--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Associations, Young Men’s Mutual Improvement collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 2 published: 1909-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Messages from the Missions," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 2 (December 1909): 180–184.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1302unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1302unse start_page: 180 end_page: 184 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1302unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions 180 IMPR VEMENT ERA counselor he has been a pillar of strength through whom the Lord has frequently made known his will regarding translating problems. The labor has been a most valuable, inspiring and' elevating pleasure; so much so, that physical fatigue and mental strains have never reached my heart. In this point I believe Elder Caine has been entirely like myself. His power of application and ability to stick to his work with- out tiring or wishing for something else, has been a source of gratitude to me and a certain proof that he was the right man for the position. I rejoice that he has been 'permitted to be with me to the end and know that his integrity in this and his other missionary labors is worthy of a great reward. The support given to the work by all the missionaries who have labored here during its progress, has been a constant memo- rial before the Lord. The native Saints also have been deeply interested in the work, and hail its completion as an answer to their earnest pray- ers. Nor is the influence of the faith and prayerful solicitude of our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers arid all the Saints in Zion, to be forgotten. They have upheld our cause night and morning, in public and in private, and they have ungrudgingly devoted us to the Lord. God bless them! The first edition consists of 5,000 copies, and the book sells in Japan for 50 cents. Messages from the Missions. "Just a little concerning our missionary work at Tonga," writes William A. Moody, President of the Samoan Mission, September 22, "On July 12, 1891, Elders Brigham Smoot and A. J. Butler were sent from the Samoan Mission by President W. O. Lee, to carry the message of the restored gospel to the people of Tonga. Other elders followed, and after almost five years of faithful service, during which time they had suc- ceeded in baptizing twenty-one souls, it was deemed advisable to close the mission. In April, 18S7, all the elders were called to return. Again, in 1907, President Thomas S. Court sent Elders H. J. McKay and W. O. Facer to Tonga. These two elders arrived at Vavau, July 13. A few of the earlier converts, who had remained true to their faith during the ten intervening years, were found, and they gave the elders valuable aid in getting the work started once more. Later, Elder M. A. Woolley joined the missionary force, and although there were but three elders EDITOR'S TABLE. 181 until recently, when their number was augmented by the arrival of Elders L. Ormand, J. C. Olsen and W. B. Wright, they have been privileged to lead sixty-five souls into the waters of baptism. At the beginning it seemed that our membership was to be made up of males only, for the women held aloof, apparently waiting to see whether the new (new to them) was going to become popular. How- religion ever, our present membership contains sixteen females. Among our membership of forty-nine males we have a very unusual collection of names. A few of them are here given, with the hope that the reader will note how the natives take to Bible names: Peter, James, John, John the Baptist, Paul, Methuselah, Sampson, Enoch, David, Ezekiel, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah and Joel. "The first conference held by the Church in Tonga, by the courtesy of the governor of Vavau, convened July 25 last. We were permitted to use a large government building free of charge; there were present at this conference the six elders above mentioned and the writer. The three meetings of the conference were well attended, and, it being the first meeting of the kind, attracted much attention, and we hope did much good. The day previous being the 24th of July, we celebrated the occasion with a baptismal service, in which ten were baptized, and in the evening a program was rendered by the Neaifu, Haalaufuli, and Mataika schools. "Prospects are good for a large increase in Church membership at Tonga, in the near future, but while 'the harvest is great, the laborers are few.' The writer was very greatly pleased to hear the many compli- mentary remarks from foreigners, concerning the zeal, honor and integ- rity of the elders who are laboring in this conference." Elder Orson A. Daines presides over the New South Wales confer- ence, having been appointed by President Orme to succeed Elder Spencer, who was released to return home the 27th of September, arriv- ing in Salt Lake, October 22. "Besides the work being done in Sydney," writes Elder Daniel G. Spencer, "there is established work in Bathurst and Tamworth, two of the second size cities in New South Wales, upon which country work is being done when weather permits. The elders generally have excel- lent health and make many friends in Sydney. New South Wales. Dur- ing August and September there w ere twenty-two baptisms in the : conference. The Saints are settled in Sydney throughout a population of 600,000, and therefore have long distances to come to their meetings- but still they appreciate the gospel. The attendance at the sacrament eetings is over 75 per- cent. President Orme counted 08 Saints on the "' T*#i , 3m W~ B ^ ifl %? *" »« * if y 'S> " ^ #«s. ji ^Hf^^i £|J » *-m ' - : w Ifetf ^^^ Elders laboring in the Sydney Branch of the New South Wales Conference of the Australian Mission, headquarters at "Victory," Pemell Street, Newtown, Sydney. Top row, left to right: Ezra T. Packer, of Fielding; David I. Tracy, of Huntsville; Leo Cottam, of Snowville; Daniel G. Spencer, of Salt Lake City; Henry D. Day, of Castledale, Utah. Bottom row, left to right: Heber S. Amussen, of Logan; Orson A. Daines, of Cardston, Canada; Mission President, C. Alvin Orme, of Tooele; William Grover McBride, of Tooele; and Elmer Marshall, of Minersville, Utah. Sunday before I left, and remarked that 'Victory,' the missionary head- quarters, will hold very few more. There is a regular Sunday school with an attendance of about 40. These are mostly children, as the older people find it difficult to get in. We also have a flourishing M. I. A. The young men and women meet conjointly. Elder D. I. Tracy is presi- dent; counselors are Lucy Rosen, Sr., and W. C. Reid. The elders are all united in the work and feel that Australia is one of the best fields in which to perform a mission. President C. Alvin Orme succeeded Elder William Armstrong as mission president, in December, 1908. President Armstrong had the love and admiration of the entire mission for his untiring zeal and his proficient and fatherly direction of the elders. In President C. Alvin Orme the Lord surely found the man who inspired all with a love for the gospel, and who scatters love and sunshine wherever he EDITOR'S TABLE. 183 goes. We all feel that with such a leader we would never doubt the suc- cess to be attained in the Australian mission. Readers of the ERA, who have friends in Australia whom they desire the elders to call upon, would do well to send their names and addresses to the conference president of the New South Wales conference." Elder W. Johnson, of the Norrkoping Conference, Sweden, writes, under date of October 18, that Mission President Peter Sundwall, of the Swedish mission, with President N. H. Hallstrom and nine traveling elders of the Norrkoping Conference, held a conference on the 9th and 10th of October. The meetings were largely attended. On Sunday, President N. H. Hallstrom gave a very able lecture on the power and authority of the priesthood as restored to earth by the Prophet Joseph. Two local newspapers commented upon the conference, and gave a truthful synopsis of the talks. One of the articles stated that, from experience, they knew ELDERS OF THE NORRKOPING CONFERENCE, SWEDEN. Back row, from left to right: C. P. Larson, C. A. Lindstrom, Eph- raim Adamson, James Monson, and P. J. Swenson. Front, left to right: Joseph W. Johnson; Conference President N. H. Hallstrom. Mission President P. Sundwall, C. A. Dallquist. that many good people were found among the Latter-day Saints. As a result many new investigators have since attended our meetings. The elders findmany who are eager for the truth. Only little opposition is encountered, and the old priest-painted "Mormon" stories are rapidly fading away under the truth which the people are anxious to hear from the elders. So many people are seeking after the truth that there are 184 IMPROVEMENT ERA. not elders enough to supply the calls. The elders are working overtime to answer the requirements, and are patiently looking for more help. Elder R. H. Andrus, of the Central States Mission, writes, under date of November 3, from Ennis, Texas: "In the past four months we have made many friends who have been very kind to us. We have tried to correct some of the misrepresentations that are prevalent in relation to the Latter-day Saints. We have obtained the confidence of a number of people, and have thus overcome much prejudice, and have started to teach them the gospel of peace. We feel that we have sown good seeds that will bea./ an abundant harvest in the future." THE LONE STAR COMPANY. Top row: E. T. Carlisle, R. H. Andrus. Second row: T. T. Murdock, N. A. Clement.