Messages from the Missions

370 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Parents should see that the treatment is begun early enough so that, like the horse, the boy shall not "talk back."

Emmeline B. Wells

One of the sweet and leading women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is President Emmeline B. Wells, — of the Relief Society, "Aunt Em" as the great "Mormon" people are delighted to call her. She has been a familiar figure in the community for many years, and few among old or young have not in some way or other become acquainted with her charming personality. On the 28th of February is her 89th anniversary. Loving remembrances of her character, literary work, and labors among the Relief Society members of the Church, will come to her from every village in the whole region wherever the Church is organized. The Era joins in congratulations, and in appreciation of her splendid achievements in literature and in relief work, and in praise of her kindness to the poor and afflicted, and the cheer that has radiated from her optimistic life, so full of service to all. She has earned the love, respect and honor of the whole community of Latter-day Saints, without exception, a condition that few people have realized.

Messages from the Missions

An Ideal Mission "The call to labor in the mission field," writes Lloyd 0. Ivie, Kofu, Japan, "is to men full of the Holy Ghost, without this no one can effectively act, without it no good can be done, — no, none at all. Men have gone — without friends, without raiment, without money, but if without the Holy Ghost, they have gone to their sorrow, and to the Church's injury. While crying to the sinner, 'make good, make good,' there is to be remembered a higher call to those who have kept the faith; remember the joy, the light that comes from never 'making bad.' It is just as necessary to keep the good from 'making bad,' as it is to have the bad make good. The power of — the Holy Spirit, which leads to all things good, is to be sought by all, and Zion must lead. Else there is no Zion. They of all others must be filled — with this Spirit. No man can go out from Zion to get it, goodness! he — isn't going to get anything, he is going to give, to bestow, to sacrifice his — all for the sake of the people among whom he is sent. Get the Spirit of — God -this and this only will stand you up facing an ideal mission." Making Friends Through Social Work Elders M. K. Shaffer, W. R. Beckstead and J. Milton Olsen, conference president and elders in the Thames, New Zealand conference, write: "We read the Era with great interest and appreciate it very much. It not only gives us food for thought but keeps us in touch with the quorum work of

EDITORS' TABLE 371

the Priesthood. Many of its writers are our old school friends. It is an efficient missionary in and of itself. In placing the gospel before investigators we find that the Improvement Era fills the office of an Elias and stimulates the desire to read our other literature. We cannot meet the demands for it with the few copies we receive. We have an average attendance at our Sunday School of thirty-five, and at our sacrament meetings, twentyfive. Our Mutual is thriving under the leadership of W. R. Beckstead. Already we have an increased attendance from eleven to thirty-two compared with last year. Elder Beckstead is introducing dialogues and light plays to create an interest among the young people, with good results. We have also introduced social functions which enable us to meet and interest new friends. While these things do not make converts, they do make friends and before we can make converts we must have friends. The Mutual is a good way to keep in touch with the people. We appreciate the work you are doing in helping to build the character of the youth of Zion through the columns of the Era'.

Prejudice Dying Out

Elders Albert Jarvis and George L. Hart write from Columbia, South Carolina: "This branch is in a thriving condition with a completely organized Sunday school well attended with Saints and investigators. We have also a splendid organization of the Relief Society, the members of which are doing excellent work. We find many honest people in this city of fifty thousand inhabitants, and in trading we find a few who are willing to listen to the gospel message. The prejudice that once prevailed is fast dying out. We are looking forward to the time when we can have a church here and see this branch one of the best in the mission. We rent a large hall on the main street where we hold regular Sunday services and on occasions it is filled to its capacity with eager listeners. Recently nine people were baptized by Elder George L. Hart. We have prospects for more converts in the near future. Elders, left to right: Albert Jarvis, St. Johns, Arizona; George L. Hart, Menan, Idaho; C. R. Thorne, Pleasant Grove; sitting, G. G. Smith, Salt Lake City,