Messages from the Missions

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sacrifice of thy Son. He hath redeemed our souls through the resurrection. We have found life everlasting in his unselfish death. Help us cheerfully to learn wisdom through diligence on our part, and by obedience to thy law, for so shall we rejoice in thy blessings, and be strong now and hereafter to help bear the burdens of the weak. As Jesus gained mastery over death through pain and struggle, and without price wrought miracles of love and healing; so prepare us, in the midst of thy bounteous blessings, or in the valley of the shadow of obstacles, hardships and sorrows, to remember his priceless service, that we may find strength to mas- ter fear and doubt and selfishness, and be able in our turn to give some comfort to the unfortunate. Help us to awake to the im- port of his mission, to gain a measure of his kingly spirit: "He that believe th on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do," that thus we may be urged to faith in the future, and to good deeds in this life. For this is the promise: through the resurrection of Christ the mortal of the workers of good shall put on immortality, and they shall rise to endless life and happiness. As in nature we hear at this season sounds all about us foreshadowing the marvelous reawakening of life, so fill thou our souls with this knowledge: there is a resurrec- tion, the grave hath no victory, the sting of death is swallowed up in Jesus Christ, the endless light and life of the world, that can never be darkened.

Messages from the Missions.

Elder Nephi J. Brown, writing from London, England, on January 17, says: "The missionary work in London is progressing nicely. We are getting several good investigators to our meetings. A marked inter- est is taken in the M. LA. work. The senior manual for this season is indeed excellent. The comments of non-'Mormons' in regard to it are

very favorable.''

Elders Erastus Johnson and Edward P. Makelprang, writing from Aalesund branch, Bergen conference, Norway, January 8, express thanks for the Era which arrives at the lodge monthly and is read with inter-

462 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

est and pleasure. "We desire the portrait of the primary department of our Sunday school in print. Many of the Saints of this branch live out in the country, hence all the children are not on the photo. The true and everlasting work of our Heavenly Father is progressing in this part of his vineyard."

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT, AALESUND SUNDAY SCHOOL, NORWAY.

K. N. Winnie andE. G. Cannon writing from Nome, Alaska, Novem- ber 15, 1909, say: "We are holding meetings here as usual, but infidel- ity is increasing, and it seems very difficult to reach the church-goers. The pleasures of this world seem to be all-satisfying to hundreds of the population in this city, but we are not going to give up the fight, but rather continue to send out our warning voices while we are here. We are indeed watchmen on the wall of the city, but 'who hath believed our report?' Only very few so far, but, as the scriptures say: If we labor

all our lives and bring but one soul into the kingdom of God, how great shall be our rejoicing. There is nothing in all this unbelieving world that we would take in exchange for the light and knowledge that we receive through obedience to the Gospel. We pray that our Father may con-

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tinue to use the Era as an agent in dispensing the great truths which he is revealing in these latter-days."

On January 15-16 a conference was held at Kelsey, Texas, attended by Mission President S. 0. Bennion and President C. H. Hart, of the First Council of Seventy. On this occasion the new church of the Kel- sey branch was dedicated. The Kelsey branch is one of the largest branches of the Church outside of the stakes of Zion, the colony num- bering some five hundred people. President C. H. Hart offered the dedi- catory prayer. The church building is very prominently located on a hill in the center of Kelsey. It is fifty feet wide by eighty-five feet

long, having a seating capacity in the main auditorium of six hundred. The rostrum for the presiding elders and the choir will seat fifty people. The building besides has four class rooms that will seat fifty people each. The structure is of frame, lined with brick, and cost approximately $6,400. Elders Archie Frame and Benjamin F. Le Baron had charge of the work, assisted by other elders and local brethren. Well seated, and well lighted throughout with gas, it is a very commodious and comfort- able building, and a credit to Kelsey ward, as well as to all Latter- day Saints. The Relief Society purchased the new organ and a beautiful silver sacrament set.

In the Wisconsin conference of the Northern States mission there is a spirit of inquiry from every side. The German speaking people seem willing to accept the gospel, and they make good, sturdy Latter- day Saints. President C. L. Reuckert, of the Milwaukee branch, who was called to preside there after filling a mission, has been in the Northern States seven years. Since his release from regular missionary work, he has gone into business at Milwaukee, and the Lord is prospering him and the branch under his presidency. The names of the persons in the picture are:

Upper row, from left to right: R. F. Shumway, Clarkston; Jos. A. Orgill, Daniels; L. C. Montgomery, Heber; Alonzo Mackay, Calder's Sta- tion, all of Utah; Jno. S. Morgan, Liberty, Idaho; J. T. Durrant, Porter- ville; Jos. Kutschal, Salt Lake City. Second row: Z. M. Chapman, Blue- water, N. M.; L. C. Larsen, Salt Lake City; Jno. R. Bingham, Trenton, Utah; E. D. Shawcroft, La Jara, Colo.; Sister. Maeser (student) Sister .Anna Hindley, American Fork (lady missionary); Sister Jane Nelson, Salt Lake City, (lady missionary); W. G. Palmer, Preston, Idaho; F. B. C. Scheidig, Salt Lake City. Third row: J. C. Keller, Manti, Utah; W. H. Meacham, Lago, Idaho; H. M. Olmstead, Darby, Idaho; Conf. Pres, George E. Liljenquist, Hyrum, Utah; Mission Sec'y- D. A. Latimer, Granger, Utah; E. M. Crawford, Manti, Utah; W. D. Baird, Mink Creek. Idaho; R. Maeser, (student).