--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 23 number: 8 published: 1920-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Co-operative Auxiliary Conventions,\" *Improvement Era* 23, no. 8 (June 1920): 748–750." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse 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: improvementera238unse start_page: 748 end_page: 750 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse publication_year: 1920 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 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Co-operative Auxiliary Conventions 748 IMPROVEMENT ERA — much good in the mission field. Blanche Kunz. Misionaries of .San Diego, are Joseph Laker, Ray Stringham, A. Timpson, Sister De Lilah Moss, George Fuellenbach, Eva B. Miller, and Blanche Kunz. Great Increase of Missionaries in Mexican Mission The missionaries in the Mexican mission are glad to report that the work is growing in the mission that the prospects for the future are very bright; that all organized branches in the mission are in good condition, and the Saints are trying to live true to the faith. The torce of mission- aries has increased from seven, in June, 1919, to forty-five in the month of February, 1920. During the year 1919, 114 souls were added to the Church by baptism; 39 baptisms were performed in the interior of Old Mexico, where the local priesthood has been carrying on the work in humility and faith ever since the missionaries from Zion were called from that field in the year 1913. All elders and sisters feel well in the work and are anxious to press on and, with the help of the Lord, take the glorious gospel message to as many as they possibly can. Many cottage meetings are being held every week and many honest in heart are anx- iously seeking for the truth. The missionaries, p. 749, are left to right, front row, Leland A. Jackson, Leda Thompson, Ethel Done, Mission Secretary, Mrs. and President Rey L. Pratt, Mrs. and Bishop Arwell L. Pierce of the El Paso Ward, Diana J. Allen, Erma Romnev; second row: Merlin T. Van Orden, George C. Cannell, Victor C. Hancock, Edgar L. Stott, Irvin W. Stevens, Clyde D. Pierce, Victor J. Smith, J. Walter Holbrook, Hugh L. Barnes, Lorin F. Wiser. Abel B. Paez; back row: Andrew E. Adams, J. Oscar Anderson, John L. Havmore. Nels R. Benson, Willard E. Jones, Eli M. Jergensen, Grant Curtis, Willard Hawkins, Douglas B. Lamoreaux, and Trenial Pauly, re- leased. Ethel Doone, Secretary. Work Among the Lamanites Writing from Eagle Pass, Texas, February 16, 1920, Hugh L. Barnes of the Mexican mission says: "Perhaps the readers of the Era might like to hear of the work in the Lamanite branch, and the success we are having in restoring the gospel to the sons and daught- ers of Lehi. These people are hungering for the word of the Lord, and I believe there is no other place on earth where a missionary can see the fruits of his labors as quickly as here. The new elders learn the Spanish lauguage quickly due to the help of the Lord. We are making many friends on the American side and also in Piedras Negras, Coah, on the Mexican side. Many read our books and literature with eagerness. The Book of Mormon appeals to them especially. We find no ill feel- ing existing between the two nations and the people have treated us with the greatest respect. The sentiment of ill-will toward America is not as represented by many of the newspapers which are inclined to judge the whole Mexican nation by the acts of a few, which is very unjust. We all look forward to the coming of the Era, it contains so many good in- structions and such excellent explanations of the different doctrines and principles of the gospel. We wish you success and ask the blessings of the Lord to attend you in all your endeavors." "Elders working on both sides of the border in the Eagle Pass, Texas district: Andrew E. Adams, Central Arizona; Robert L. Reid, Lund, Nevada; Nels R. Benson, Spring City, Utah: J. Marcus Romrell, Wilford, Idaho; Chester A. Henderson, Clifton, Idaho; Hugh L. Barnes, Ogden, Utah." o > w I— w O •n H ffl g W X o 2 o 750 IMPROVEMENT ERA In the Virginia Conference Elders T. O. Gunderson and H. P. Thomas write from Richmond, Virginia, some weeks ago, stating that there are elders laboring in Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Lynchburg, New Port News, and Danville. "We have regularly organized Sunday schools in these cities, and there are branches in Haran, Monta Bello, Mountain Lake, Colliers Town, Oilville, and Buena Vista. We have been laboring in the city during the winter but will canvass the country districts as soon as the weather will permit. The people seem anxious to hear the gospel and we make many friends. The power of the Lord has been made manifest in healing the sick in many instances. In Danville recently, a woman who was afflicted with pneumonia, called the elders to administer to her, al- though she is not a member of the Church. She was almost instantly healed, and testified that it was the power of the Lord that restored her to health. We will soon send elders to re-open the northern part of the state where there have been no elders for some time past. Many objections are evi- denced in some sections, but many are inquiring after and investigating the gospel principles. We are not allowed street privileges, but are plac- ing the gospel plan before the people by tracts and in home and cottage meetings. The Saints themselves are doing much here in this line, and we are confident of ultimate success." Good Results from Tracting G. H. Hale, writing from Pago, Tutuila, under date of Febru- ary 16: "A. D. Madsen and myself, landed together in the Samoan mission, March 5, 1917, we have had the privilege of working together most of the time, bearing our testimony in Tutuila, Upolu and Savaii. We have distributed thousands of pamphlets among the people." Elder Hale, who has presided over the Upolu conference for some time has now been appointed to preside over Tutuila. Elder Madsen, who has been preaching the gospel in the islands of Upolu and Savaii, has been appointed to pre- side over the latter conference. The tracting that was started during the days of President Ernest W. Wright, is the cause of a rich harvest to which the people bear testimony. President W. A. Keith, who has just been released as mission president, leaves the islands with a keen appreciation of the people for his energetic labors. The people bless him for the blessings which he has given to them. During the past year in the neighbor- hood of 125 souls have been added to the Church in the Savaii confer- ence. In Upolu it has been similar, and the work is progressing favorably in Tutuila. We enioy reading the Era, and its influence reaches many who are not of our faith, as we distribute it through the country. i Baptism in Australia Writing from the Victoria conference, Australia, Elder Ray Kneale relates the story of the baptism of Sister Ann Maria Greenhill, in No- vember, 1919, at South Melbourne. Sister Greenhill was born in Eng- land, 1843, and joined the Baptists when 21 years old. Her daughter, Sister Mary Parker, accepted the gospel about fifteen years ago, and her son-in-law, Brother Parker, is now a local elder, but Sister Greenhill was slow to accept the testimony. Elder C. B. Bobbins, who was the conference president, was faithfully explaining the gospel to her, and, finally, she became convinced and yielded obedience. The day of bap- tism was cold, and the sea was rough, but the power of God was mani- fested while the ordinance was performed by Elder Robbins, and Sister GreenhiU was happy in the testimony she received. The writer con-