Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS "Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed." — 1 Chron. 22. Best Conference Since the War in Aarhus Elder D. U. Wright, reports that "in the past few years Denmark has suffered considerably from lack of missionaries so that we have a vast field for improvement. In this conference we have four regular missionaries, one local elder being our conference secretary. Two of these missionaries have yet to learn the Danish language. Our fall conference was the best since the war. We will shortly sustain a loss by releasing two of our missionaries. We wish our dear folks at home to know that we enjoy doing missionary work. We need their encouragement and desire to impress on their minds that more missionaries are greatly needed in Denmark. The mission field is the place for young men to get the spirit of the gospel. During our fall con- ference we held seven meetings with an average attendance of 153, filling our hall to capacity. The Improvement Era is one of our greatest sources of help to keep in touch with the outside world and with loved ones at home." Elders, top, left to right: D. U. Wright, Murray; A. C. Poulsen, Levan; B. S. Peterson, Salt Lake. Bottom: C. S. Larson, local conference secretary; President J. S. Hanson of the Danish mission; P. L. Gragerson, conference president Pocatello. The 100th Anniversary of Moroni's Visit Celebrated in Africa The 100th anniversary of the visit of the Angel Moroni to the Prophet Joseph Smith was observed in the South African mission by an organized campaign for the selling and distribution of Books of Mormon. The plans, sent out from "Cumorah," the mission president's office, were as follows: The campaign was to be competitive among the branches of the entire

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 337 mission; it was to begin Sept. 21 and close Oct. 6. Each branch of the mission was supplied with Books of Mormon sufficient to carry them "over the top," and a number of extra copies for additional sales. "Over the top" meant that every family or member representing a family, should sell at least one book, each man holding the Priesthood should sell at least one, and every elder at least two. No books were to be sold or collected for before the open- ing date, Sept. 21. However, this did not limit the work of advance agents. A prize of £ library edition was to be given to the branch first "over' the top," and for one selling the greatest number per capita, and also one to the individual with the greatest number of sales to his credit. Each branch began in earnest and set out to win. In three days the entire supply was exhausted. Several individuals sold as many as ten books and stopped because of the limited supply. The highest individual record was twenty, made by Brother George E. W. Smith, of Durban. The Durban branch also received the award for first "over the top," though it took only four days for every branch to "go over." The results are very pleasing, the greatest satisfaction comes from the keen interest aroused in the Book of Mormon, several hundred people, mostly non-"Mormons," have purchased books, and many are reading them. Some are waiting for the next consignment so they can have their copy delivered. Programs were held in public meetings throughout the mis- sion during the campaign, which treated the Book of Mormon subjects, these meetings were well attended. The results were surprising; every family of Saints, every man holding the Priesthood in South Africa sold at least one Book of Mormon and every elder sold at least two, and this within the five days that the supply lasted. Without a single exception the sales of each branch were limited by the lack of books. The supply on hand at the beginning was considered ample to satisfy any demand the campaign might call forth. The accompanying picture shows the winners from the Durban branch of the Natal conference, reading from left to right, back row: Paul T. Harris, Gladys Baker, Geo. E. W. Smith, Gladys Mansfield. Seated: Anna Wade, Conference President Golden W. Harris, Katherine Smith, Elder Clinton M. Black, Lizzie Moore, and Baby Joy Smith. — J. Wyley Sessions, Mission President, "Cumorah," Main Rd., Mowbray, C. P., South Africa.

338 IMPROVEMENT ERA Nearly Five Hundred Members in Chemnitz Writing from Chemnitz, Germany, October 1st, 1923, Elder G. M. Hopfenbeck says: "Although Salt Lake City newspapers intimate that Saxony is at the present moment rather an undesirable place in which to live, we find it quite the contrary, when engaged in missionary work. In the manufacturing town of Chemnitz is located perhaps the largest branch of the Church in the European mission. The branch was divided two years ago, but it has continued to grow until there are now over 450 members carried on the records. Most of these are actively engaged in the Church. In every Sunday meeting, in addition to about two hundred Saints, there are between eighty-five and one hundred friends present. The local Priesthood consists of fifty-four members, forty-eight of whom are actively engaged in working in the organizations. The branch is fully organized including Sunday- school, Relief Society, Mutual Improvement Association, with a live boy scout organization; choir, and visiting teachers. The de- pressing conditions seems to have made this people more susceptible to the word of the Lord. The picture enclosed is of the local priesthood. In the middle on the front row are the missionaries laboring in Chemnitz. They are, commenc- ing third from the left and reading to right: Roland W. Browning, Ogden, Utah; LeRoy Hansen, Payson, Utah; Branch President, G. Martin Hopfen- beck, Salt Lake City, Utah; Conference President Otto Buehner, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Carl W. Ballantyne, Ogden, Utah. We enjoy the Era each month and read it with a great amount of interest." Conditions in Germany Elder Richard Middleton, writing to Superintendent Richard R. Lyman, December 1 , reports that he has been transferred to Frankfurt, am Main, Germany, where a new branch was recently organized, making two in that city. "The son of President McKay is working here and also the son of Professor Merrill of the University of Utah. Our work is very satisfactory all over Germany. The meetings are well visited and every month or so in

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 339 Breslau where I have been we had many appeals for baptism. The city authorities gladly rent the municipal swimming pools to us for a small fee for the purpose of baptizing. We utilize such occasions to speak to the assembled crowds and explain just why baptism is performed. It makes a very good impression. Our foe is not antipathy, but apathy. A few Germans have been poisoned against us through the efforts of a certain pastor, Zimmer, who resided in Salt Lake City and Ogden a couple of years ago and came to Stuttgart and began a crusade against the missionaries. He tells shameful stories. The missionaries are living exemplary lives. It is quite a revelation to the Germans to see a group of young fellows who do not drink nor smoke in a land where such things are as much a matter of course as things to eat and wear. Most of the men are prejudiced against religion in general and the way for us to convert them is to show the practical result of our efforts to live according to their professions. Men and women who are actually endeavoring to conform to the gospel of Christ in their daily lives are the greatest helpers we have. In Breslau, one of the branch presidents was a German brother who had reared a fine family, is noted for his friendliness, helpfulness and honesty. When the missionaries went tracting and met people who know him they had no trouble in getting them to respond to an invitation to meeting, because they wanted to make the acquaintance of a system which produces such men. The gospel of Christ with its ideals of chastity, love for neighbor, honesty, obedience to law, and faith, is the crying need of the world, and the lack of it is the disaster of this whole, European civilization. The German nation is just now in a very important transition point in its history. During the long, miserable months of the rapid depreciation of money, the only thing which held the nation together was a well-trained, efficient police force of picked men, ready to use their rifles on the crowds on the slightest provocation. There have been riots everywhere and the government is now making a supreme effort to regulate the currency by introducing a new medium of exchange backed by a reasonably good security. It is apparently succeeding. The effect is that the paper money has actually held its value now for three weeks and prices are even beginning to go down a bit. One hears the first expressions of hope that have been uttered in months. "A report is being circulated that Henry Ford has bought the Adler factory here, one of the largest producers of typewriters, automobiles, bicycles and farm machinery in Germany, and that he intends to open it in the near future and give employment to several thousand workers. The Germans are an industrious, progressive people. Their patience is remarkable. The eight-hour day which the war brought to the Germans will apparently be taken from them in a few days and the ten-hour day introduced again. The burden of debt on their shoulders is too great to permit them to think of short working hours for the present. "The moral problems among the Germans are alcoholism and the prevention of illegitimate children. The war has had a deplorable effect on the morals, but the Germans are still a vigorous nation with good ele- ments in their make-up, and they will come back if given a chance." Elder Middleton expresses thankfulness for the privilege of being sent into the mission field and declares that the mission field affords the best two- year training on earth, filling the missionaries with new ideas, higher aspira- tions and ideals. He thinks he was sent just at the right time. Proud of His Sunday School Class Elder William La Von Robison of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, re- ports November 25, 1923, that he is proud of his Sunday school class of the Brisbane branch Sunday school, a picture of which is herewith presented.

340 IMPROVEMENT ERA He says: "I am indeed proud of them. They are diligent and attentive. They are all tithepayers, one hundred per cent, a record that will stand com- parison anywhere. This is one of the distant outposts of the Church and is the only organized branch Sunday School in sunny Queensland. Though gathering converts from among the people is very difficult, yet there is great satisfaction in knowing that so many that have been gathered are proving staunch and true. The Saints here enjoy reading the Improvement Era and greatly appreciate its issues sent to the branch. We hope the Spirit of the Lord will continue to operate mightily upon the Latter-day Saints in Zion as well as here, urging them to continue their good works. We hope that success will crown your efforts in the publication of the Era." Members, back row, left to right: Golden I. Barlow, Maude Waters, Allan Campbell. Center row: May Campbell, Madge Carter, May Orth, Inger Anderson, Alice Orth, Erne Hardman. Front row: Harold R. Jackson, Gertie Orth, Mabel Trost, William LaVon Robison, teacher; Flora Waters, Elsie Blaker, William E. Waters. In front: Robert Waters. Progress in the Kiel Branch, Germany Elder Glen A. Rowe, conference president of the Hamburg conference, reports unusual progress in the Kiel branch. Since the 15th of November, 1922, forty-six members have been baptized, all of whom are active and eager in fulfilling the full measure of their responsibilities. Prior to that time there were forty-four in the branch. An increase of 104 per cent in one year speaks well for the Saints and missionaries in this little branch on the Baltic. "Elders B. Rigby Young and Arthur Liddle deserve special commendation for the excellent services they have rendered. Brother Young reports that twelve of his personal friends have been made members and that several others

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 341 have applied for baptism, and several of Elder Liddle's converts are taking active part in the affairs of the branch. Missionary Alfred Dzierson has served twenty-eight months without purse or scrip, and this German brother has won a place in the hearts of the people of Kiel. Brother Young's recojrd is unusual and interesting from the fact that all his converts live on ojie street and that they are busy with their neighbors, many of whom are investigating the gospel. The accompanying picture will introduce some of those who have been associated with the work in Kiel. They are, left to right, standing: Elder Max Lamprecht, Conference Secretary Milton B. Cannon, Missionary Alfred Dzierson. Sitting: Hugh Kimball, Conference President Glen A. Rowe, outgoing Branch President B. Rigby Young. "In this connection, the Hamburg conference has increased its 1922 record in baptisms by 216 per cent, the number of baptisms in 1923 having reached 175. All the missionaries are safe and happy and are active in the work." Average Attendance at Meetings Doubled Elder M. D. Clayson, writing from Manchester, England, October 25, says: We received the £ras as usual this month and take great pleasure in reading their contents. It is strengthening to us to hear about our missionary friends throughout the world and the good work they are doing. During the last five months there have been fifteen baptisms in the Manchester conference, the majority of whom have been adult converts. Many sincere investigators are attending our meetings and the future looks promising. Through faith and prayers and the united efforts of our missionaries and Saints, the average attendance at our meetings has been doubled. Cottage and street meetings have been two of our best means in getting our message before the people of the world. These have both been well attended. Especially large crowds gather at our open-air meetings after which questions are permitted, giving us further opportunity to explain the restored gospel. We are never as happy as when standing before the crowds in the open air, telling people of the true plan of life and salvation.

342 IMPROVEMENT ERA Manchester. England Missionaries, left to right, standing: C. G. Dockslader, Mink Creek, Idaho; R. C. Capener, Riverside; R. D. McGregor, Beaver, Utah; C. C. Heaton, Moccasin, Arizona; R. A. Bailey, Monticello; A. V. Atkinson, Clarkston, Utah. Sitting: William Blackburn, Lovell; R. Warburton, retiring conference president, Rocksprings, Wyoming; M. D. Clayson, conference president, American Fork; C. P. Heiner, Clerk, Salt Lake City; E. S. Smith, Murray, Utah. Conditions in Switzerland Switzerland, our field of labor, is a unique country. The contrast of the snow-laden Alps to the fertile, green valleys is delightful. Swiss history and customs are interesting. They show the causes for the development of this mighty, little republic. The word "religion" is bound up with the country "Switzerland," for the Swiss towns are turreted with the bell towers and the spires of its many churches. Its sod, too, has been soaked in the blood of the reformers, who died in their fight for freedom of conscience. At a recent "Mormon" conference in Lausanne, an interesting point in Swiss life was brought out. The song "O My Father" was sung. During the singing, one distinguished three languages. The song was sung in English, French, and German. Switzerland has no individual national language. On the different borders the inhabitants speak French, German, and Italian; and the tourists, English. The Swiss are a steady, industrious people, lovers of individual freedom. The working conditions of the missionaries in the Zurich conference have not greatly changed, in some respects, since 185 6 when Elder William Budge was here. At that time he spent almost a week in jail, because he was a "Mormon." Now, although the Swiss law allows freedom of religious faith to its citizens, the executors of the law have banished missionaries from four cantons. Due to the fact that we are "Mormons" we are considered, in some districts, by the police directorates as totally unnecessary. This conclusion is reached due to the presence in such directorates of preachers whose vocation the "Mormon" elders endanger. The Zurich conference comprises nine branches, located in seven cantons of the Swiss Republic. The total membership of the Church in this conference is 550. The "increase" or "harvest," for the year 1923, totals 47 converted and baptized.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 343 We are meeting with success in our street meetings. This conference is the only one in Switzerland, and, so far as I can ascertain, in the whole mission, which holds street meetings. Through our labors in this direction we have introduced our message to many hundreds of people who have listened earnestly to the testimonies of the restoration. In our semi-annual conference on November 24-25, we enjoyed a rich spirit. Our mission president, Elder Fred Tadje, presided. His sermons were filled with rich, spiritual admonitions. The total attendance in the Zurich Conference, Switzerland Sitting, front row, left to right: E. Wayne Stratford, president of Zurich conference; Orson W. Kasteler. mission secretary; D. Owen Thurman, Basel (visit- ing) ; Eliza \V. Tadje, president of Swiss-German mission Relief Societies; Antone L. Skanky, president of Winterthur branch; Fred Tadje, president of Swiss- German mission; Margarith Hofmann, Albert K. Aebischer, president Basel (visit- ing) ; K. Edward Hofman, president of Zurich conference. Standing, back row: Ernest A. White. Jr., superintendent Winterthur Sunday School; Claire W. Jchnson, president. No. 2 Zurich branch; A. J. Eardley, president of Stuttgart conference; J. Wayne Moss, superintendent, No. 2 Zurich Sunday school; Lawrence A. Ripplinger. president of Bern conference; John A. Orme, St. Gallen; Adrian H. Hess, president of Schaffhausen branch; Eugene Jensen, president of M. I. A. in' Zurich; Jakob Brunner, Zurich; Milford T. Herzog, assistant superintendent of Sunday School in Zurich; C. Francis Solomon, superintendent of St. Gallen Sunday School; Elias M. Cannon, president of No. 1 Zurich branch; Ernest Stettler, superintendent No. 1 Zurich Sunday School; Horace Kunz, Winterthur. meetings was 832. Many of the Saints and friends present, came from distant cities to enjoy the spirit of the conference. It was a success. We missionaries rejoice in the work, and are grateful for the privilege of being on missions, also we are thankful for the Era. In its pages we obtain high ideals, food for deep thought, and many helpful ideas and suggestions which, when translated into German, materially assist us to teach others the gospel. Its arrival each month is eagerly awaited. — Wayne Strat- ford, President Zurich Conference.

344 IMPROVEMENT ERA From the Province of Mecklenburg Elder Vernal R. Steffenson, Rostock, Germany, October 27, says: "Although living conditions have become very critical here in Germany, we find that the great latter-day work is making much progress and that the efforts of the missionaries in this portion of the vineyard are being crowned with success. The harvest is truly white and ready to reap, though few there are to reap, there being only four missionaries in the whole province of Mecklenburg. Missionaries, left to right: Vernal R. Steffenson.. Salt Lake City; President Erhard M. Neubert of the Rostock branch, Wellington; and Thomas Dodds, Panguitch, Utah. Fresno Conference President McMurrin, accompanied by other mission authorities, was in attendance at the Fresno, California conference on November 23-25. The Relief Society and the missionaries of the conference and visitors from Los Angeles held special meetings in which President McMurrin gave valuable instructions on missionary work. The M. I. A. and Primary also held meeting under the direction of Superintendent Gustive O. Larson. Three general sessions of the conference were held on Sunday, November 25, in which the principles of the gospel were ably treated by the missionaries and some excellent musical selections delivered, with inspiring sermons from President McMurrin. The meetings were well attended by friends and in- vestigators. A missionary social was held on Monday evening in Fresno at which games and refreshments were given. Sister Laura Bowman who has

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 345 labored in the mission for the past twenty-seven months was honorably released to return home in Nevada. — Marita R. Blood, Secretary. Missionaries, left to right, top row: N. K. Sheranian, Murry W. Pierce, A. H. Tavoian, George Frodsham, J. Lyman Fawson. William R. Scott, Laura L. Bowman, Cleon L. Memmott, Arnold L. Jensen, DeLyman Bayles. Second row: Lydia A. Ekins, president Y. L. M. I. A. and Primaries; Elmer N. Christof- ferson, conference president; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; Charlotte R. Stahr, acting Relief Society president; Marita R. Blood, Gustive O. Larson, superintendent of Sunday schools. Bottom row: Constance A. Petersen, Stephen R. Angus, Glen P. Vincent, Grace Cheever. Finds Joy in Australia Elder Walter D. Francis, writing from Adelaide, South Australia, reports that the faithful Church workers there enjoy the Era very much. "It brings them joy and binds them closer to one another and to their brothers and sisters across the Pacific. The Era has helped to make friends and has opened many homes to the elders. Two years ago I was set apart by Elder Melvin J. Ballard for my mission and my cup has been overflowing with the blessings of my heavenly Father and with great joy, peace and happiness in life, ever since. Just as I was promised, I have been privileged to receive the many blessings and manifestations of the Lord. The sick have been in- stantly healed, devils have been cast out, the waves of the mighty Pacific have been stilled and darkness has faded out of sight. I have been privileged to help construct a house unto the Lord in this great city. I was promised: 'You have been called at the right time and to the right place.' It was an answer to our earnest prayers; though I desired that I labor among relatives in the East who know not the gospel, neither I nor my sick mother ever doubted that I had been called by revelation to labor here, and now I know that it is true. Some people here are very cold and indifferent, but we find many who rejoice in the light of the last day."