Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions

From Tasmania

This is a photo of the five elders who are now laboring in the Tas-

manian conference. Top, left to right: Harry J. Russell, Salt Lake City;

Marion Woolley, Kanab; bottom row: Leo G. Robertson, Springville;

Eugene Nichols, American Fork, Utah, and Ed. C. Phillips, Idaho Falls, Ida.

It has been some time since the Era has heard of our work; so this will be

a good time to let you know that we are as live as ever, and active in the

work. There is a manifest spirit of indifference to religion in Australia,

but we have been enjoying a marked degree of success in Hobart, in that

we have effected nine baptisms the last three months, and the attendance

at our meetings has been steadily increasing, until now we are considering

the installation of more seats, or else moving to larger quarters. The Era

has played no small part in the conversion of these new members, and help-

ing to keep such a perfect spirit of unity and brotherly love among the

Saints. We, the elders and Saints, appreciate your kindness in sending it

EDITORS' TABLE

to us, and are hoping that the war will not hinder our receiving same in

the future.

Just recently we reopened our Launceston branch, and expect great

results from that field, in the near future.

At present, the picture corporations are showing a film entitled "The

Mormon Maid," which is an immoral, villainous, and slanderous picture,

purporting to be an exposure of "Mormonism and its hidden secrets." Many

of the unthinking class accept it as the truth, but — thank the Lord — the edu-

cated reject it as being absurd, fanciful, a portrayal of sectarian hatred and

bigotry, and disgusting. We get some pretty warm times over it in our trad-

ing, but it does us good, as it all helps to build upon the gospel testimony

that we already have.

The president of our mission, Don C. Rushton, has been released and

is now on his way home. President A. D. Miller has been appointed in his

stead. We know that the Lord will grant President Miller the same degree

of success as he did our former beloved president, because he is faithful

and God-fearing.

In Tasmania we are less affected by the great European war than most

any other place on earth, as we have full and plenty of most every necessity

of life, and are so far away that a limited amount of news concerning the

conflict reaches us. About the only effects we can see of the war is the

depleted manhood. The high cost of living has hardly touched us yet, as

we can live easily — that is, batch and room — on $13 a month.

Doing Their "Bit" to Overthrow Militarism

"We are rapidly decreasing in numbers in Manchester, England. The

three elders now laboring here represent about one-tenth of the pre-war

number. However, in spite of this great shortage, our statistics show equal

number of baptisms as previous, and an increase in the tithing paid. One

may ask how this is possible. The secret is this: the Lord's work will go

on. We have lady missionaries to fill the vacancies created by shortage,

and the local priesthood are doing splendid work. The elders no longer

'carry' the Saints, but they are now carrying on their own activities under

the supervision of the elders. The elders in the picture are, left to right:

Lester F. Hewlett, new conference president, Salt Lake City; Wilford F.

Burton, retiring conference president, Afton, Wyo.; Robert W. Cluff, Sugar

City, Idaho. Elder Burton has returned to his home after an honorable

mission of over two years and Elder John H. Wilding, Sugar City, Idaho,

has recently been sent from London to this conference where he is now

acting as clerk. The war seems to be welding the Latter-day Saints closer

together daily, and the people here are earnestly watching the signs of the

times. Our local priesthood are depleted owing to the war, and the Latter-

day Saints on this side of the Atlantic are doing their 'bit' to overthrow

militarism." — Lester F. Hewlett.

A King Investigating

Elders Newel J. Cutler (sit-

ting), and J. Kenneth Rallison

shown here have been recently

called to carry the gospel again to

the Haapai Islands. When the first

elders came, they began their la-

bors on these islands, but did not

remain long, as the people were

not prepared, at that time, to re-

ceive the gospel. Since, however,

the spirit of the people has entirely

changed, and these two elders are

now being received with greatest

kindness, having the entire support

of the governor and main chiefs

of the islands. All meetings are

well attended. The king of these

islands is investigating the gospel

at the present, and through his

faith has been restored to good

health by the administration of the

elders. Our work here is growing

and all are laboring hard to pre-

pare this people for the acceptance

of the gospel. — Willard L. Smith, President of Tongan Mission.

EDITORS' TABLE

A Spiritual Feast

Apia, Samoa, Nov. 7, 1917. Elders of the Savaii conference of the

Samoan mission. Left to right, front row: L. Twitchell, C. M. Ferrin,

Mission President E. Wright, Conference President H. A. Jensen, H. W.

Anderson; back row: J. P. Murdock, C. J. Sharp, G. H. H<de, A. D. Madson,

H. O. Anderson (from Upolu), V. G. Woolley.

Conference was held this year in Faaala, Palauli, Savaii. This little

village consists chiefly of Saints who recently joined the Church,

but is nevertheless, at the present time, the livest branch in the conference.

The people, still true to the typical Samoan custom of desiring to outdo

their neighbor, tried to surpass all previous records. It was the opinion of

many that they succeeded in doing so. At any rate conference turned out to

be a veritable spiritual feast for those present. The house was well filled

at all sessions. The last meeting was turned over to the congregation to ex-

press their feelings. The Faaala Saints arose, one by one, and each bore

testimony to his belief in the gospel. Several, with tears rolling down their

cheeks, told of how they had first sent for the "Mormons" merely to spite

their missionary whom they had had trouble with. Later becoming con-

vinced in their hearts through the work of the elders they joined the

Church. They are now about to begin work on a new elders' home and

later on expect to put up a chapel. President Wright is highly elated over

existing conditions. He thanked the elders for their excellent work in the

past and exhorted them all to go forth, scatter tracts from house to house,

in order that every man, woman, and child in Samoa may have a chance

to hear the gospel.

Release of the Mission President

Sydney, Austrailia, November 27, 1917: "The release of President Don

C. Rushton and his wife, Elizabeth J. Rushton, from their three years' la-

bors as the presiding head of the Australian mission, produced great regrets

among the Saints, elders and friends who had become so warmly attached to

them. The last evening before their departure was the scene of a farewell

social given in their honor by Saints and elders at Sonoma (Mission Head-

quarters), 43 Station Street, Newton. A fine musical program, games, re-

freshments, and social chats were indulged in, and the farewell addresses

given by President and Sister Rushton were full of love and encouragement

to all present, impressing upon the Saints the necessity of living good lives

in obedience to the gospel plan, that they might all^meet again as brothers

and sisters in the next estate of our Father's kingdom. They have left foot-

prints in the sands of Australia that will never be obliterated. Their as-

sociation with elders and Saints has covered the inhabited portion of Aus-

tralia, extending from Townsville, in the far north tropics of Queensland,

to the island of Tasmania, one of the most southerly inhabited islands of

the world, and to Perth, the extreme western settlement of Australia, a total

distance of near five thousand miles. The fruits of their work is shown in

six well organized conferences, many well established branches, and a body

of well qualified elders to carry on their noble efforts in spreading the

"Glad Tidings of Great Joy" to all the people in this far off corner of the

Lord's vineyard. May the Lord grant them success, happiness and pros-

perity in their continued efforts, is the desire of all acquaintances and co-

laborers. The elders and Saints welcome their successors, Elder Arnold D.

Miller and wife, Mary J. Miller, and extend to them our hearty support

and prayers for their success in presiding over the Australian Mission."—

/. Clifford Forsgren.

Elders left to right standing: Jesse J. McQueen, Preston; J. Clifford

Forsgren, Riverdale, Idaho (N. S. W. conference president); James P.

Clayton, Provo; Clarence H. Tingey, Salt Lake City; Arnold D. Miller, St.

Anthony, Idaho (Incoming Mission President); W. C. Hechmann, Salt Lake

City (Mission secretary); W. H. Dittmore, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Left to

right sitting: Wilford W. Stirrine, Union, Oregon; Elizabeth J. Rushton,

Salt Lake City; Arthur D. Taylor, Provo; Leland J. Hansen, Collinston;'

Don C. Rushton, Salt Lake City (Retiring Mission President); Mary J. Mil-

ler, St. Anthony, Idaho.

WORK

The Ethics of the Doctrine and Covenants.

For Advanced Senior Class, Joint Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A.

Lesson Sixteen — Loyalty

Loyalty is an ethical virtue that consists in the habit of having confi-

dence in, of having respect for, of making sacrifice for, of remembering and

defending the object of our loyalty.

While the objects of loyalty are many, we shall consider in these les-

sons but three aspects of the subject: loyalty to persons, loyalty to au-

thority, and loyalty to covenant.

Loyalty to Persons. — Personal loyalty usually culminates in what is

called fast friendship, the type of friendship which Sir Francis Bacon tells

us "redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in halves: for there is no man that

imparteth his joys to his friend, but he joyeth the more, and no man that

imparteth his griefs to his friends, but he grieveth the less."

Without friendship, connubial happiness is at best incomplete; and

filial love fails in its destiny. One of the highest types of loyalty, of forti-

tude, is found in the character of Job. Peter emphasized the loyalty of

defense in his Master's behalf; and John the beloved the loyalty of "con-

fidingness." Brigham Young's last words were, "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph."

Loyalty to persons does not exclude the privilege of counsel, advice, ad-

monition and even remonstrance. Sec. 6:18; Sec. 25.

Men become friends of God through loyalty, as did Abraham and the

ancient apostles. Sec. 84:63-77.

Supplementary Reading

Abraham's friendship to Lot and to the Lord. Genesis, chaps. 13 and

22; II Chronicles 20:7.

David and Jonathan, I Sam. 18:1-13; chaps. 19 and 20.

Bacon's essay on Friendship.

Emerson's essay on Friendship.

Loyalty to Authority. — Authority is either human or divine. In society

public safety depends upon the placing of loyalty to authority above that

of loyalty to persons.

In cases where the objects of loyalty are recognized as of divine origin,

confidence becomes faith, respect becomes reverence, devotion becomes

sacrifice, message sending becomes prayer, defense becomes spiritual

heroism.

The impossibility of personal loyalty between Saul and David did not

preclude loyalty to his divinely anointed kingship.

Recognition of authority as a source of redress. Sec. 101:76.

The present grave situation in the United States makes loyalty to au-

thority a paramount issue. It becomes the duty of every man, woman and

child to be loyal to the President of the United States.