--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Edward H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 22 number: 9 published: 1919-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Anderson, Edward H., "Mission Leaders," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 9 (July 1919): 791–799.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2209unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2209unse start_page: 791 end_page: 799 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2209unse publication_year: 1919 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mission Leaders MISSION LEADERS 793 She went with her husband and aided him in his work. He gives deserved tribute to her, by declaring that she has been a help to him in every good work and resolution, never complaining, full of faith and encouragement, economical, energetic in her duties to home, church and family, "with such a wife," he pays: "it becomes a much easier task to live one's religion." She again accompanies him on this his mission to Europe. The valuable efforts which she has put forth in behalf of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations in her capacity as a member of the General Board, will now be transferred to the people of England, and we have no doubt that she will not only help her husband in his arduous duties, but also renew her splendid labors, so well prosecuted in behalf of the young people of Zion, in behalf of the young people of the country to which she goes as a missionary help to her husband. Released from the Southern States Mission, Elder Smith and his wife, made a trip of the country, visiting Florida, Boston, Chicago, and other cities, arriving in Salt Lake City, July 20, 1894. In his early days, at thirteen, lie was employed at Z. C. M. I., in the overalls factory, and at sixteen as a collector for the Grant, Odell Company; at seventeen he returned to Z. C. M. I., as salesman on the road, and continued in that business until he was eighteen and left for his mission to the Southern States. On his return from the South, he again found employment in Z. C. M. I., continuing there to receive a thorough drill in various important positions until the last day of January, 1901, when he was appointed Receiver of the United States Land Office in Salt Lake City, taking charge of the office, February 10 following, and which position he held faithfully for a number of years. On the sixth of October, 1903, he was chosen a member of the Council of the Twelve apostles, being ordained by President Joseph F. Smith, after having been sustained by the general conference of the Church. Some years ago his health gave way, but before his loss of health, he averaged thirty thousand miles of travel yearly, and at the rate of one and one-half meetings per day. He visited the Saints throughout the country, magnified his position as an apostle of the Lord, and gave counsel by precept and example to all with whom he came in contact. He was elected president of the Utah society of The Sons of the American Revolution, for 1918, and was re-elected in 1919; was a delegate to the S. A. R. Congress, at New York, New Jersey, Rochester, New York, and Detroit, Michigan. He has 79; IMPROVEMENT ERA many of the missions in the United States; and before visited he became a member of the Council of Twelve, some of the missions of Europe. George Albert Smith has been active in the politics of the state. He has a remarkable faculty for making friends, his enemies even respecting him. He has been an active Republican but has never said mean or unkind things of his opponents. This is a characteristic of him. In the preaching of the gospel, he does not tear down a man's house, but builds the gospel structure over him with an open and loving invitation to inhabit it. He was elected vice-president of the International Irrigation Congress, at Calgary, Canada, in 1913, relected vice-president at Sacramento, California, in 1914, and president of the Congress, at El Paso, Texas, in 1915. In 1917 he was elected president of the International Dryfarm Congress, at Peoria, Illinois, and elected president of the combined Irrigation and Farm Congress, now known as the International Farm Congress, at Kansas City in 1918, which office he still holds.In these positions he has made many friends. He has been personally acquainted with Presidents McKinley Roosevelt, and Taft, and with several members of the Cabinet, governors, senators and representatives throughout the Union and Canada, and with many business men of prominence with whom he has associated as member and officer in the Irrigation Congress and in the International Farm Congress. George Albert Smith is a typical Latter-day Saint; broad minded, pure as a woman, active in good work, zealous in his calling, reliable, conscientious, honest, clean in language and action, faithful, punctual, considerate of his fellows, high or low, having confidence in God, a man who puts his soul into his work, and who is as nearly completely obedient to the laws of God as man can be upon the earth. His actions in youth never caused his parents one moment of anxiety, and he has kept in mind the name he bears, and honored it, believing truthfully, that no fon ever had a better father and mother than he. He is a great admirer of punctuality, and one who knows him may set it down as a truth that if he is not on time for an appointment that he will not be there. In his labors with the young men of the Church, he made a specialty of impressing the value of punctuality upon them. Elder George Albert Smith has passed through many wonderful experiences showing the care of God over him, and has had at least twenty-five remarkably narrow escapes from death which would make very interesting reading in themselves. MISSION LEADERS 795 The Lord has preserved him and we are certain that his new calling to preside over the European mission, will give him great opportunities to accomplish much of the good that is in his heart. His experience in Church, state and national affairs wonderfully adapt him for leadership in the European mission, during these days of political, economic and religious life and reconstruction. Theodore Tobiason, of the Swedish Mission On May 9, 1919, Elder Theodore Tobiason, was called to preside over the Swedish Mission, to release Elder A. P. Anderson, who has presided there for the past three years. Elder Tobiason, is the son of Anders Tobiason and Johanna Olson, and was born March 2, 1864, in Malmo, Sweden. He came to Utah, October, 1871, and was baptized by Daniel H. Wells, in City Creek, September 3, 1873. He received his education in the district schools of Salt Lake City. In business he became a contractor and builder, having in late years erected many of the substantial buildings of the district in which he resides, including the Granite stake tabernacle^ t^he Forest Dale meeting house, Z. C. M. I. warehouse, and hundreds of other buildings throughout the county. As a Church worker, he has occupied nearly all the positions in the priesthood, and in the auxiliary organizations, including the Mutual Improvement association and Sunday the school. In May, 1903, he was chosen a member of the High Council of the Granite stake, being at that time, ordained a High Priest by President Anthon H. Lund. This position he still occupies. From October, ELDER THEODORE TOBIASON 1887, up to September, 1889, he filled a mission ^ho ig Qn hi$ way overseas to preside over the Swedish Mission. to the Northwestern •»/ . states. He has completed two missions to Sweden. On the first he left that time in the in February, 1895, and returned in May, 1897, laboring at Gothenborg district. In August, 1913, he left for his second mission to Sweden, returning June, 1916, during which time, he occupied the position of President of the Mission, smoothing out many complications 796 i?,:it3Ve::int era in which the elders were entangled with the government, owing to the opposition of the Lutheran priests. He was married on the 21st of October, 1885, to Laura Woolley, daughter of Bishop John M. Woolley who was killed in Cottonwood Canyon, in the fall of 1864. They have several living children, the oldest daughter, Laura Gertrude, a bright, trained nurse, died while he was on his second Swedish mission, April 29, 1916. Elder Tobiason expected to leave for his mission, with headquarters at Stockholm, on the 28th of June. He is an indefatigable worker in the Church, and has had much experience in nearly every organization and quorum of the Church in the stake and ward in which he lives. He is a man of strong character, thoroughly saturated with a knowledge of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored in the latter days by the Prophet Joseph Smith. On his last mission, he had occasion to bear testimony of the restoration in high government places when he had a tilt with one of the sectarian ministers who had been in Utah, and who was trying to prevent the "Mormon" missionaries from preaching in Sweden. He came out on top, and was the means of preventing the government from taking action to ostracise the "Mormon" elders from Sweden. He was called to labor in the Salt Lake temple, November 11, 1916, and has been engaged there ever since. New President of the Hawaiian Mission Elder Elias Wesley Smith, son of President Josepn F. Smith and Julina Lambson Smith, has been appointed by Presidency of the the Church and the Council of the Twelve Apostles to succeed Elder Samuel E. Woolley, as Presi- dent of the Hawaiian Mission. The announce- bie/nt; was taade on March 17, 1919. Elder Smith was born at Laie Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, April 21, 1886. He re- ceived his early edu- cation in the public schools of Salt Lake City, and in the Latter- day Saints College and University of Utah. In 1907, he filled a mission to the Hawaiian Islands, being set apart, Febru- ary 20, and returning March 10, 1910. While on this mission, he be- came}, like his father, President Joseph F. Smiffhy very proficient in the Hawaiian lan- guage, and was among the first among his brethren to acquire a speaking knowledge of it. For a number of ELDER E. WESLEY SMITH years, since April 14, New President of the Hawaiian Mission. 1914, Elder Smith has had charge of the MISSION LEADERS 797 Church home, "Deseret," located in Santa Monica, California, and while there has faithfully assisted the local elders in missionary work at Venice, Ocean Park, Sawtelle and Santa Monica, and for five years acted as superintendent of the Santa Monica Sunday school. Though quite young, Elder Smith has always been an earnest Church worker, having served in different official positions in the various auxiliary organizations of the Church. He married Miss May Smith, of Salt Lake City, and they have two children, Eloise, born February 26, 1912, and Elias Wesley, Jr., the first child born in "Deseret," Santa Monica, April 6, 1917. Elder Smith received his appointment for his new field of labor on the 14th day of March, 1919, and was set apart on the 8th day May, 1919, by Bishop David A. Smith, under direction of the First Presidency, his term to begin after the dedication of the Hawaiian temple. President Samuel E. Woolley, has acted as president of this mission since 1895. His crowning effort is the erection of the Hawaiian temple, which is now nearly completed. Elder Woolley is greatly beloved by all who know him, and has hosts of friends among both the natives and the people at home, as well as among the hundreds of missionaries who have served under him during his long and successful administration in the Hawaiian Islands. . „ Elder Smith, the new president, a man of sterling integrity. is By earnestness he the power and influence of the Spirit of the Lord, and the affairs of the displays in his labors, he promises successfully to handle the mission, and the Era joins his many friends in wishing him unqualified success in his new calling. New Editor of the Millennial Star Elder Junius F. Wells, founder, under President Brigham Young, of the Y M M I. A., and a son of the late General Daniel H. Wells, a stalwart pioneer and Church leader, left Salt Lake City on March 14 for Liverpool, England, where he has been called by the First Presidency to Millenial Star, the oldest magazine in the Church, now in its edit the Elder George Albert Smith who is appointed to 81st year, and to assist mission to the vacancy caused by the represide over the European fill the Council of the Twelve. As turn of Elder George F. Richards, also of a writer and speaker, Brother Wells is an able expounder of the gospel and new ideas on things for and he is widely known for his initiative his enthusiasm, and his faith. He was the founder and editor of he the Improvement Era as the Contributor, the magazine that preceded the Mutual Improvement Associations. Many articles have officfal o gan of appeared in these magazines from his pen. He supervised me erection Smith monument at South Royalton, Vermont, and also the oTthe Joseph These Lake City cemetery. Hyrum Smith memorial monument in the Salt enterprises with which he h s noteworthy are only two among the many the been actively associated. The European mission and particularly securing his services, and we are cer- mUennM Star are fortunate in good in the new position to which he Lm that Elder Wells will make Church. He succeeds Elder J. M. Ss been called by the authorities of the asso- who for a little over four years and a half has ably acted as SiodaW appeared in the Star for April ciate of the Star and whose farewell edUor 1? ' Board of the Young Men's Mutual Before his departure, the General I. M. M. l. A., on to t • Junius v W 18/b-iyiy, bv 11= 187^-1919 r. Wells, me «o« Dy the General Board of surrounded bv a bunch 708 IMPROVEMLNT ERA Doctrine and Covenants for the association forty-three years ago: "The Glory of God is Intelligence." Elder Brigham H. Roberts, of the Y. M. M. I. A. superintendency, made the presentation speech, which was responded to by Elder Wells in his happiest mood. Elder Wells has been a constant worker and thinker for the Y. M. M. I. A. ever since its organization. President Winslow Farr Smith of the Northern States Mission In the changes that have recently been made in the mission officers, the Northern States mission received as its new president Winslow Farr Smith. He is a son of the late John Henry Smith and Sarah Farr Smith, and was born January 19, 1881, in Salt Lake City. There were eight sonsand three daughters in this family. Winslow is the seventh son. He was educated in the district schools of Salt Lake City and in the high school, from which he graduated. He engaged in commercial traveling after graduation. On January 12, 1902, Elder Smith was called on a mission to Germany, laboring in Berlin, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. While upon this mission, he did excellent work in the regular missionary field, as far as opportunity was granted to him and to other missionaries in that land at the time. While there, he was appointed one of the delegates to the First National School Hygiene Congress, held at Nuremberg, other delegates from the West being Hugh J. Cannon and Levi Edgar Young. At the close of his mission, he traveled practically in every land in Europe, including Scandinavia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. He returned to his home in Utah in April, 1905. On the third of June, 1905, he married Emily _. ___. „. Whitney, a daughter of ELDER WINSLOW FARR SMITH . Orson F. Whitney, and Who succeeds Elder German E. Ellsworth as they have three children. president of the Northern States Mission Resuming his commercial labors, he became connected with the Salt Lake Knitting Works, continuing that business and accepting from time to time every opportunity for activity in the Sunday schools, acting in the Eighteenth ward, Salt Lake City, of which school he was superintendent for some length of time. On the Smith side of the family, he is of the fifth generation, being a direct descendant of Asahel Smith ,who was the father of John Smith, who MISSION LEADERS 799 was the father of George A. Smith, who was the father of John Henry Smith, who is the father of Winslow Farr Smith. On the Farr side of the family, he is also of noted pioneer descent. Both sides of the family were of Revolutionary stock, and are well known as having among them pioneers of this western country, famous for their indefatigable labors in behalf of the Church. Winslow Farr Smith's experience, both in Church labors and in the affairs of the business world, fittingly adapts him to the new position whereunto he has been called to preside over the Northern States mission. His business ability will be of great value in the conduct and government of the mission. Fitted educationally, religiously, and in every other way to take upon himself the responsibility which has now come to him, he will undoubtedly carry on to continued growth and success the big work which his predecessor, German E. Ellsworth, has so well conducted during the 1 n st number of years. George W McCune, President of the Eastern States Mission . George W. McCune, appointed to preside over the Eastern States mission, was born in Nephi, Utah, May 24, 1872. He is a son of Henry F. and Elizabeth Grace Mc- Cune, both of whom are still active in Church circles.His initial education was received in the public schools of Nephi. Later he attended the Deseret University, now known as the University of Utal.. His service in Church work goes back to the Primary association, and thence by steps till at 18 he was chosen as assistant superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A., to the late Heber S. Goddard. After his return from a mission to England, begun in 1896, he was sustained as assistant superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Juab stake. In the fall of 1898, he became associated with the John Scowcroft & Sons Company, of Ogden. His activity Church work in was promptly resumed in Ogden. There, upon the death of A; McLaren Boyle, he was made superintendent of the Sec- ELDER GEORGE W. McCUNE ond ward Sunday school. President of the Eastern States Mission. Subsequently, he was chosen to lead in the Sunday school at the State Industrial institution, until called to be a member of the old Weber stake 800 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sunday School Board, under the late Thomas B. Evans, David O. McKay and Charles J. Ross. Upon the division of the Weber stake, he was set apart as first assistant stake superintendent of Sunday schools. Other activities,including his place in the high council, signalized his life prior to this call to the Eastern States mission, which is a merited recognition of his ability and devotion. His training in business will further fit him for a sympathetic discharge of his duties, for Gotham and the populous district over which he now presides is a cauldron of commerce and industry, the aims and symbols of which must be known if due progress is made. It may be of interest to cite that President McCune organized the first Automoblie Company of Utah, later sold to Browning Brothers; that he established the McCune- Foulger Shoe Co., and that he is at present a director of the John Scowcroft & Sons Co., one of the largest manufacturing and wholesale concerns of the West. His social nature, both natural and acquired, is perhaps his chief distinction, in the practice of which the mission interests will be ably subserved. He will be accompanied on his mission by his wife, Sara Scowcroft McCune, three sons, John, Scott and William; also his daughter Mary. The Seer Lo, here he comes, with dauntless tread, . Forth from the ranks of men. His brow is crowned with laurels won Down in the marts of toil; And like the snowy mountain top, His strength is towering high; For he has scaled the heights of life„ And reached, at last, the place Where right and might are one. He is the Seer whose vision clear Leads on, and on to God; And people say, "Let's hear him speak, For he points out the way of life eternal." And thus he rules with gentle mien, And wields, with firmness true, The scepter of God's priesthood here on earth. June 5, 1919 Ezra T. Paulsen. Natural Phenomena Related to Human History By Dr. James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve. We learn from Scripture that Adam's transgression brought about a fallen condition, not of mankind alone, but likewise of the earth itself. In this and in numerous other epochal events, wherein the direct interposition of Divine action is affirmed, nature is seen to be in intimate relation with man. Thus the sins of mankind may produce calamity in the form of destructive phenomena, which we may properly call natural because deserved; and human righteousness may invoke peaceful and beneficent cooperation of the elements. "Cursed is the ground for thy sake," was the Divine fiat to the first man. In contrast, note the assurance given to Israel that by faithfulness the seasons should be made propitious, that nurturing rains should come, bringing such harvests that the people would lack room to store their products. (See Mai. 3:8-12.) Abject apostasy from the laws of God in Noah's time brought about the Deluge, in which "were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows [more properly flood-gates! of heaven were opened." Enoch, who lived before Noah, was sent to proclaim repentance to the degenerate race, and so great was the power and authority vested in him that "he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command: and the rivers of water were turned out of their course" He foresaw the coming of the Noachian flood, and the events of history, including the Savior's ministry, down to the days of the Lord's second advent, when "the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth" (Pearl of Great Price, pp. 42 and 44.) As a fit setting for the tragedy on Calvary, a pall of darkness fell about the place, and, when the crucified Lord expired, "the earth did quake, and the rocks rent" (Matt. 27:51.) On the Western Continent, widespread disruption signalized the Savior's death; and destruction befell the wicked who had flouted prophetic warnings and inspired admonitions to repentance. Manv of the Nephites had forgotten the signs and wonders by which the fact of the Lord's birth had been made known, and had fallen into abominable wickedness. Then, at the time of the crucifixion, great and terrible tempests broke