Messages from the Missions

454 IMPROVEMENT ERA

ensues, an urgent message summoning him to the bedside of his dying father. The greater part of a year passes, and he again sets face toward the Rocky Mountains, seeking not rest and recreation, as before, but bent upon seeing once more the lady of his love. He is now alone in the world, so far as kindred are concerned, both his parents having passed away. Through association with his Western friends, his attention has been drawn to the teachings of the modern Prophet, and he is now a thorough convert to the religion of Jesus Christ. Having found the priceless treasure of Eternal Truth, he is anxious to share his good fortune with the one so dear to him. But on arriving amid the scenes where he last beheld her, he is disappointed to learn that she no longer dwells there. The family, becoming suddenly rich, have taken up their abode in a distant city, where she now reigns, a social queen, in the midst of wealth and splendor. He follows her and pleads his cause, but unsuccessfully; and in an extended dialogue the — pros and cons of the great problem dividing them the problem of atheism — verses religion are set forth. So wide is the gulf between them, that they — part; he to enlist for the war then breaking out the war with Spain; she to resume her fashionable career, of which, however, she soon sickens and returns to her western home. "She now begins to love, and resolves to write to her absent hero, who is winning laurels in the Philippines. But the resolution is no sooner formed than she is stricken down with a fatal illness. Wasting away until the veil is thin between her and the spirit world, she has a vision in which she converses with the Savior, and is melted into complete contrition, craving and receiving the divine pardon. Her lover returns, disconsolate; she sends for him, and he hastens to her side. Avowing her faith to be the same as his, she confesses her love, and with her dying breath pledges an eternal union with him in the great hereafter."

To all who have read Bishop Whitney's writings, it is sufficient to say that this poem stands very high, if not first, among the numerous and striking productions of his facile pen. In many respects it is of more human interest than any he has before written, from the fact that it is in story form and treats of topics of present importance to the young people. We trust that the work will soon be published and receive the large circulation that it certainly deserves among the intelligent readers of the v Westland.

Messages from the Missions

The Power of God Manifested

Dan M. Dalton and William P. Meldrum, Wichita, Kansas, "In Wichita in the St. Johns conference, we have a Sunday school and preaching service, held each Sunday. Many friends and investigators attend as well as the regular members. Recently we held a number of meetings and baptized four members. Elder J. Smith Gibbons officiated. As he

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came out of the water his face shone with light and continued to shine through our sacrament and testimony meeting. The power of God has also been manifest through the anointing of oil and the laying on of hands. We have been very successful with our street meetings, which have been well attended. Hundreds have crowded to hear us proclaim the wonderful truths of the gospel. At times we have bee* unable to supply the large crowds with tracts and pamphlets. We preach the Book of Mormon and testify of the divine mission of Joseph Smith the prophet, who restored it. People crowd about us at the close of meeting to get our literature. The elders laboring here are J. Smith Gibbons, St. Johns, Arizona; William Parley Meldrum, Raymond, Canada; and Dan M. Dalton, Manassa, Colorado. A Trip Without Purse or Scrip In the great missionary work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints now in progress among the nations of the earth, proclaiming a restoration of the gospel of Christ to the earth to prepare the world for the Millennial reign of our Savior, the words of Christ as recorded by Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come," are rapidly being fulfilled. In the Branch of the Church established at Bathurst, 150 miles inland from Sydney, great opportunities are afforded the elders in going into the country districts to fulfil the words quoted by Matthew. Elder Merrill and myself have just returned from a very profitable trip in the Blue Mountain districts, traveling as the apostles of old "two and two," visiting all people, depending upon their hospitality through the Spirit of the Lord, to preach the "Glad Tidings of Great Joy." We traveled from Bathurst through the towns of Wambool, O'Connell, Oberon, and Edith, holding many meetings and finding the people very hospitable and eager to learn of the message of love. From Edith we visited the world famous Jeuolan caves, which offer an attraction of ages of the work of nature, and the underground river, forming beautiful caves of crystal formations, to attract thousands of tourists annually, and here we Left: Carl G. Merrill, Thatcher, Ariz.; right, made friends, many of James P. Clayton, Provo, Utah whom were interested in our work. In our travels we became acquainted with Mr. D. S. Todd of Essington,

456 IMPROVEMENT ERA

N. S. W., whose wife Letitia Connelly Todd, now deceased, and her sister Mary D. Connelly Brooks, are first cousins to Elizabeth Victoria Steele, the first white child born in the Salt Lake Valley, July, 1847. The following is from a letter of John Campbell Steele to Mrs. Todd, dated Toquerville, Utah, Aug. 2, 1897: "I have been a minister of the gospel of Jesus for 55 years and preached the same in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, and have convinced many of the error of their ways." * * *

"I have just returned from a long journey to Salt Lake, 300 miles distant, where we as a state were celebrating the semi-centennial of our arrival in these valleys. I was one of the first pioneers and was presented with a badge and gold medal; highest honors were paid to all old pioneers. My daughter Elizabeth was honored with a badge and medal as the first white child born in these valleys 1,000 miles from civilization." Mr. Todd is an ardent student of the Improvement Era, Deseret News, Liahona, and other papers giving information on Utah and the work of the Latter-day Saints and from this basis gives many lectures, which are instrumental in destroying the prejudice existing against our work. At Wiseman's Creek, Mr. Todd had announced a lecture on Utah and "Mormonism" in the Town Hall. We were privileged to speak to a large audience upon the great work of the latter days. ^2J From here we traveled through Essington, Rockley, Georges Plains, B Perthville, holding many meetings and distributing m. 1 IHM^ fl literature among many He p 8 people; from here we returned to Bathurst, having covered over two hundred miles; held a meeting and left for Orange, some sixty miles ft a WM west, to open a branch of the Church and continue Mm- I the good work among these people. Although in the world the indifference to matters of religion is made manifest everywhere, we feel the work Left: Letitia Connelly Todd, died July 29, 1913; of the Lord is progressright, Mary D. Connelly Brooks ing. We gain much good from reading the Era, and enjoy reading of the missionary labors in other parts of the world, and it does seem as if the — time is nigh at hand for the fulfilment of Matthew 24:14. James P. Clayton, Presiding Elder, Bathurst and Orange Branches, N. S. Wales, Australia.

A Thriving Branch in Iowa Following is the photo of the Tri-city branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Davenport, Iowa, East Iowa conference, including Superintendent of the Sunday School, Ira J. McKell, Spanish Fork, Utah Assistant Jacob Scholtse, Rock Island; Second Assistant Harvey Millman, Davenport, Iowa; Lillian Griffin, Newton; Florence Child, Roy; Conference Persident John Olsen, Logan, Utah; Ralph W. Reed, Sanford, Colorado; Retiring Conference President 0. W. Ursenbach, Lethbridge, Canada; T. C.

EDITORS' TABLE 457

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f [$> #;' r * ^* nt 3 Jeppson, Archer, Idaho. "We feel that much good is being accomplished by the co-operation of the Utah branch who are here studying. Among them are eight missionaries who have filled honorable missions. They take an active part in various organizations of the Church and are valuable assets in helping spread the glad tidings of salvation. The local Saints are exceptionally strong in the faith and bear testimony to the divinity of the great latter-day work, and render every assistance to the elders both tem- — poral and spiritual." John Olsen, President East Iowa conference.

The "Era" an Efficient Missionary Eben J. Robinson, president of the Leeds Conference, Bradford, England, writes: "The elders in this conference acknowledge receipt of the Era with thanks. Its information is always passed along, and thus it becomes an efficient help in spreading and explaining the gospel."

The "Era" as a Text Book Elder J. Milton Olsen, Thames,. New Zealand: "The Improvement Era is indeed one of our very best friends. We use it in teaching Maori boys and girls in two different towns twice a week, and also use it in teaching the boys and girls at Thames. We have in our Sunday school at Thames a regular attendance of 58 boys and girls all interested in the word of the Lord."

Big Book of Mormon Sales Waldo W. Lyman, conference president of the South West Virginia conference, of the Eastern States Mission, writes from Charleston, West Virginia, December 26: "The year 1916 has been the banner year for this conference. The elders have labored in the country every month this year,

438 IMPROVEMENT ERA irrespective of snow or inclement weather. Our Book of Mormon sales have increased over 400 per cent. "We have held one thousand meetings. Elders left to right, back row: G. W. Guthrie, L. H. Woolf, J. E. Horton, W. O. Andrus, R. E. Turner; middle row: Mabel Brinkerhoff, Conference

President W. W. Lyman, Mission President W. P. Monson, F. R. Smith. Emma Jacobsen; front row: A. L. Empey, L. E. Holladay, C. J. Call, A. J. Adams and A. A. Hobbs."

Error in Dates In an article entitled, "Salvation for the Dead," by Joseph F. Smith, Jr., of the Council of the Twelve, on page 198 of the January tra, 1917, through a misquotation there is an error in the date in which the ordinance of bap- — tism for the dead is said to have been resumed, November 3, 1841, when it should have been November 21, 1841, in the font which was dedicated for that purpose on the 8th of November, 1841. Those who are interested in this historical matter should take notice of the error, and see that the right date is impressed upon the mind of the student.

Stray Thoughts Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones. C. C. Colton.

He who will not accept orders has no right to give them; he who will not serve has no right to command; he who can not keep silence has no right to speak. Hubbard.

There never was a right endeavor but it succeeded. Emerson. When a man is no longer anxious to do better than well, he is done for. Haydon. In the long run a man becomes what he purposes, and gains for himself vhat he really desires. Mabie.