Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS Mission Statistics President Heber J. Grant, at the General Conference, April 4, 1925, read the following information concerning the presidents, missionaries, mem- bers, and property in the missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: President Church American Missions: Missionaries Members Property California, Joseph W. McMurrin 125 8,625 289.114.04 Canadian, Joseph Quinney, Jr 71 716 23,021.47 Central, Samuel O. Bennion 158 8,712 110,410.26 Eastern, Brigham H. Roberts 143 4,689 232,818.55 Mexican, Rey L. Pratt '. 76 2,683 15,184.12 Northern, John H. Taylor 127 5,141 88,694.57 Northwestern, Brigham S. Young 99 5,599 82,535.76 Southern, Charles A. Callis 197 23,047 64,066.14 Western, John M. Knight 96 4,977 102, 385. 4* Total 1,092 64,189 1,008,230.3 5 European Missions: Armenian, Joseph W. Booth 2 164 450.00 British, James E. Talmage 151 5,670 78,518.17 Danish, John S. Hansen 24 1,621 55,284.95 French, Russell H. Blood 30 468 1,242.03 Netherlands, Charles S. Hyde 61 3,189 57.229.02 Norwegian, A Richard Peterson 17 1,621 52,774.43 South African, J Wyley Sessions 18 485 17,823.30 Swedish, Hugo D. E. Peterson 30 2,051 53,350.17 Swiss and German, Fred Tadje -— _ 226 11,102 51,497.79 Total 559 26,371 368,169.86 Island Missions: Australian, Charles H. Hyde 40 1,115 40,911.18 Hawaiian, Eugene J. Neff 1 61 13,083 195,830.00 Japan [Discontinued] 164 New Zealand, Angus T. Wright 45 6.184 150.575.66 Samoan, Ernest L. Butler 44 3,462 92,789.24 Tahitian, Ole B. Peterson 11 1,721 13,403.70 Tongan, Mark V. Coombs 19 1,051 24,853.52 Total 220 26,780 518,383.30 General: Smith Mem. Farm, Angus J. Cannon 20,000.00 Palmyra Farm. Willard Bean 20,000.00 Temple Block, Benjamin Goddard 40,000.00 Total 1,871 117,340 1,934,763.51 Statistics from Britain and Sweden The annual report of the British Mission for the year 1924 shows a total membership in the mission of 4,191, with 651 children under eight years of age, making a total of 4,842 souls. There were 282 baphisms. There were 15 con- ferences aside from the Liverpool office, and a total of 151 missionaries, three of whom were lady missionaries.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 677 A report of the Swedish Mission sets forth that in the five conferences and the mission office at Stockholm, there is a total of 13 75 members, with 180 children under nine years of age, making a total of 1555. There were II baptisms for the six months from October 1, 19 24, to March 1, 1925. A Banner Year in the Mexican Mission The native Saints and friends have expressed their joy and their en- thusiasm over the conference held in El Paso, last December 28, and are very anxious that another be held in the near future. After the compilation of the missionary activities we are pleased to report that 1924 was a banner year, and there is a decided material increase in the number of baptisms performed, children blessed, ordinations to the priesthood, tithing paid, etc., as compared with previous years. The missionaries have resolved to make 1925 even a better year, and are striving hard to this end. They are putting forth their best effort to place more Books of Mormon among the people. — Frank L. Copening Jr., secretary. { T I \ ^ V * r * J i \t %^A I i * ^ f ^7 ~~*^> Vn||A| \ 1 1 J Left to right front row: Edgar L. Wagner, Niels A. Ogden, LeRoy E. Gibbs. Middle row: Elizabeth N. Thomas, Rey L. Pratt, Mission President; Grace I. Linton, Alissa Manning, Martina Dalebout. Top row: Leonard E. Ahlstrom, Myron F. West, former Mission Secretary, Hyrum P. Jones, Vernon S. Johnson, William Walser and C. Lloyd Rhoton. Christmas Holidays in Samoa The elders of western Samoa, whose pictures are presented herewith, gathered at our headquarters, at Pesega, Upolu, by invitation of President Butler and wife to spend the holidays together at the culmination of a successful year's work. No efforts were spared by the elders and Sister Butler at headquarters to make the visitors from the outside branches feel at home, and to show them a good time. Several forms of recreation were arranged for their entertainment, such as tennis, croquet, and baseball. Besides these sports there was ample social entertainment, provided mainly by Saints and friends to which visiting elders were invited the same as elders

678 IMPROVEMENT ERA stationed here. Among these entertainments were, Christmas Eve at the American Consulate, Christmas dinner and lawn tennis at John AhMu's place, provided by our Saints and friends on the Lotopa road, Christmas party and supper Christmas night, at our friends the Stoeckichts', and many other pleasant hours were spent with Saints and investigators. Means of re- creation and social entertainment are limited in Samoa and this holiday week was a pleasant diversion from the usual round of missionary activities. The elders were entitled to all the recreation they received during the holidays, and have only praise for their faithful cooperation through the past year. It was indeed a pleasure for President and Sister Butler to have the elders at Pesega for that short time. Most of them from the outside branches arrived at Pesega just a day or two before Christmas and returned to their branches directly after a fine spirited elders' meeting held on the 2nd of January, at which all bore testimonies to the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, and also expressed themselves as having had a very enjoyable and pleasant time during the holidays. All of the elders are enjoying health, for which we are thankful. — E. L. Butler, mission president. Missionaries, left to right, top row: Ernest L. Wright; Joseph A. Fluit; Melvin G. Wagstaff; William H. Smith, Salt Lake City. Second row: Frank N. Stephens, conference president of Savaii, Ogden; Miss Nettie Butler, Boise, Idaho; Mlvin S. Newman, Holiday; David M. Anderson, Ogden. Third row: B. J. NicholU, conference president of Upolu, Salt Lake City; Robert V. Hodgen, mission secre- tary, Salt Lake City; J. Wayne Grow, Huntsville, Utah; Ernest L. Butler, mission president, Boise, Idaho.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 679 Sixty-five Baptized Samuel R. Spencer, conference president of the South Texas con- ference, Central States mission, reports favorable progress in that district. The elders are enthusiastic in their work and see bright prospects for the immediate future. "During 1924, 65 people were baptized and confirmed members of the Church, and several others have been added since the new year. The elders for the past three months have worked mostly in the country districts, and have met with unusually good success. Besides dis- posing of a large number of Books of Mormon and other Church literature, a large number of meetings have been held and many friends have been added to our cause. We commend the Saints in the different parts of the conference who by their righteous living have attracted the attention of non- members and led them to become friends and in some cases earnest investi- gators of the gospel. The weather here has been very favorable to our work. The Lord has blessed us abundantly and we feel that he will continue to do so according to our diligence in serving him. With the aid of the Spirit of the Lord we hope to make 1925 a banner year in this conference." Names of missionaries, front row, left to right: J. Arden Ogden, McCornick, Utah; Thomas E. Foster, Jozye, Texas; John E. Ireland, Independence, Missouri; Samuel O. Bennion, mission president; Vern B. Millard, Salt Lake City, outgowing conference president; Nathan H. Gardner, Logan, Utah. Back row, Theodore R. Collier, Vernal; Almon G. Clegg, Heber City; J. Golden Haight, Cedar City, Utah; John C. Sandberg, Rigby, Idaho; Louis J. Bjorkland, Ogden; Lafayette Denning, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Samuel R. Spencer, Escalante, Utah, incoming conference president; William H. Allen, Pocatello, Idaho. Success in Nevada A Nevada conference was held under the direction of President H. R. Winterton. President Joseph W. McMurrin, Margaret K. Miller, president of the Relief Society, Superintendent Joseph G. Jeppson and Elsie Hogan, of the M. I. A., were in attendance. Special instructions were given by Presi- dent McMurrin, who pleaded with the Saints to live up to the principles of the gospel, as explained by the missionaries, and be not only hearers of the word, but doers, both in temporal and spiritual matters. A lecture was given on temple work and temple ordinances, under the direction of Sister Hogan and Elder Jeppson. Many friends and investigators were present, who expressed their appreciation, and a desire to understand more of the gospel. The Primary and Relief Society sessions and also the Y. M. and Y. L.

68C IMPROVEMENT ERA M. I. A. were very successful. The three general sessions on Sunday were the most inspirational meetings that we have ever held. The music helped to make all the meetings a success. President Winterton has received his release. He has been a faithful, God-fearing leader. Elder Max Orton will succeed him as president of the Nevada conference. Elder Harvey Jensen, with Eunice Simpson and Lucy V. Eldredge were transferred to the Fresno conference, and Emma E. Walton to San Francisco. — Emma E. Walton, Sparks, Nevada. Missionaries, left to right, back row: Harvey Jensen, Emma Walton, Lucy V. ElcUedgs, Eunice Simpson, Tillman Turley. Front row: V. M. Flake, H. R. Winterton, Max Orton. President Talmage Visits Bern, the Capital of Switzerland It is a rare coincidence when November passes by without Switzerland being clothed with the whiteness of winter, in fact, according to the rule, this land has a pre-winter season, a winter season, a post-winter season and then a few weeks of summer. But, last year the summer didn't come. Even the lower peaks of these mighty Swiss Alps joined in with their eternally snow-covered brothers and withheld their cloaks of white until November came and it was time for them to be recloaked with a newer whiteness. But, when November came, it brought with it blue skies and a warm sun. December came — and passed, still not a flake of snow had fluttered its ways between those dizzy chasms to the sparkling brooks below. The first day of January came and the Swiss peasants were out sunning themselves on the dry, green grass, or taking hikes up into the crags which are so dear to them. The month of January danced merrily along with its June-like days and its starry nights. The seventh of February brought with it great joy to the hearts of the Swiss peasants, for the "Foehn" had come. The "Foehn" is an extraordinarily warm breeze which comes every spring, sweeps across the valleys of the Bernese oberlands with great velocity and oft times causes gerat damage. During the time of the "Foehn" the peasants are not allowed to build fires, because many a Swiss village has been burned out, due to the spreading of sparks by this wind. But, the peasants are glad when the "Foehn" comes, for it is regarded as a sure sign of spring. Thus, with happy hearts and bright prospects, the stage was set for the big conference — yes — it would be a big conference, because Elder James E. Talmage of the Council of the Twelve was to be present. The Church members from every nook and corner on the Alps assembled to- gether whatever amount was necessary, and hurried off to Berne, that beauti-

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 681 fill, majestic city situated on the horseshoe bend of the river Aare, where they quickly assembled themselves in the meetinghouse and then anxiously awaited the arrival of President Talmage. The officers and teachers' meeting was held, and no sooner had the closing prayer been spoken, than in walked Elder James E. Talmage, the president of the European mission, accompanied by Fred Tadje, president of the Swiss and German mission. What an audience of beaming faces and sparkling eyes. There, before their eyes — was an apostle of our heavenly Father, and the writer of so many books which they had read and idolized. Promptly as the clock an- nounced the hour of ten, President J. Russel Hughes of the Berne conference welcomed the large crowd. A short program was rendered by the children of the Sunday school, during which two small quaintly costumed tots presented President Talmage and President Tadje each with a large bouquet of flowers and a silver spoon as a token of appreciation from the Berne conference. When President Talmage arose, he seemed as mighty as that towering mountain "The Virgin." The first words he spoke were, 'I am so happy I could weep." He spoke in English, but everyone under- stood what he had said before Elder Jean Wunderlich translated it for him, for his words were breaking right out of his countenance. President Talmage, President Tadje, and President Hughes spoke in all three of the meetings of the conference. Their words were most impressive and filled with the Spirit of Him who had called them to their offices. When night came, and the closing prayer of the conference was spoken, the members and friends quietly filed out of the meetinghouse, shook hands with the presidents, and then scattered to their remote homes, taking with them the remembrance of wonderful hours spent with Elder Talmage. In the future, as these people look back upon this epoch-making event, they shall say, "Yes, he came during that wonderful winter when we didn't have any snow, and the days came in and went out with the warmth of June." — ; Clyde A. Davies, conference correspondent. . ______ -.^™.._- £i4ft ■ ■ mm p^ r/ ar 7 r mat / - ■rv w C ' * i» f M <**"' ■;# T' CSf W » " Jlpi4 > ■ 1 , -». k • ■ - ■• ^I^^^^HEm* - Elders in attendance at Berne conference, bottom row, left to right: Henry Dubach, Melvin Pickering, Basel conference president; James E. Talmage, European mission president; Fred Tadje, Swiss-German mission president; J. Russell Hughes, Berne conference president; Ernst Blaser, Glenn Robinson, Alfred P. Neagelin. Second row: Clyde A. Davies, Harold Merrill, John Kunz, Henry Fluckiger, W. O. Sand- berg. Third row: Ernst Stetler. Paul Burham, Adolf Reishert, Walter Beutler. This picture was taken on the steps of Switzerland's capitol building.

682 IMPROVEMENT ERA Progress Through Hard Work Leland B. Sheets, conference president Vienna, Austria, March 16, 1925: "This country has a population of something over six million and only five missionaries. The Austrian conference is a part of the Swiss- German mission, but we are rather at a great distance from mission head- quarters in Basel, Switzerland, which gives us only few visits from the mission headquarters. On March 1, we had a very successful conference in Vienna at which Jean Wunderlich from Basel represented President Fred Tadje. We are making progress through hard work and continued effort. We are at present introducing the Mutual Improvement work in our branches along with the religion. The young people must have recreation, play and diversion, and we are endeavoring to give them these things based on the will of God. We hope for success in this branch of the work and know it will attend our efforts if we do not rely too much on our own strength." Names of the missionaries, standing, left to right: Hugh J. Ford, president Linz branch, Centerville; Earl D. Young, Brigham City; Clifford M. Reynolds, Salt Lake City. Sitting, LeLand B. Sheets, conference president, Salt Lake City; Jean Wunderlich, Basel; G. Hammond Hansen, president Vienna branch, Logan, Utah. Four Classes of People Ellsworth W. Wilcox, writing from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, February 14, reports that the elders are putting forth united effort in the work of preaching the gospel. Queensland, the capital of the state, is head- quarters for the elders. It has a population of about 250,000 situated on the Brisbane River and lies about ten miles from the ocean. Members of the Church in all parts of the state belong to this conference which extends some 1,500 miles from the north and south and aHout 1,200 miles from the east and west. The people here may be divided in four classes concerning their views on religion. These are: First, those who are established in their own

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 683 churches, and there are many churches here. This class of people are always ready to show us that we are on the wrong track. Then there are those who are indifferent to religion of any kind and are, hence, willing to let things rest as they are. Third; the atheists, and fourth, those who fail to live up to the teachings of any church. Some, there are, who have seen the light of the gospel and we can truthfully say that some of the best Latter-day Saints are residing here. Of the fourth class, those of the indifferent spirit, are the most numerous by far. Our testimonies are strengthened as we talk with unbelievers. Some of their doctrines may be correct, but our religion embraces all truth, covering all that the others have and a great deal more besides with the error left out. The elders left to right: standing, Carroll L. Olsen, Hyrum; Joseph Cook, Syracuse; Harry H. Simmons, Lay ton; Seated: Golden I. Barlow, Twin Falls, Idaho; Ellsworth W. Wilcox, conference president, Ogden; Wilford L. Storrs, American Fork. A Trip to the Big Island of Hawaii The annual conference for the ecclesiastical districts of Hawaii, were held during the week of February 7 to 14. On February 6, President Eugene J. Neff of the Hawaiian mission and several associates left Honolulu for Hilo, to attend these conferences. The party comprised besides Presi- dent Neff, President William M. Waddoups of the Hawaiian temple, Sarah Mitchell and Marguerite Gordon of the missionary force, Brother and Sister Ezra Waddoups and two small daughters, also Vella Waddoups and Brother Anson Waddoups, who recently arrived in the islands for business purposes. We arrived in Hilo three hours past schedule time, due to an exceedingly rough voyage. Our first meeting in Hilo was a Relief Society meeting, and the sisters were waiting for us, so we went immediately to the meeting which was followed directly by a Primary meeting and, after a short rest by a Priesthood meeting. Sunday was spent in almost continuous meeting and every one of them was exceedingly well attended and it was plain to all that Hilo chapel will soon have to be enlarged. Monday we started on our trip around the island with Sister Effie L. Cooper, Eva Winn, Walter N. Steffen, Keola Kailimai and David Kalani. No words can express the beauty of the drive between Hilo and the Volcano of Kilauea. Ferns, flowers of every color and size, and as you go higher and higher the gradual cooling of the atmosphere and the increasing of the humidity makes it a never-to-be-forgotten ride. In the center of the Hawai- ian National Park and in the midst of a dense tropical forest is the huge

684 IMPROVEMENT ERA Taken on an eight-ton rock ejected from the Halemaumau Pit, of the volcano of Kilauea, during the gigantic eruption of May, 19 24. From the left: Miss Vella Waddoups, Mrs. Ezra Waddoups, Sarah Mitchell, Effie Cooper, Anson Waddoups, Marguerite Gordon, Dr. Ezra Waddoups, President Eugene J. Neff. Front row: Alex, the guide. President William Waddoups, Eva Ezra Waddoups, Keola Kailimai, David Kalani. In front of Volcano House: From the left: Dr. Ezra Waddoups, Miss Vella Waddoups, Walter N. Steffen, Marguerite Gordon, Anson Waddoups, Eva Winn, President William Waddoups, Sarah Mitchell, Keola Kailimai, Effie Cooper, Ezra Waddoups, Manager of Volcano House, President Eugene J. Neff, David Kalani, Alex, the Guide, who is a Cherokee Indian.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 685 Volcano of Kilauea with its active pit of Halemaumau, and on the brink of it, the^ Volcano House which is an up-to-date hotel, a "real oasis in the desert," for tourists. We spent the night there and for the first time in Hawaii we were forced to button our coats and cling closely to the fire- place. We were very happy and perhaps a good part of it may have been due to the resemblance to our somewhat frigid home in the mountains of Zion. From the Volcano we passed into the districts of Kau and during the day traveled over long stretches of lava rock, where many years ago the volcanic pit of Mauna Loa had become active and without warning had poured lava forth to such an extent that it has reached clear to the sea. During the Alika flow of 1921, a herd of cattle were grazing in direct line of the lava stream. When the lava reached the cattle it divided, flowed in two divisions, came together again on the opposite side of the herd, and today in that mass of black lava is a tiny spot of green. Truly the hand of Providence, for who, having seen, could believe that such things "just happen." We spent two nights and one day in Kona, most of the time in attending meetings, but we also had the privilege of seeing the Captain Cook Monument, raised in honor of the first white man to visit the islands of Hawaii, and who gave to them the name of Sandwich Islands. Kona at one time was a Hawaiian center, and the marks of it are still there. Among them is a famous old heiau or temple around which is the "City of Refuge." This was a place of safety for anyone evading the law, and was similar to our prisons except that an individual went there of his own free will and choice, in order to protect his life. From Kona we went to Waimea in the district of Hamakus, visiting the Parker ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the world, and from there we went on to Kohala. Very fine conference meetings were held in all these places and our greatest regret was that we could not stay longer and become better acquainted with the Saints. We spent Sunday, February 15, in Kalapa, Hamakua holding conference there in the recently erected chapel which was filled to overflowing. That same night we traveled to Honomu, stopping long enough to administer to a sister living in the little village of Laupahoehoe. This sister has been bed-ridden for many years and is pray- ing and living for enough strength of body to enable her to make the trip to the Hawaiian temple on the island of Oahu. The Saints of Honomu have outgrown their chapel, so we found it necessary to hold the meeting in a down-town hall, kindly donated by Brother David Kalani. It was filled to overflowing with people who had come to hear the word of the Lord. On our return to Hilo the next day we visited the beautiful Akako Falls, and on Monday afternoon reached Hilo, one week exactly from the time we started around the island. We had three days to spend in Hilo, and we were all wondering what we were going to do with the time. Tuesday night the M Men's club, under the direction of Elder Welby McCune, entertained us, and the old time spirit of early Utah days was manifested when everyone from sixteen to sixty entered into the spirit of the occasion and played games and danced with the enthusiasm of real enjoyment. Wednesday night the Primaries of the Hilo conference, under direction of Effie L. Cooper, gave an out-door party, at which three hundred and thiry-six of the Saints attended. Numerous dinners and other kindnesses, together with our mis- sionary duties, filled every moment of our time, until the three days passed so rapidly we hardly realized it. — Marguerite V. Cordon.