Messages from the Missions

EDITORS' TABLE 743 day were deaf to the voice of truth, and through their diseased state of mind and heart, sought after signs and preferred empty fable to the message of salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the Divinely ordained panacea for the ills that afflict humanity, and preeminently so for the dread affliction of sexual sin. Note the teachings of the Master while He ministered among men in the flesh — they were pri- marily directed to individual probity and rectitude of life. The letter of the Mosaic law was superseded by the spirit of personal devotion to the right. "Ye have heard," said He, "that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:27,28). The sin itself may spring from the sensual thought, the lustful glance; just as murder is often the fruitage of hatred or covetousness. We accept without reservation or qualification the affirma- tion of Deity through an ancient Nephite prophet: "For J, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whore- doms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts." We hold that sexual sin is second only to the shedding of innocent blood in the categorv of personal crimes; and that the adulterer shall have no part in the exaltation of the blessed. We proclaim as the word of the Lord : "Thou shalt not commit adultery." "He that looketh on a woman to lust after her. or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith." Messages from the Missions The Work in Phoenix Arthur W. Grix, writing from Phoenix, Arizona, encloses a portrait of th« elders and lady missionaries laboring in Phoenix, Ray and Hayden, Arizona; left to right, back row: Thursa Ellsworth. James E. Hamilton, Nel- lie Ellsworth; front row: Leeman A. Jorgensen, Byron L. Western, Arthur W Grix and William A. Taylor. Elders Western and Jorgensen, labor- ing in Rav and Havden, have accomplished some splendid work, and have disposed of many books in the past three months. They have thus secured a goodly number of investigators; and Elder Grix and the others have a- bored in and around Phoenix and have distributed many tracts and books and made many friends for the cause of truth. Now that the warm weather is here, we are able to hold some very successful street meetings. Ine people treat us better than in any other part of this mission held, ihey

live among our members and know how they conduct their lives. The two lady missionaries are from Chandler, Arizona, and have worked in dif- ferent fields. They received peremission from President Robinson, and are working with us for a few weeks, spreading the word of the Lord." Great Success with Street Meetings G. J. Thurman, writing from Palmerston, New Zealand, February 23: "The photo herewith is of the elders laboring in the Manhattan confer- ence, New Zealand, left to right: G. J. Thurman, Provo, conference presi- dent European work; J. R. Russon, conference president Maori work, Lehi; J. M. Roundy, Provo; L. O. Thomas, Salt Lake City; Leonard Winegar, Woods Cross. The conference named extends over three hundred miles of territory covered by the Maori elders on bikes and on horseback. There are two hundred Saints or more who are all steadfast to the faith. They work in conjunction with the elders for the spread of the truth. The

EDITORS' TABLE 745 work among the European population is also very encouraging, although there is a great religious indifference shown by the people. We are hav- ing great success with street meetings which are held regularly, but there is marked opposition by other Christian churches. The Era comes to us as a great friend and is enjoyed by elders, Saints and investigators." Tall and Successful lit a ■» These elders, laboring in the North West Virginia conference, are all over six feet in height. It is re- ported of them that they are energetic and successful in their work, both in trading and in making friends for the cause they represent. Their names, from left to right, are: L. C. Lam- oreaux, Twin Falls, Ida.; Glen W. Steed, Clearfield; George C. Bitter, Collinston, and John L. Siddoway, Vernal, Utah. Statistics of the British Mission In the Millennial Star for March 1, appears the statistical report of the British Mission for the year end- ing December 25, 1916. There are thirteen conferences included; in these conferences there are sixty eld- ers and one lady missionary; there are 5,887 members, all told, not in- cluding 1,336 children under eight years of age, making a total number of souls in the British mission of 7,223. There have been 297 baptisms during the year. A Lamanite Sister Becomes Active in Spreading the Gospel Elder E. Leslie Young, writing from Portland, Ore., Northwestern States Mission, says: "On Tuesday, March 28, while tracting from door to door in the little city of Wanatchie, Washington, I called at the home of a Limanite woman who invited me to come in. I told her of the message which I had to deliver, and a long conversation followed. I spoke of the Book of Mormon as a history of her people, bearing a convincing testimony to its truthfulness. After a two hours' discussion of the principles of the gospel, I promised her that if she would ask the Lord with a prayerful heart, she might know for herself whether the book was true or not. I pointed out the promise in Moroni 10:4, 5, in which the Lord makes certain promises to those who read the Book of Mormon. That night before re- tiring she prayed earnestly to God to make it known to her if the Book were really true. In reply she had a vision in which she was shown that the Book and gospel as taught by me were true. She also saw a vision of herself being baptized with a number of people standing about. On April 12, I baptized her, and since that time she has borne testimony to her friends, and has become very active in spreading the gospel, especially among her own people. Several have investigated on her account, and one is ready for baptism. Since her baptism, her health is very much improved, and this has strengthened her testimony. As a result of her labors and

746 IMPROVEMENT ERA the labors of the missionaries here, the gospel is rapidly gaining favor among our Lamanite brethren and sisters. Elder Heber W. Green and I, who labor in this part of the country, hope to be able to baptize many into the fold of Christ in the near future. New "Mormon" Chapel in Samoa Elders of the Upolu and Savaii conferences of the Samoan mission held April 6, 7 and 8, 1917. Left to right, front row: C. W. Smedley, Sister C. W. Sedley, Sister A. Twitchell, A. Twitchell; second row: H. A. Dean, H. A. Jensen, incoming Savaii Conference President W. M. Mason, retiring Savaii Conference President E. Wright, Mission President W. O. Lee, Upolu Conference President R. G. Wood, W. T. Mackey, V. G. Woolley; back row: H. O. Anderson, A. D. Madsen, L. Twitchell, C. Nuttall, G. H. Hale, J. P. Murdock, C. J. Sharp, H. W. Anderson, C. F. Farren. This was the first time the elders of both conferences had been together for over a year. It was President Wright's desire to have all the missionaries of the Samoan Top: New L. D. S. Chapel at Sauniatu, Samoa. Bottom: Elders of the Upolu and Savaii Conferences, Samoan Mission Mission assemble for the dedication of our beautiful new chapel at Sauniatu, which took place on Friday, April 6, but owing to an epidemic of measles on the island of Upolu, the Tutuila elders were unable to come over. We

EDITORS' TABLE 747 had a splendid time at this, the largest conference ever held in Samoa. Over five hundred Saints and friends were in regular attendance at our meetings. Twenty-four were baptized at the baptismal service held on Sun- nay, April 8. The mission is in a thriving condition, and everybody is talking about the "Mormons." Tracts are being scattered broadcast through- out towns and villages, and the prospects are bright for making 1917 the biggest and most prosperous year ever seen in the Church since the gospel was brought to the islands. We are also sending you a picture of the new meetinghouse. The Era is received and read with much pleasure in this part of the world; thanks for the same. — Ernest Wright, Mission President; Ray G. Wood, Mission Secretary. The "Era" "at the Front" Elder Oliver G. Ellis, clerk of the Hull conference, England, writes under date of March 20: "We always look forward to receiving the Era, and enjoy reading it very much. Several of our boys have had the Era sent to them 'at the front.' They enjoy it, and share it with the other soldiers. In this way much good is being accomplished. It is indeed a time of gleaning now, and the few elders remaining in the British mission are kept very busy visiting the different branches, and in keeping the Saints active. We were very sorry to lose one of our elders here in Hull conference, Elder Wilford 0. Freckleton, who died here on February 27. The elders in the picture are (left to right) President Wm. D. Lewis, Provo; Wm. A. Linford, Ogden; Wilford 0. Freckleton (deceased), Eureka, and Oliver G. Ellis, Ogden. The Work in Japan C. Ralph Amott, writing from Osaka, Japan, March 31, says: "The preaching of the gospel is progressing favorably in Japan. Each month the glad tidings are being carried to a greater number of people. The Era, besides being a great comfort to us missionaries, affords a basis for many good talks with the people, because of the splendid articles it contains. Those of our Saints and friends, who understand English sufficiently to read, enjoy the articles greatly, and thus its field of doing good is ever widening; may its influence for good ever grow greater."