--- 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: 17 number: 3 published: 1914-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"New Mission Presidents,\" *Improvement Era* 17, no. 3 (January 1914): 249–252." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1703unse 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: improvementera1703unse start_page: 249 end_page: 252 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1703unse publication_year: 1914 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 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # New Mission Presidents THE NAVAJO AND MOQUI MISSION 249 If the breaking up of the mission was a mistake, I am the man to blame for it, but I have yet to learn of a single instance where time did not vindicate the wisdom of President Young's counsels. For many years I was in close touch with the Indian missionaries of southern Utah. I knew their trials and sacrifices ; Jacob Hamblin's little book perpetuates his memory, and I am glad of it. Equally worthy of remembrance are the names of Ira Hatch, Andrew S. Gibbons, Thales Haskell, W. B. Maxwell, John L. Blythe, Jehiel McConnell and George A. Adair. All have passed to the great beyond, and their names are seldom heard, but they were loyal to the cause, to their people, and to every call of duty, as God gave them light to see their duty. As pioneers and Indian scouts they had no superiors, and their names should live forever in the histories of the Latter-day Saints. GRAYSON, UTAH New Mission Presidents Elder Walter P. Monson, recently appointed to succeeded the late Elder Ben E. Rich as president of the Eastern States Mission, is the son of C. H. and Ellen Monson. He was born, June 30, 1875, at Richmond, Utah; baptized, July 5, 1883, and ordained a deacon when fourteen years of age. At that time he was called on a mission to assist with the janitor work of the ward meetinghouse, which he tilled faithfully and well, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Until he was twentytwo years of age, he worked with his father at his lumber yards and planing mills at Richmond, Utah, and Franklin, Ida. He married Leona S. Parkinson, November 6, 1895. They have a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. He has filled several missions, the first being in 1898, to the Northwestern States. During that summer he was called to be Secretary of the Oregon conference and shortly after presided at Portland, Oregon, over the newly made conference. In December, 1899, he was called as counselor to the president of the mis- 250 IMPROVEMENT ERA sion, holding that position until released, February 9, 1900. Returning, he launched out in the lumber business for himself, in July, 1900, succeeding admirably until, in 1909, he was called to England on another mission. He was assigned there to labor in the London Conference, and after five weeks was called by President Charles W. Penrose to take charge of Earlscourt booth. During the four months of time spent here in giving out information and tracts and selling books he met representatives of 252 different religious denominations with whom he discussed the gospel in an informal manner, bearing testimony also to peoples of forty-two different nations. This venture was the means of distributing over 58,000 tracts and selling 5,888 books. The booth was open for one hundred days. In March, 1910, he was chosen president of the London Conference, which position he held until released, in April, 1911. During this time he met that valiant friend of peace and liberty, Mr. W. T. Stead who later fought the Latter-day Saints' battles valiantly to the discomfiture of his countrymen. Elder Monson had the distinguished honor of dining at Mr. Stead's home and forming a most intimate and affectionate acquaintance with this great man. Mr. Monson has been interested in politics, and in the civic life of the communities in which he has resided. He has served as county commissioner, city councilman, and president of a commercial club, and has taken a broad-minded view of the problems of life. He has been a friend of the poor, and has ever been willing to administer comfort to the sick. He has served as counselor in two bishoprics, and the young men of the wards in which he resided always had a friend in him. Lately he has served as supervisor of the Sunday School parents' classes in the Weber stake. In taking up his new duties as president of the Eastern States Mission, he leaves a lucrative position as manager of the Eccles Lumber Company, where he has served two and one-half years. He is a man of strong emotion, kind disposition, and fearless in upholding the truth, being greatly admired by both friends and enemies alike. Elder LeGrande Richards, recently appointed to preside o.^r the Netherlands Missoin, is a son of Elder George F. Richarde, a member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Alice A. R. Richards. LeGrande was born in Farmington, Utah, February 6, 1886. In 1888, he moved with his father's family to Tooele, Utah, where he graduated from the district school and later took a business course at the L. D. S. Business College, Salt Lake City. For some time he was associated with his father in the implement and lumber business at Tooele, and was later in ihe employ of the Consolidated Wagon & Machine Company, Salt Lake City, as stenographer and bookkeeper. In this position he was occupied when he received his first call for a mission to the Netherlands, which he promptly answered, and labored in that mission for nearly three years. He left home, April 17, 1905, and returned February 12, 1908. Elder Richards has creditably filled sev- NEW MISSION PRESIDENTS. 251 eral religious positions, having been active as deacon, teacher priest elder and seventy. He has also rendered service as ward teacher' ward clerk, and in the superintendency of the Sunday schools and the Y. M. M. I. A., in all of which callings, he was an enthusiastic and earnest worker. During his former mission, Elder Richards acquired a ready use of the Dutch language. As a result of his love for the Dutch people and his zealous efforts as a missionary, he endeared himself to that people, and was the means, in the hands of the Lord ot bringing a number into the gospel fold. Since then he has assisted LEGRANDE RICHARDS AND FAMILY a number to emigrate to this country, and has aided them here in securing employment, and in counseling and encouraging •them in their trials and afflictions. Elder Richards, with his family, wife and three children, left Salt Lake City, for his new field of activity on November 3, 1913. The Dutch people both in the Netherlands and in Utah are greatly pleased with his appointment, recognizing his ability and character, and it is confidently believed he will fill a successful term as mission president. The Era joins with his many friends in wishing that our Heavenly Father's choicest blessings may attend him, his family, and his ministry. Elder Nicholas Groesbeck Smith, who has been appointed to preside over the South African Mission, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, 252 IMPROVEMENT ERA January 20, 1881. He is the son of the late President John Henry Smith and Josephine Groesbeck Smith. He left Utah for his field of labor on the 17th of September last. In 1887, he removed with the family to Snowflake, Arizona, and the following year, moved again to Manassa, Colorado. In this latter place he spent his boyhood days in the fertile San Luis Valley, of the Sangre de Christo, San Juan and Culebra mountains. In 1896, he returned to Salt Lake City, where he attended the high school until 1902. During the years 1899, 1900-1, he played football on the "All-Star" team, and in 1902, graduated as president of his class. After graduation he went on a mission to the Netherlands, where he labored in the Groningen, and in the Amsterdam conferences. He was a regular attendant at Sunday school, and has always been active in Church affairs. At the time of his call to the South African Mission, he was a member of the Sunday school Board of Davis stake. Returning to Salt Lake City, in 1905, he went into business for himself, and in 1909, moved to Farmington, where he took charge of a local telephone company's business in Davis county. He remained there up to the time of his call to South Africa. He served in civil capacity as justice of the peace of Farmington. He is accompanied on his mission by his wife and three sons. His wife is Florence Gay, of Ogden, whom he married in 1906. Faithful and competent, he goes to his responsible calling with every prospect of success in his work, and advantage to the cause of the Lord. • NICHOLAS GROESBECK SMITH Elder William W. Taylor, who succeeded Elder Chas. H. Hyde, who recently returned home, as president of the Australian mission, was born in Provo, December 9, 1883. He is the son of Wm. Joseph Taylor and Abby Jane Scott. A few years ago the family moved to Lake View, near Provo, where they now live. Elder Taylor is a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-third quorum of Seventy, and received his call to Australia early in 1912, being set apart by Elder Rulon S. Wells, June 5 of that year. On arriving at Sydney he