Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions Elder R. S. Dalley, writing from Ironton, Missouri. March 4. states that the people in southeast Missouri are becoming more friendly to "Mormonism." They find churches open to elders in towns where heretofore the people have absolutely refused them admission. The efforts extended in times past are bearing fruit in the hearts of the people, and realizing this fact, the present laborers are putting forth their greatest efforts in the promulgation of the gospel. The elders are, reading from left to right: R. S. Dalley, Driggs, Idaho; Homer Taylor, Richfield, Utah; James B. Thomas, Logan, and W. Charles Garner, Roy, Utah. N. K. Leavitt, president of the Oklahoma conference, McAlester, writes that that district is prospering, considering the vast field and

652 IMPROVEMENT ERA the limited number of elders — fifteen. The weather has been very cold and stormy, during the winter months, so most of them have been in the larger cities and have there met with good success. "The state is in a better condition now to receive the elders and their message than ever before. The Lord is showing mercy to many'honest souls by granting them the power of repentance. The old prejudice is dying away, and particularly among the younger people who are nothing like as biased as their parents." Elders: M. J. Richardson, Francis, Utah; N. K. Leavitt, Bunkerville, Nev. ; Grant A. Black, Kirtland, N. M.; H. D. Bassett, Lovell, Wyo. Missionaries of the Denver conference are, top row, left to right: Aaron Densley, J. F. Christensen, Charles Hogge; middle row: W. F. Brower, Charles A. Brunson, Lynn R. Fairbanks, Orson P. Christen- ) f O f ^A ■Hn^ I * JBHh • " c jB I: mfc& ■ • Bv ^^ sen, Fred L. England; bottom row: Lorin Peck (mission secretary), Dagmar Mollerup, Cora Hansen, John L. Herrick (mission president), Mrs. John L. Herrick, Ethel M. Call, and Wilford W. Hymas (conference president). A grand concert was given Saturday, February 13, 1912, by the North London choir of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Deseret, High Road, South Tottenham, London, Leo M. Coombs, director. Stevens' and Gounod's compositions were prevalent. A choir of over fifty members gave selections, calling forth abundant applause from a house of over four hundred persons, the "Soldiers' Chorus," in Faust, and the "Song of the Redeemed," being the most prominent. Miss Winnifred Beresford, Leo M. Coombs,

EDITOR'S TABLE 653 Madam Bertha Blankhurst, E. G. Chamberlain, R. A. Moss, Miss Lois Smith, Miss Annie Williamson, James B. Walkley, Roy Bridgman I S. McCann, Henry L. Jensen, and Everard L. McMunrin, all took part in special exercises with the choir. An invitation was given to all to attend the regular meetings of the Saints to investigate "Mormonism," and to hear it first-hand from those who are most able to give authoritative answers to questions concerning this much-misrepresented people. A vast amount of good will doubtless result from such entertainments. Elder Carl E. Nielsen, writing from Copenhagen, Denmark, March 7, says: "This picture represnts six elders laboring in Denmark, all of whom are from Sanpete stake, and of which fact we arc- very proud, not only because the Lord has given us homes in the beautiful Sanpete valley, but because our stake is interested in proclaiming the gospel of truth among the people of a nation from which so many of the early settlers of Utah have come. The elders enjoy their labors and are satisfied in their work. We are anxious to let the brethren and sisters in Utah and elsewhere know that South Sanpete is doing what it can to promulgate the gospel." Left to right, back row: James A. Christensen, Carl E. Neilsen; front, sitting: Henry Christiansen, Aaron P. Christiansen, Wm. Henry Petersen, Andrew C. Anderson. President Ray S. Kent, of the Rhode Island Conference, reorganized by President Ben E. Rich, March 1, 1909, says that baptisms for the first two years were only five in number. These were converted by the labor of an average of thirteen elders, working two years. To convert these people, the cost reaches nearly $9,000, in actual expenditure, not to mention the loss of the elders' wages, which would amount to another $9,000. Biu %ve cannot reckon God's work in dollars and cents. The spiritual uplift, the thousands of comforting testimonies, and the gospel seeds planted in good ground, are to be considered of first value. During 1911, an effective work was carried on by Presidents John T. Barrett, Joseph Richardson, Ray S. Kent, and eleven elders working in the conference. They distributed 169 Books of Mormon, 3,090 small books, 51,335 tracts; visited 25,387 families; spent

654 IMPROVEMENT ERA 4,050 hours in trading; held 250 meetings; blessed three children; and baptized fifteen people. President Ben E. Rich, on a recent visit there, held two spirited public meetings, at which many strangers were present, and heard the gospel for the first time. "One gentleman, who had visited our meetings only once before, told me that he had prayed for this doctrine for twelve years, and thanked God that he had at last heard it. We have a nice branch of fifteen Saints in New Haven, most of them new in the field, and all trying to do their part. Our Providence branch is prospering." The names of the elders and lady missionaries are: First row, left to right: Ambrose B. Kessler r-- — ■ , .. ,;,-'»■ . -■■ - - >,.,.i ,,,.„ . ■ ■ ' • *» J^ "^ W IF • r^ 1 a 'Bgl^Sr ^4 ^H ' !«, J kmW f % ff - 1 ^ ^^ /^v m J35^^ .. .' .*Land wife, Beaver City; Mission President Ben E. Rich; Conference President Ray S. Kent and wife, Lewiston, Utah. Second row: Louis E. Langie, Pawtucket (local elder); Albert E. Sargent, Providence, R. I., (local elder); Heber C. Tippetts, Lovell, Wyoming; John H. Bridge, Magrath, Canada; Richard L. Pilling, Cardston, Canada; George W. Sellers, Manassa, Colorado; Thomas E. Moore, Pawtucket, R. I., (local elder). Back row: Edward H. Kemp, Lewiston, Utah; Guy C. Fullmer, Blackfoot, Idaho; Adelbert H. Henderson, Clifton, Idaho; Edwin N. Allred, Afton, Wyoming.