Messages from the Missions

480 IMPROVEMENT ERA "Brother," and the corresponding form "Sister," there is accorded suggestive emphasis of our common family membership in the household of the Lord. We are all brethren and sisters, not some of us masters and others underlings. Nevertheless those who are chosen, ordained, and sustained in offices of responsibility and authority are to be respected, and their official acts and counsels are to be heeded, in all things pertaining to their special ministry, for they act not of themselves but as representatives of the authority of God. The too frequent use of the name of Deity, even in our prayers, is to be avoided ; that Name is holy, and the Lord will not hold guiltless one who uses his name lightly or in vain. In the use of all names and titles pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, to the Church, and to members thereof, let due care and reverence be felt and shown. The article herein referred to has our fullest endorsement and sanction. We trust its teachings, counsels and injunctions will be heeded by every member of the Church- Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, First Presidency. Messages from the Missions Presii ent Theodore Tobiason, of the Swedish Mission, visited the conferences of Sweden at the close of last year and found them in good condition. He writes: "We have as fine a lot of elders in this mission as you will meet anywhere, — good, honest, clean, intelligent and energetic, all trying to do their best to enlighten the people and keep before them the principles of the gospel as revealed in our day. We meet with considerable oppo- A ^ sition. The ministers appear to be very jealous of us, and often call in the brethren before their councils and forbid them to preach or do missionary work in their various dioceses. We pay little attention to their orders, but go right ahead as if there were no ministers in the country. The first time the fine is very nominal. We pay this and proceed with our work as before. In the course of two or three weeks the elders are often called in again, and heavier fines imposed upon them, which often go unpaid. Sometimes they are called in the third time.

EDITORS' TABLE 481 They are then generally handed over to the civil authorities who are instructed to collect the fines. We have two cases like this on appeal to a higher court, but continue pur preaching as if nothing had happened. We are looking anxiously for a decision in our cases, that we may know what our rights are. If the courts go against us, we will appeal to the king, as we intend to go as far as possible in maintaining our rights. We have not come here to take our orders from the priests; the elders are working with a will, caring little for the ministers or what they say. We look for good results, for when opposition is brought to bear a great many honest in heart are always led to investigate the truths of the gospel, and finally to embrace it. We ought to have a few more elders here, say fifty or sixty. A great many places have not been visited for years, but we cannot visit them for lack of workers." Elder Daniel Young Spencer, who is at present filling a mission in Germany, having resided for the past five or six months at Konigsberg, writes: "One of the first things that forcibly strikes a young Latter-day Saint when he comes in contact with the outside world is the fact that he does not know enough of the gospel to protect his claim as a Latter-day Saint. He feels as helpless as a soldier without ammunition. And why should this condition exist? We have our Church schools and organizations where he can prepare himself, but as a rule he has no desire to do so. He has not taken the trouble to understand the vital importance of building up a gospel armor to protect himself against the world. "We, the younger generation, do not take advantage of our opportunities. Some of us are 'Mormons' for no other reason than that our parents- favor that faith. Shame on us for such a reason! It is a confession of negligence and sloth. It is time for an awakening among the young men — for a determination to find for ourselves just why we take the name of Latter-day 'Saints; to study those great principles which will enlighten us as to our purpose here on earth. "There is in fact something radically wrong with us. We dissipate our time and think too little of the future, and thus are in danger of gradually slipping away from a strict moral code. Let us take time to study ourselves; let us not evade anything, but if we are wrong, admit it, and get it out of our system. Talking will not accomplish anything— let's act. We shall certainly have the help of God in such an endeavor. ... . T , , "Something happened to me in this line the other morning. 1 had risen feeling rather out of sorts, and as I started out tracting, I felt rather rebellious that things didn't come easier; that the language didn't come quicker, that my work didn't show bigger results, all this and many other regrets. I was thinking it all over when suddenly the words of the song, "Count Your Many Blessings," ran through my mind Now that was only a little thing, but as T hummed it over it

482 IMPROVEMENT ERA made a most wonderful impression. As I walked on, I noticed the cripples, and little children with sore eyes, the homes that spoke of absolute poverty, and each step I felt a little more guilty that I had for a moment repined at my supposed trials, when all about me were things that were really hard to meet. To understand this you would have to get a glimpse of a typical Konigsberg street. In front of every door play five or ten children — very dirty, some deformed, others crippled. Many of them are half blind, and often you find crazy, or weak-minded ones — due to immorality of the parents. You see children of eight or ten years carrying babies, which are left in their charge. The women take part in all manual labor; if a building is torn down, you see women carrying bricks and loading the wagons. In the country you see scores of women in the fields, ploughing, hoeing and doing all kinds of heavy labor. This is because four millions of men serve in the armies of Europe, and some one has to do their work. I could go on indefinitely telling you incidents of unusual conditions, but these will serve to show you what an entirely different atmosphere exists. It makes me thankful every day that I am an American — and a 'Mormon.' " Elder L. Lamond Bunnell, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, November 28: "The work in the South Melbourne Branch of the Victoria conference is prosperous. The elders are sorry to lose Brother Charles H. Hyde who has ever been an energetic and untiring promulgator of the truth as well as a willing and wise advisor of the elders. Our new president, Elder William W. Taylor, will receive the hearty support of all connected with the cause of truth in this land. Elders, front to back: Russell Titenson, Bedford, Wyoming; L. Lamond Bunnell, Provo; William B. Moore, Ogden; Sylvan W. Clark, Lehi, Utah. Denver Conference, Western States Mission, December, 1913: Back row: S. C. Williams, Teasdale; F. H. Baugh, Jr., Logan; F. L. England, Tooele. Center:- D. L. Bowen, Tooele, Utah; Mabel L. Smith, Preston, Idaho; Mary H. Dalton, Manassa, Colo.; Tina M.

EDITOR'S' TABLE 483 Ericksen, Mt. Pleasant; Leslie W. Peirce, Brigham City; F. A. H. Behling, Ferron, Utah. Front: Lucille Squires, stenographer, Salt Lake City; M. W. Hansen, North Colorado Conference president, Mink Creek; Amos Keller, Denver Conference president, Mink Creek, Idaho; John L. Herrick, Mission president, Ogden; Fred Thunell, Mission secretary, Salt Lake City; Pearl Christensen, Mission clerk and stenographer, Richfield, Utah. Elder F. A. Berlin, Wellington, New Zealand, July 30: "We are busily engaged in tracting in the Wellington conference, and make many friends each day. A few days ago Elder Whitney was permitted to explain 'Mormonism' in one of the sectarian churches. All were pleased with the remarks he made, and as a result we obtained many friends. While the people are slow to embrace our faith, we believe many will soon come to a realization of the fact that 'Mormonism' is the truth. Elders, left to right: Parry Harrison, Pocatello, Idaho; F. A. Berlin, Huntsville, Utah; I. B. Whitney, Sanford, Colorado; W. J. Osborne, Escalante, Utah.

484 IMPROVEMENT ERA Elder Warren S. Tew, Birmingham, England, December 18: "We are working unitedly for the cause of truth throughout the midlands of Great Britain. The elders and saints are united and because of this we see daily fruits of our labors. Birmingham has been a center for anti-'Mormon' trouble and persecution in-general, and much of this has been allayed during the past year, and we hold the respect of all who will give us a listening ear. At our last conference our new chapel was filled to its capacity. Elders of the Birmingham conference, left to right, back row: Harold Pardoe, Bountiful; James M. Jones, Peterson, Utah; Luther H. Haderlie, Freedom, Wyo.; Ferry J. Faux, Moroni; Lyman R. Sevy, Salt Lake City; Wm. S. Cornick, Salt Lake City; Clyde A. Russell, Eureka; George C. Loveridge, Lehi; David H. Cannon, Salt Lake City. Second row: Andrew Wilson, Ogden; John A. Maynes, Salt Lake City; Allen C. Mortensen, Ephraim ; E. Clifford Samuels, Vernal; Samuel J. Russon, Lehi; Leland F. Pilkington, Smithfield, Utah; George H. Bruerton, Raymond, Canada. Third row: Mrs. John A. Maynes, Salt Lake City; Hyrum M. Smith, President European Mission, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Warren S. Tew, Mapleton; Dorothy Maynes, Salt Lake City; Warren S. Tew, Mapleton; Joseph B. White, Paradise; George W. Lunt, Nephi, Utah. Bottom row: J. Fred Swinger, Baker City, Oregon; Harry V. Graham, Teton, Idaho; Wm. H. Woodyatt, Willard, Utah; Joseph H. Watts, Smithfield; J. Wallace Clegg, Vineyard, Utah,