned as a fire trap, so the elders asked for the Reorgan- ite meetinghouse,which seats about 1,200 people, and obtained it for four nights, June 14, 15, 16, and 18. There were 16 elders who enjoyed a most interesting and profitable week, which, however, was one of great anxiety to Heman C. Smith and other leaders of the Reorganites who were kept anxious to know what was coming next — and they are not beginners as diplomats. Our elders were well posted, and acted as one man, thus beating them at every turn by good generalship. Heman C. tried to draw them away from the history of the Reorganite organization, and get them to an.

ssver questions, but the elders steadfastly delivered their message and carried out their plans. Written questions, however, were answered at the close of each meet- ing. Monday night one thousand people attended and heard the elders discuss the restoration of the gospel. On Tuesday more were present. The elders spoke on how people obtain misunderstanding of others, citing their own knowledge of the great work of the Latter-day Saints as learned from prejudiced men so full of hate that they lovingly hug a lie and tell it as the truth. At least 75 per cent of the hearers were in sympathy with what was said. One of the elders then spoke briefly on the misrepresentations that brought Johnston's army to Utah; and on the Mountain Meadow massacre, until they acknowledged that their view on these

points did not do justice to such splendid-spirited men as they found our elders

ta be. On the questions of blood atonement and polygamy they were told that conception of no man among us believes in these doctrines, according to their the truth about them, and further, the Reorganites are not in a position to learn them. The elders sang a quartette, "0 My Father," by request of the aged the song was finished, people in the audience, many of whom wiped tears away when of the meeting they and many voices cried, "thank you, thank you." At the close said it was the same old spirit they felt in England, and the same sweet song. We requesting it. learned later that those aged people were chided for were the topics On Wednesday night baptism for the dead and temple work and they were forcibly presented and well received. Many of the members treated, their early membership should not be are growing restless, lest the ambition of realized before they are called to meet their loved ones on the other side. Twelve

questions were asked us, and the elders answered them in ten minutes on Friday

night. .

Thursday night in By this time Heman C. was very nervous and he occupied did it so poorly that a number of his giving abuse, his general stock in trade. He "Brother Heman C. so muffled in people told the elders they had never heard him when he had such a hard time to explain himself." speech in his life, nor seen something to talk about. The One man said he could not find his books, let alone that did our cause good. contrast was so great in spirit it

night the elders treated authority, not once mentioning the "Re- On Friday not the cour- organization. ' ' They referred to some fair-weather Saints who had trial, but who stood behind, yielded to age to follow the Church in the hour of even joined them in misrepresenting the and curried favor with their enemies, and Marks, Gurley and Briggs, and appealed to their reason Saints. They referred to '

characters to ordain a "Prophet. concerning the uncertainty of such unstable

996 IMPROVEMENT ERA. The elders of the Reorganites seemed disturbed at our elders visiting the

people in their homes.

"The majority of the people welcomed us," says the report written by one of our eldeis, "and many seemed overjoyed, begging us to come again. Some said they were growing tired of being bulldozed by a few men, chief among them being Heman C. Smith. It has been a practice to flag our gathering Saints, who have lingered by the way to make money, and tell them that, 'The Prophet of the Lord is Joseph Smith, and he lives in Iowa and not in Utah. ' A number of such people who were deceived said they would gladly leave if they could dispose of ,

thsir property. It was reported that the authorities hinder people in selling their property. Some told us they still felt that they belonged to us, never having been baptized into any other church. "The tracts distributed were Morgan's No. 2, 'Plan of Salvation,' and 'Baptism for the Dead,' by Joseph F. Smith, Jr., and 'Corner Stones of Reorganization,' we having first corrected the error on Z. H. Gourley. They admitted their own Church History was indefinite on this point from which we were led into error. We, however, acknowledge with thanks Brother Joseph F. Jr's. line calling atten- tion to it. The points on Marks, Gurley and Briggs from the Herald seemed to stagger them, and if these ars answered it will be later. They did not approach them in their meetings nor in the last issue of the Herald. "Some of their elders asked us about debate, so, just as their Sunday night meeting was closing, we handed them a note saying if they wished a discussion we were prepared to name a committee to make arrangements. The stake presi- dent read the note to the audience without first reading it over. When he got part way through he hesitated but finally completed it. Heman C. Smith arose, pale as a sheet, siid there was a standing challenge to debate in Lamoni on con- ditions that we would give them a counter debate in Salt Lake City, then sat down. Some of their elders were angry with this reply and thought it showed the white feathers. They thought Heman's reply ought to be reconsidered and ended with, 'who's afraid?' but Heman in his three nights seemed to have exhausted all his argument without knowing what we had. "Our elders came away feeling well satisfied with results from beginning to end. Came away wonderfully strengthened in their testimony of the truth. Two elders were left there for awhile; for it certainly looks like many are disappointed in not finding the promised Prophet Joseph 'mighty and strong.' They seem to be waiting for a chance to repent and do their first works over. Some have never met any elders of the Church before. "Elbert Smith's report in the Saints Herald of our visit is a very tame criti- cism when we count the many who sought us out and told us how they had been deceived and beaten by comiDg to Lamoni. One old brother and wife (Stewart by name) who used to be employed by President Young said, 'Brother Brigham appeared to me seven years ago and said, 'Brother Stewart, you have lost by not staying with me. I don't know whether he meant financially or spiritually.' We suggested, 'both, my good brother, both.' 'Many other interesting things we learned about the waning ' influence of the organization, which we may report later."