Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS "Go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. * * * I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded." — Doc. and Cov. 49:26-27. A 513-Mile Bicycle Trip Through Norway During the summer of 1925 a 513-mile trip on bicycle from Trond- hjem to Oslo was completed by Elders Ole Hansen (left) and Anthon H. Lund. Practically every house between these two towns was reached with tracts. The sun shone 22 hours each day so we were often able to work until 10 or 11 p. m. We could not see the midnight sun, but the sun shone until 11 p. m. and it was nearly as light at midnight as at noon, as the sky in the north was red as fire. During this trip 25,000 tracts were delivered, one public meeting held, and we had many good conversations. We had no trouble with our bicycles, although we each had a pack of 60 pounds. We had blankets also, so we were able to sleep out when necessary. We had beautiful weather and our course followed two large, roaring rivers practically all the way, so we were privileged to see some of the most beautiful scenery in Norway, which is world-known for its beauty. It has been 20 years since the covered district was last tracted. A few of the older people remembered our missionaries, but the greater percentage heard the gospel message for the first time and we know by the friendly manner we were received, that much of the seed sown will someday bear fruit. The work of the Lord is progressing rapidly here in Norway. We are gaining converts and many friends- We herewith wish to extend a "hilsen" from the Norweigan mission to our many friends. We are very thankful for the Era and wish you continued success. — Anthon H. Lund, Oslo, Norway. A New Mission Organized in the United States The North Central States mission was organized Sunday, July 12, at 2:30 o'clock, in Minneapolis. The office of the mission was opened the first day of August. A conference was held at Minneapolis at which the business was transacted. President Rudger Clawson officiated ; John G. Allred was sustained as president, with headquarters at Minneapolis, located at 2725 Third Avenue South. There were present President Joseph Quinney of the Canadian Mission, President John M. Knight of the Western States Mission,

1076 IMPROVEMENT ERA John G. Allred of the newly organized North Central States Mission, and President John H. Taylor of the Northern, along with Sister Rachael Grant Taylor, mission president of the Relief Society. The first session of the con- ference was held Thursday, July 9, at Duluth and meetings were also held on the 10th at St. Paul. A new field of labor has been opened up in the Providence of Saskatchewan, Canada. It has been many years since an attempt was made to locate elders in this Province. Two elders were appointed to labor in this field and others will be added when new missionaries arrive. On the Sunday following, the 12th, President Clawson and President Allred held conferences in Winnipeg. — Glen W. Coffman- -if » i $ if, J 1 i ■>.?* ■ 1 North Central States Missionaries, sitting, left to right: Theodore Reynolds, Saskatchewan; Lula Giles, Minnesota; President John H. Taylor, Northern States Mission; President John M. Knight, Western States Mission; President Rudger Claw- son, of the Council of the Twelve; President John G. Allred, North Central States Mission; Sister Rachael Grant Taylor, Northern States Relief Society; President Joseph Quinney, Jr., Canadian Mission; Matilda Tueller, Minnesota; A. C. Whiting, mission office. Second- row: Raymond Larsen, Winnipeg; E. M. Dixon, Port Arthur; Lulabell Garner, Winnipeg; President William Jensen, Port Arthur conference; L. B. Cline, North Dakota; President Clifton H. Ludwig; East Iowa conference; President R. G. Swann, North Dakota conference; President Glenn W. Coffman, Minnesota conference; Rigmor Eilersen, Minnesota (released) ; H. L. Smith, North Dakota; Alma Ward, Saskatchewan. Third row: N. V. Cox, South Dakota; C. W. Aherns, Minnesota; E. R. Egbert, Minnesota; Raymond Allen, Saskatchewan; J. A. Earley, Minnesota; O. R. Olsen, Porth Arthur; T. M. Webster, Minnesota; A. W. Johnson, Canada, (released) ; E. J. Poulsen, North Dakota; President Merkley, Wis- consin conference; Joseph D. Bensen. Minnesota. Fourth row: L. H. Mousley, Port Arthur; K. G. Carter, Minnesota; H. V. Allen, South Dakota; Wilma Ricks, Win- nipeg; Ruth A. Green, Iva Mortensen, A. C. Traveller, Minnesota; Leo E. Nielsen Saskatchewan; Boyd Squires, Winnepcg. New Chapel Dedicated At a semi-annual missionary conference of Long Beach the mission officers of the different auxilliary organizations conducted excellent demon- strations in the work of the organizations. A large number of people, not of

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1077 our faith, were in attendance at all the sessions of the conference. The dedica- tion of the new chapel took place Sunday afternoon, June 28, President Joseph W. McMurrin offering the dedicatory prayer. The building wes begun on the 15th of February, 1925, and was completed and dedicated, June 28. The building cost with furnishings about $7,300.. It is small but convenient and meets the needs of the people very well. The labor was mostly donated and the members of the branch gave liberally to help complete the building. Its completion and dedication is an epoch in our history here, and we are very thankful that we can come to our new chapel to worship whenever we so desire. The portrait shows the front of the building. The center figure second row is President McMurrin; to his right, W. O. Packard, Santa Ana branch presidency; R. H. Siddoway, chairman of the building committee; Ephraim Larson, Golden C. Bean, Willard Lake, members of the building committee. To the left of President McMurrin are A. J. Smith, Santa Ana branch presidency; Ernest M. Horsley, persident of the Long Beach conference. — Ernest M. Horsley. New Branch has Fifty Members Elder William F. Jackson, Brounsville, Texas, a city of 14,000 inhabi- tants, of which two-thirds are Spanish-speaking people, sends an account and picture of the Sunday School of the Mexican mission. The city is located at the extreme southern end of the Rio Grande valley and is the farthest southern city in the United States. The work of preaching the gospel has been going on in the city for only a little over four years, but a branch has been organized and now has a membership of fifty souls. It is one of the few branches of the Mexican mission that has its own meeting house- This was built in 1923, and dedicated by President Rey L. Pratt in July of that year. The work is under the supervision of Elders William F. Jackson and Stanley Quigley, working exclusively among the Spanish-speaking people. "We are pleased with our branch and the members who have been strength- ened a great deal by several remarkable healings which have taken place very recently, through the power of the holy Priesthood. We appreciate the Era very much and regret that it is not printed in Spanish also, in order that our members might reap the same good that we do from its contents."

1078 IMPROVEMENT ERA Ohio Transferred to Northern States Mission We learn that on the 27th and 28th of June, 1925, at the conference held in Dayton, Ohio, there were present President Charles A. Callis of the Southern States mission and President John H. Taylor of the Northern States mission, all the missionaries in Ohio and many members, friends, investi- gators and strangers. The First Presidency of the Church have decided to transfer Ohio to the Northern States mission, and at this conference the affairs of that conference were turned over to President John H. Taylor of the Northern States mission, the change to take place July 1, 1925. Presi- dents Callis and Taylor delivered several interesting and instructive doctrinal sermons during the conference, to large congregations. The missionaries and members presented President Callis with an appropriate token of their apprecia- tion and regard for him, and a suitable present was sent to Sister Callis. Names of missionaries, Ohio conference, back row, left to right: Dale L. Lee, Rulon Giles, Rue S. Marshall, Walter T. Odd, Thomas G. Layton, William L. Ellsworth, Charles D. Ward. Center row: Mary H. Miekle, Jay S. Grant, conference president; Charles A. Callis, president Southern States Mission; William N. Schow, Adclaid Nelson. Front row: J. M. Hansen, Reuben G. Rhees, Warren E. Hansen. Great Activity in San Francisco Elder Wilford G. Frischknecht, of the San Francisco conference, held at Oakland, May 15-17, reports that more than 1,500 Saints and visitors attended. President Frank M. Edman presided. President McMurrin was unable to attend owing to illness. Following one of the services, a visiting Presbyterian minister remarked to one of the missionaries that he had never witnessed such an abundant outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord as on that occasion. At the Priesthood meeting on Friday, May 15, the missionaries

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1079 gave reports of their labors, bespeaking the optimistic spirit among them, and testifying of their diligence in the discharge of their duties. They see many results of their labors. An elaborate banquet was served by the Oakland Relief Society following the Priesthood meeting. The M. I, A. session of the conference was held with Elder Lewis E. Rowe and Sister Elsie Hogan in charge. Splendid reports of this organization were made. The conference itself was held on the 17th and was characterized by splendid sermons on the principles of the gospel. Elder Wilford G. Frisch- knecht was sustained as president of the conference to succeed President Frank M. Edman who was honorably released and given a token of remembrance in appreciation of his services, after 3 6 months of active labor. The Primarv organization was established in Oakland and ten Primary mothers appointed in the outlying districts. Notice was given of the coming division of the Oakland branch into three branches. Musical concerts were given by the Los Angeles male quartet, assisted by Sister Mosell Michaelson, who made the musical part a great success. More than 500 Books of Mormon have been placed, and fifty-nine baptisms performed in the past six months. A Splendid Motto Adopted Elder Thys Winkel, branch president at The Hague, Holland, reports that this is the most modern city in that country and that the people do not seem to be as religiously inclined there as in other Dutch cities, but the efforts of the elders to convert the people to the true gospel have led them into homes of many prominent men of the city. The prejudice which formerly existed is not as pronounced as it has been and the untrue stories concerning the Latter-day Saints are taken in their true light. For these reasons we think Holland is going t3 be a more fruitful field for the servants of the Lord than heretofore. Our mission president has recently given us instructions to adopt as our motto, verses 4 and 5 of Section 1 1 2 of the Doctrine and Covenants, and we are trying to practice it. Elders left to right, front row: Thys Winkel, Richfield. Utah; Rupert Ravsten, Clarkston, Utah; W. Gordon Rose, Salt Lake City, and John Silverchoon, Ogden, Utah.

1080 IMPROVEMENT ERA Applying for Baptism President Rey L- Pratt met with the missionaries of the Chihuahua con- ference on May 9 and 10. Inspiring, well-attended sessions were held. The visit of President Pratt greatly animated the people, and the missionaries have been meeting with more success since then. The elders from the mountain districts of Chihuahua reports that several people have recently applied for baptism. — Clara Murdoch, Clerk. Missionaries, left to right, back row: Owen U. Call, Edmund C. Hill, Dolan B. Condie, Dale A. Bratner, Willis L. Jacobson. Front row: Bessie Burnham, President Rey. L. Pratt and Zereta Farnsworth. "Church Disunity and What Comes Of It" i "We had the largest attendance ever known at our meetings in Binghamp- ton at our conference on the 28th of June. A minister of the city promised to give us his church to hold an evening service in. We advertised it in the local papers. The Reverend published an article stating that we were to have his chapel, but on the last moment before our conference, due to inside friction among the members the minister had to withdraw his courteous invitation. We were very sorry for that, but President B. H. Roberts nevertheless delivered the address in our own hall which he was to deliver in the Reverend's chapel. His subject was 'Church Disunity and What Comes of It.' It was a most stirring and convincing sermon, and our only regret is that more people did not hear it. The people here are very much more tolerant than ever before and we feel that an awakening of the people is soon coming. One of our lady missionaries has sold 35 Books of Mormon in Albany in the last two months. Two of our elders were ordained Seventies at our last conference — Elders Witwer and William C. Tebbs. The Era helps us greatly in our missionary labors." — William C- Tebbs, conference president, Albany, N. Y. conference.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1081 Special Conference, Dortmund, Cologne On Easter Sunday, a general conference of Cologne, Swiss German mission, was held in Dortmund, in Westphalia. For this conference, through the kindness of the city authorities and of the rector of the school, we obtained the use of the auditorium of the Boys' Middle School. Dortmund is the city where, before the World War, the missionaries of the Church were persecuted vigorously. As an indication of the change of attitude towards the Church of Jesus Christ in this city, our conference sessions were attended by 253 and 237 persons in the afternoon and evening sessions. Although, the auditorium of this school is not generally rented for such public gather- ings, the rector made an exception in our case, "because our aim in holding the meetings was beneficial to good citizenship." We were given the assurance that we would be allowed the use of the auditorium for future similar gatherings. Work in the Cologne conference is peculiar in one way, for within the district we work under the national flags of four races, the German, the French, the English, and the Belgian. The faithful traveling elders of the famous Cologne conference have concentrated their efforts during the past few months upon the distribution of the Book of Mormon. Under special attention, the missionaries and the organized groups of city missionaries, in the different branches, are realizing splendid success in creating interest in the history of the American continent as contained in the Book of Mormon. We find that the Book of Mormon is our best missionary. — E. Wayne Stratford. A Spiritual Feast in San Diego Axie Spackman, writing from San Diego, May 5, ltfers to a missionary conference held in that city April 24 to 26, with President Ellis M. Orme conducting, and President Joseph W. McMurrin in attendance, with a large force of visiting missionaries from Los Angeles and San Bernardino. The Spirit of the Lord was manifest in great abundance. Many inspiring talk? and instructions were given by President McMurrin and the missionaries. It was a spiritual feast and was enjoyed by non-members as well as the Saints and missionaries. Greatest Obstacle Indifference In the Liverpool conferences under the direction of President Rulon W. Openshaw, fourteen missionaries are striving to place the gospel of Jesus Christ before the people. "Our biggest obstacle is indifference on the part of the public. We encounter some persecution. Two branches have been opened up since the first of the year and the work in every department shows a decided improvement over that of the previous year. Street meetings are conducted throughout the conference, a very effective means of placing a num- ber of copies of the Book of Mormon and other Church works in many homes. We have found the Improvement Era very helpful in our labors." — James M. Armstrong, Conference Secretary. Nineteen Baptisms in Nevada Nineteen baptisms were reported since March 1st, and there are many earnest investigators studying the gospel. The semi-annual conference was held in Reno, May 29-31. The Spirit of the Lord was felt in rich abundance by all present. Many outsiders attended, especially attracted by the concert

1082 IMPROVEMENT ERA rendered by the Los Angeles quartette. President Max Orton, Panguitch, Utah, was released June 1 . Elder Earl Crowther was chosen to succeed him. Seven Baptized in West Virginia Elder W. O. Lamborn, president of the West Virginia North conference, Eastern States mission, reports that the elders are given a better hearing now than ever before. Privileges to hold gatherings in a number of meeting, and school houses have been granted, and these were well attended and good in- terest manifested by nearly all. Last month there were seven baptisms per- formed. Others have requested baptisms. Missionaries, front row left to right: R. H. Wood. Liberty, Idaho; Hortense Greene, Layton, Utah; President Brigham H. Roberts of the Eastern States Mission; LaVerne Black, Twin Falls, Idaho; J. H. Seeley, Hayden, Utah. Standing: E. O. Nielson, Cowley, Wyoming; H. M. Doney, Franklin, Idaho; W. O. Lamborn, president West Virginia North conference, Laketown, Utah; L. B. Egan, Cowley, Wyoming; H. V. Browning, Ogden, Utah; R. J. Barlow, Grouse Creek, Idaho. New Chapel Dedicated in Australia Elder F. R. Pett, Subiaco, West Australia, reports the completion and dedication of a new chapel in Perth, West Australia. President Charles H. Hyde and wife were present from Sydney for the dedication held on the 14th of June, 1925. On the previous evening before the dedication, a banquet at which 125 guests were present celebrated the event, to the joy and satisfaction of all. The hall was trimmed with ferns, yellow wattle being used effectively to decorate the tables. The condition of this branch is the brightest since its organization and is a culmination of faithful work and prayer, and prospects for a bright future are entertained by the elders. The picture shows the front

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1083 of the new Church with the elders on the steps. "We enjoy reading the Era. It gives us courage and a stronger determination to do our bit." Elders front row: Morris B. Buckwalter, Rulon S. Stromberg. Center: Edgar Nelson, Horace G. Cutler. Top: Frank R. Pett, Carrie S. Hyde. and Prest. Charles H. Hyde. From Maoriland "We enjoy working in the vineyard of our Lord. We have a vast field of labor before us. We receive some opposition, both by word of mouth and print, but the press has given us the privilege of refuting all erroneous state- ments, so these have done us no injury. We have spent the summer months traveling among the Maoris, teaching them the way of the Lord. Many of them are very faithful. Some of the Saints give way to the traditions of their forefathers, and this weakens their faith in the servants of the Lord and weakens them in carrying on his work. The Era is a great help to us in our missionary work." — E. A. Ottley, Masterton, New Zealand. A Book of Mormon a Week, the Slogan Elder David C. Carlson, mission secretary of the Swedish mission, reports that President James E. Talmage visited there, coming to Malmo, Sweden, from the Danish mission on the third of March, and remained in the Swedish mission for a week. It was the first time in many years that the Saints at Malmo and Gothenburg have had a visit from the European mission president. Meetings were held in both places with the missionaries and the Saints, all of whom enjoyed the spirit in full measure. Meetings were held three days in Stockholm, goodly numbers of non-members as well as members attending. The missionaries of Sweden are endeavoring to increase the sale of the Book of Mormon. "A Book of Mormon a week per elder" is the standard set by some of the missionaries.