--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 4 published: 1912-02 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* 15, no. 4 (February 1912): 374–375.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1504unse 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: improvementera1504unse start_page: 374 end_page: 375 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1504unse publication_year: 1912 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 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions Messages from the Missions An elder traveling in England writes, under date of November 22, of an amusing incident which occurred while he was traveling from Bristol to Liverpool. He says: "I stepped into a railroad compartment occupied by a woman of middle age, neatly dressed, and intelligent, — and her three children a boy and two girls, the youngest being five years old. I said to her: 'These are beautiful children. Are they all you have?' She answered: "Yes, and they are quite sufficient in number,' giving me the impression that she rather regarded them as a burden, and yet she appeared to be quite watchful over them as we journeyed along. Finally she reached for a basket from among her other luggage, for the purpose, as I supposed, of giving her children some lunch. When she opened it, a great Persian torn cat popped EDITOR'S TABLE into view. The animal completely filled the basket. The woman immediately reached for him, and hugging him 1o her heart, fondled and kissed him, with every manifestation of genuine pleasure and satisfaction. I was at first startled, and was then left to wonder whether the woman's love was going out to the three beautiful children, or the beautiful torn cat. It appeared for the time that the torn cat had the decided advantage, but I am not quite sure, at this writing, but that the advantage was permanent. Dogs and cats seem to have the right of way in this country, as in pretty much every country, except in Zion, among the Saints. The Lord forbid the day to come when these animals shall take the place of children in the midst of his people." Elders H. C. Tippetts and John H. Bridge, writing from East Providence, R. I., December 9, state that the greater part of thenwork for the past six months has been done in the state of Connecticut, their headquarters being now at New Haven. July, August and September were principally spent in country work.They met with good success, and distributed much literature, and made many friends. Three baptisms were performed in November, and several applications were on hand for December. The headquarters of the conference has again removed to Providence, where there is a nice branch, with regular weekly sacrament meetings and Sunday school, ail well-attended by Saints and investigators. They have elders in Pawtucket. Providence and East Providence, and there is good reason for hope for a bright future for the Rhodt Island conference. Jasper H. Robertson. Fremont, Nebraska, writes. December 20, for stating that the elders in his field have spledind opportunities explaining the gospel to the people. They obtained permission to use the Reorganite Church at Blair, where they held some very successful meetings. President W. W. Williams of Omaha, with Elder Ira Moore, were present with them and assisted in the services. The work of the Lord is progressing very nicely in this part of the state. The elders, left to right, top row, are: William P. D. Thorn Burton, Sandy. Utah; W. R. Sessions. Auburn. Wyo.; George ton, Neeley, Idaho; Jasper H. Robertson, Fountain Green, I Idaho. bottom row: Mrs. and President W. W. Williams, Samaria.