Messages from the Missions

1112 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . the price charged. We also thank the contributors to our maga- zine who have given their writings free for the benefit of the cause. The success of the Era and our ability to give the subscribers such a splendid magazine as it is for the price charged, is largely due to them. They have enabled us to send the Era free to the mis- sionaries throughout the world, a great accomplishment for good in itself; and according to the testimony of the elders the Era is of great value in gaining for them a foothold in their varioas fields and in opening the way for the promulgation of the gospel. Already the Improvement Era is the organ of the Priestho )d quorums, besides being the official organ of the Mutual Improve- ment associations. At a recent meeting of the Church Board of Education, our magazine was made the official organ of the Church schools, both boards unanimously approving of this action. A department, therefore, will be added for the coming year in which the important aims and affairs of this great educational branch of the Church will be set forth by competent writers, to the people. The professors and teachers of the Church schools will also contribute doctrinal and educational papers for the pages of the magazine, which will not only interest patrons of the schools, but will be of wide importance to the general public as well as the quorums of the priestho jd and the auxiliary organizations of the Church. Attention is called to the statement of the special features to be presented in volume fifteen. It will be seen that many important subjects will be considered, and matters taken up that will be of vital interest to the general reader. We hope, as in the past, to make tae Improvement Era the magazine of the home, in which both old and young members of the household will be interested, and in which the quorums, missions, organizations and educational institutions will be fully represented. In all things, however, the spirit of the gospel will continue to be the leading thread, holding all these institutions together, and the Era, as in the past, will breathe the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, seeking to present nothing but what is clean, pure, proper, and in harmony with his laws and commandments. This does not mean that modern thought and ideas which contribute to growth and progress will be neglected. We believe in

EDITOR'S TABLE. 1113 progress, and that all truth is embraced in the great gospel plan. We therefore seek after these things, and will con- tinue to present them in the light of the gospel, and with a view to the furtherance of the great cause of the Lord— the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith. The Work of the Lord in Europe. President Rudger Clawson, of the European mission, returned on the 3rd of August from a visit to the missions on the conti- nent. He reports that he found the elders and Saints well and happy, and that his tour was of an exceedingly pleasant character. He says: "We held numerous meetings. The conference and priesthood meetings at Zurich were largely attended and spir- ited, and will result in much good to the Swiss and German mis- sion—especially may this be said of the priesthood meetings, at which many vital topics bearing directly upon missionary work were discussed. What the conference at Zurich was to the Swiss and German mission, the conference at Rotterdam was to the Netherlands mission. It was equally as interesting, equally as important. Generally speaking, our young elders from Zion acquire the languages of these countries with facility, and many of them speak with the fluency of a native tongue. This is accomplished not only by study, but by faith and prayer. To me it is a testimony of the truth of the gospel, for the Lord does act- ually help them to speak with new tongues in a brief period of time. "Many obstacles appear in the path of the elders laboring throughout the European mission, but they usually rise above them, and snatch victory from what might otherwise prove to be a defeat. A wave of agitation recently swept over Great Britain, but nevertheless the good work went on. The elders stood undaunted. By their faith, courage and persistency, coupled with an implicit trust in God, success was attained. Honest souls have been reached— baptisms will follow. In Germany banish- ments are the order of the day. The elders are here today, so to speak, and are gone tomorrow. It is a discouraging situation, but by no means hopeless. It brings experience, develops char-

1114 IMPROVEMENT ERA. acter, enlarges the soul, and increases the efficiency of the elders to accomplish the will of God; for it would appear that in the face of almost insuperable difficulties, they are converting and baptiz- ing honest souls. Difficulties of another character arise in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and in South Africa. No matter, they will be met and conquered by the elders of Israel. There is a spirit that goes with the gospel that knows not discouragement, that will not submit to defeat. It is an unc mquerable spirit — even the spirit of Truth." RUDGER CLAWSON. Messages from the Missions. Elder Irvin Curtis, Boise, Idaho, July 19, reports that district as a splendid field for effective missionary work. The elders there are labor- ing with zeal and energy for the advancement of the gospel. Most of them are traveling in country districts without money, and are eminently successful in their efforts. Front row, left to right: W. H. Stoddard, (Presiding Elder) Weiser, Idaho; Heber Q. Hale, (Presiding Elder) Boise branch; Mrs. Heber Q. Hale, Melvin J. Ballard, (President of the Northwestern States Mission), Irvin Curtis, (President of the Idaho Con- ference). Second row: H. M. Pugmire, W. R. Tolman, F. D. Muir. W. J. James, L. B. Griddle, George M. Grant. Back row: J. M. Mahoney, Thomas Bullock, 0. L. Peterson, E. G Whitwond. w if ! - * * r r i i * T ¥ -| » 3 m w

EDITOR'S TABLE. 1115 Elder Emil C. Thedell, of Ogden, died in Upsala, Sweden, July 18, 1911. He arrived in Sweden September 16, 1910, and was assigned to work in the Upsala branch of the Stockholm conference. His health was very poor, and with the best attention possible it did not improve. He was released to come home but died as stated. Elder Joseph A. Christoff arson accompanied his remains to Utah, leaving July 21, and arriving in the early part of August. A wife and mother survive the deceased, who have the heartfelt sympathy of many friends in their loss. Elder James R. Smith, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reports that the elders of the East Iowa conference disposed of 195 Books of Mormon during July, 687 small books, 6,254 tracts, 418 Liahonas and visited 4,155 families, holding 173 meetings. Two people were baptized. Prospects were never brighter in that part of the country than at present. "The Book of Mormon is our slogan. We are all converted to it, for it is a new witness for God. It is a testimony in and of itself that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, which is our testimony to the world." The Saints in that part of the district are a good class of people, awake to their duties, and the majority of them obey the law of tithing, keep the Word of Wisdom, and set a proper example to the world. The names of the elders are, back row, left to right: Ira W. Hillyard, Smithfield, N. W. Murdock, H. F. Luke, Heber, E. S. Arbuckle, Bountiful, Utah; Guy L. Nielson, Cardston, Canada. Middle row: J. A. Gardner, Vernal, Utah; H. S. Standage, Mesa, Arizona; Ephraim White, (Conference President) Willard, I. Sander, Ogden, 0. P. Cloward, Payson, Utah. Front row: William E. Rhead, Plain City, Joseph A. Parker, Rexburg, and James R. Smith, Lyman, Idaho; Howard L. Randall, Snowflake, Arizona. The latter three elders are leaders of Companies B. A. C.

1116 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder L. C. Ball, Everett, Washington, August 8, states that the elders of the West Washington conference are meeting with good success. They meet many who have been reading the maga- zine articles, and who are desirous now of knowing ''Mormonism" from a "Mormon" standpoint. A large number of the peo- ple have visited "Mormon" communities, and this has been a great aid in helping the elders who have distributed many tracts and books and a number are read- ing them with a sincere desire to know the truth. The elders are J. W. Bodily and L. C. Ball. Elder T. R. Jones, Brasso, Hungary, July 26, writes that the work of the Lord is progressing in Hungary. The elders are making friends on every hand. The police and officers generally are friendly. They know every missionary personally, and are glad when they can help them. "One policeman said to the writer: 'We like you Americans, and the gospel of Christ is good for our people. They need it.' We are watched closely and our mode of life is having a good effect upon the people. In this city we have the only legal right to have meetings and preach, in the Swiss-German mission. Our friends, the ministers, are jealous of us, however, because they see where they are losing ground. In Hungary i Parley Petersen, Castle Dale, Utah; 2 D. A.Matthews, Fairv:ew, \rizona; 3 J. D. Barker, Ogden; i G-.S. Blamiers, Kaysville: 5 S. V. Spry; and 6,E. S.Wright, on a visit, Salt Lake City; 7 J. E. Hill, Logan; 8 President Thomas E. McKay, Ogden; 9 William E. Gailey, Kaysville; 10 T. R. Jones, Kanesville, Utah.