--- 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: 29 number: 3 published: 1926-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Messages from the Missions,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 3 (January 1926): 277–285." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2903unse 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: improvementera2903unse start_page: 277 end_page: 285 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2903unse publication_year: 1926 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 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS Work in the Southwest Washington Conference Karl W. Devenport of Tacoma, Washington, president: the information of the work comes from Ralph B. Stratford, secretary of the Northwestern States mission: "During the summer, much country work has been done by four of the elders, covering Puyallup Valley and several of the small islands in Puget Sound. The elders went in pairs and traveled without purse or scrip, and were received cordially and entertained by the people. Elders Larsen and Ericksen have conducted the work in Grays Harbor county and have now two Sunday Schools in operation, one recently or- ganized at Carlisle. Washington. The efforts of Sister Lavoun Walton and Ila Eliason during the entire summer have been commendable in placing Books of Mormon. Our aim has been to familiarize ourselves with the principles and doctrines of the gospel in order to intelligently teach them to others. We conduct a priesthood class for all the missionaries in Tacoma every morning from eight to nine o'clock. We have made a careful study of the Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, and are now using the Book of Mormon as a text. On Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, we hold a three hour class devoted to practice in public speaking, reviewing scripture, singing, and attempting to solve the problems which confront the missionary. We have occasionally talks on such subjects as conduct, etiquette, and the best means of approach in delivering our message. Cl^ Ttoitasteru States mission Soutfwest Washington Conference y Autfnst Y)1S ELDERS OF N. W. STATES MISSION Top row: H. McArthur, J. N. Larsen. R. J. Brewer, E. p. Ericksen, T. H. Oldroyd. Center: S. H. McKee. R. B. Stratford. Mission Secretary: B. S. Young, Mission President; K. Davenport, Conference President: K. F. Allen. Bottom row: LaVoun Walton, Ila Eliason. 278 IMPROVEMENT ERA New Chapel in England Recently a chapel has been purchased at Norwich, England. On the 18th of October, last, the members of the Church residing there, realized their long cherished hope when the dedication of the beautiful chapel was made under direction of President James E. Talmage. "The service was very impressive and the building was filled with members and their friends. > During the service, President Ralph C. Jones expressed his gratitude for the^ occasion, and Elder Ben. E. Summers gave a short history of the chapel and commented on the effort put forth acquiring and preparing it for use. Sacred solos were rendered by Sister Violet Shepherd and Elder Walter F. Whitehead, and Elder Raymond Murphy ren- dered selections on the violin. President Tal- mage, in the dedicatory sermon, spoke on 'The Significance of Consecra- tion and Dedication.' He showed by scriptural il- lustrations that in the past God has set apart for his service, certain ma- terial things, places, times and persons, and desig- nated them as holy. In the dedicatory prayer, President Talmage in- voked the Divine blessing upon the house, its con- tents and surroundings, as a place dedicated to the worship of God, and sup- plicated its acceptance and preservation for this sa- cred purpose. "The chapel had pre- viously been used by the Swedenborgians as a place of worship. The travel- ing elders, together with the local members, have worked incessantly for the beautifying of the place until it has been com- pletely renovated, both in- side and out; and standing in one of the best residen- tial districts, it is truly a structure to be proud of. It is after the Gothic style of architecture and is made of red brick and sandstone. THE NORWICH CHAPEL, INSIDE AND OUT MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 279 It is provided with splendid class rooms. In the main chapel at the side of the rostrum, stands a beautiful pipe organ. The electrical system supplies both lightj and heat for the entire building. In the largest class room, is a new baptismal font lined with white tiling, which is provided with warm and cold water. On the day of the opening, it was used to baptize five converts. "The new chapel has been the means of greatly increasing the attendance at all the meetings; and, with the continuity of the faithful work of the missionaries and local members, a bright and successful future is inevitable. We all enjoy reading the Era\ and look forward to each number." — Walter F. Whitehead, conference clerk. ELDERS IN NORWICH CONFERENCE Missionaries, left to right, top row: Ben. E. Summers. George O. Gee. Center: Dean A. Barker, Raymond Murphy. Harold L. White, William J. Attrige, Walter F. Whitehead, conference clerk: Rulon L. Russon, Maurice R. Barnes, and Clifford D. Grough. Bottom: Junius S. Romney. Liverpool Office: May Booth Talmage, president Mission Relief Societies: James E. Talmage. president European Mission: Ralph C. Jones, released, conference president: Leland N. Wight, incoming conference president: Z. Vernon Derrick, Liverpool Office. A Branch in the Duchy of Luxembourg Elder Alonzo P. Kesler, conference clerk, Liege, Belgium, reports that the elders are happy and grateful that the French Mission is growing in territory and number: "We have four nations as our field of activities, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and recently a branch was opened up in Luxembourg, the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. We hays only fifteen missionaries in the Belgium conference, but have branches in three of the above named countries. Recently we received more missionaries- and feel prayerfully confident in the success of preaching the gospel to the French speaking people. Although the French are warm-hearted and sympa- thetic, they cannot be approached as in some other missions. Their trusi> and friendship must first be secured and then the gospel message can be' announced. When an understanding and an appreciation of the gospel is 280 IMPROVEMENT ERA received, feverent devotion and sacrifice are manifest, and the faithfulness of the members, is a testimony to all of us. We receive much encouragement an inspiration from the Era, and to it we extend our "bonjour" and the hand of brotherhood to all the Lord's people throughout the world." Missionaries in the Belgian conference: Front row, left to right; Alonzo P. Kcsler, conference secretary. Salt Lake City: Joseph P. Anderson, released, conference president, Ogden; Sister Alice P. Anderson, C. Vernon Coggle, conference presi- dent. Salt Lake City: Alexander Lambert, Josephine Lambert, released, Hooper, Utah: Wayne W. Huish. Salt Lake City: S. Smith Stevens. Salt Lake City. Second row: Alon Fife. Logan: Walton K. Hall, (Salt Lake City: Stanley C. Nelson, Provo: Leonard A. Robbins, Salt Lake City; Virgil E. Petersen, Huntsville; Joel H. Bowen, Salt Lake City; George T. Lynch, Salt Lake City; Verl E. Roberts, Rupert, Idaho. Church and Other Activities in South Africa Elder H. L. Baker, conference clerk, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, reports the semi-annual conference of that branch, held on October 3-4, with President J. Wyley Sessions in attendance. The Sunday School convened at 7:30, Sunday morning, October 4, and gave demonstrations, of their work, including stories from the Old Testament, told by members of the lower classes. At 12:15, general conference was held where the business of the conference was presented and the officers sustained and reports given. At the evening session, the little* mission hall was filled to capacity. President Miles P. Romney addressed the people on. "Authorities and Powers of the Priesthood." President Sessions spoke on, "Excuses for Disobedience." Though thirteen thousand miles away from the general conference, we felt that we were blessed with the same great spirit that characterizes that conference gathering. A concert was held on Friday, October 9, by the Mutual Improvement Association. During the past two months, two of the elders have been laboring in Uitenhage, a small town some twenty-one miles from Port Elizabeth. Here, Miles P. Romney had the privilege of playing football with the "Swifts," a prominent athletic club of this district. By joining this team, he made many friends and allayed much prejudice, and MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 281 also has been given many opportunities to explain our message. After the final game and prior to President Romney leaving, the team presenting him with a book of Lowell's Poems, suitably inscribed with sentiments expressing the high esteem with which they regarded him. Our work in Uitenhage culminated in a meeting held in the town hall, at which an address was delivered bv President Sessions on "Why Mormonism?" to an appreciative audience. President Romney and Elder H. L. Crane left October 12 for a six hundred mile journey on bicycles, trading the territory between Port Elizabeth and East London. Each issue of the Era is enjoyed. It is a source of strength to us to read of the progress in Zion and the success of our brethren in the different mission fields. ^^^^^Bl I ~^L flKal^^BGM Hip* «-?^H Bp> *s pH ■ft 282 IMPROVEMENT ERA Elders Visited by Friends of U. S. Battleship President E. L. Butler, Apia, Samoa, writes through his secretary, M. G. Wagstaff, under date of October 20, 1925: "For perhaps the first time in history, the personnel of the Samoan Mission met in Pago Pago with the, elders of the American Samoan. President and Sister E. L. Butler paid them a visit. We left Apia. August 29, aboard the Lady Roberts, and arrived at our destination, Pago Pago, the following morning. In the harbor and extending out into the Pacific, lay part of America's fleet, stopping over on their way to Hawaii from Australia. Active demonstrations by the fleet were given during the three day's stay in the islands. Stea-planes soared over Tutuila. At night powerful searchlights played around the bay, flash- ing signals from ship to ship, and hundreds of sailors thronged the streets of the small naval station. J. M. Barnes of; Kaysville and N. H. Lyons of Ogden, Ensign aboard the U. S. S. California, visited us at the mission home. We were mutually delighted at this meeting, since some of our elders were former school-mates of these officers. We visited the U. S. S. California as their guests and were familiarized with life aboard this, one of America's largest ships. We had a novel experience in viewing a moving picture show while sitting aboard, the battleship. Every day during the stay of the fleet in Pago Pago, we were visited at the mission home by men and officers of the Navy, many of them Latter-day Saints, and some having filled missions for our Church. They expressed great happiness at meeting people from home. Before separating to return to our respective conferences, we held a spirited elders' meeting. President and Sister E. L. Butler and the Savaii conference president, M. G. Wagstaff. remained in Tutilla for two weeks, and attended a very successful conference in Mapusaga on the 19th and 20th of September. The Era is( a big aid to us in our work. We wish you con- tinued success." — M. G. Wagstaff. Great Success in Hamburg Elder Leslie R. Matheson of the Hamburg conference, Germany, reports great success, joy and satisfaction attending their labors in that conference. A conference session was held there on August 29-31, inclusive, at which, leading mission presidents, including President James E. Talmage, Hugh J. Cannon of the Swiss-German Mission, and many others were present at a most successful conference, and perhaps the largest and best ever held in Ham- burg. During the meetings, President Cannon expressed his delight and joy in being again assembled with the Saints of Hamburg, where he labored in 1891, and often visited as mission president, in 1902-3. The Sunday School held a very interesting session, outstanding features being the characterization of a number of the prophets and a presentation of a history of the Book of Mormon. The interest was augmented by selections from a large children's choir, and gospel messages were delivered to the children by President Tadje and by President and Sister Talmage and Sister Hyde. The Hamburg Relief Society responded with refreshments for the visiting Saints and friends and President Talmage delivered a powerful discourse on "Freedom" which was interpreted by Elder Wunderlich. A large choir added to the spirit of the meeting. A special meeting of the Relief Society was held and the oratorio, "The Vision," by Evan Stephens, was rendered at the evening meeting by the Hamburg choir under the direction of Elder LeRoy Winter. There were hundreds of investigators present. A missionary meeting was held on Monday and addressed by the visiting brethren. The conference was brought to a close by a presentation of the oratorio, "The Martyrs" by Stevens, by the combined adult and children's choirs with an explanation of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum, by Elder Wunderlich. The total attendance was estimated at three thousand. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 283 MISSIONARIES OF HAMBURG CONFERENCE Missionaries, left to right, first row: President Dorius, Cologne conference; President McKay, Hannover conference; Jean Wunderlich, Editor of the German Stern; Sister Talmage, President James E. Talmage of the European mission; Pres. Hugh J. Cannon of the Swiss-German mission: Sister Cannon and baby; Presi- dent Charles H. Hyde of the Netherlands mission; Sister Hyde; John Talmage. Second row: Matheson; Neumeyer, Jenkins, Einzinger, Gardner, President Bower of the Hamburg Conference; Watkins, Winter, Beesley, Jordan and Poulter. Third row: Crandall, Bollschweiler^ Walquist, Hatch, Brown, Engel, Miskin, Cutler, Moore, Huber, E. Jex Capener. Fourth row: Stephens (visiting brother from Ogden, Utah) , Barker, Taylor, Christensen, Nibley, Nielsen, Monson, Squires, Anderson, Chamberlain, J. Ray Capener. President Tadje of the German-Austrian mission was absent. Pomcrene Chapel Dedicated The missionaries of the Arizona conference reported at a recent semi- annual conference that they had met with kindly treatment and had made many friends in their work, who were anxious to hear concerning the restoration of the gospel. Many successful open-air and cottage meetings were held in every district where the missionaries have been located. Elders T. A. Christensen and A. D. Bushnell spent three months of the summer in Pleasant Valley, which forms the setting for several of Zane Grey's novels. This valley lies in the Snowflake stake territory and the work was per- formed under the supervision of the stake missionary organization. Horses were furnished for the elders to ride from one ranch to the other, and they found that the people who were residents, were very hospitable. Cottage meetings were held in almost every home, and the missionaries were asked to take charge of a Union Sunday School which had been established in their midst. Within two months, they were rewarded for their work by four of the most respectable residents of the valley asking for baptism. This made it possible to install a "Mormon" course of study in the Sunday School and to place in charge people who held the authority to officiate. Since then, five other people have been baptized and the Sunday School has grown steadily and is a wonderful power for good in that community. During the conference, the Pomerene chapel was dedicated by President Joseph W. 284 IMPROVEMENT ERA McMurrin. This building has been erected by the members of the Pomerene Branch during the past eighteen months and cost in the neighborhood of $30,000. There are twelve organized branches in this conference, eight of them meet in substantial buildings owned by the Church. MISSIONARIES OF THE ARIZONA CONFERENCE Missionaries, back row. left to right: Herman A. Bjork, R. Claude Boyce, Alonzo D. Bushnell, Rosaline Dansie. Marvin E. Dansie. Center row: Noel A. Fuller, Los Angeles conference: Melvin D. Cornwall, Dorothy J. Cox, Ilda LeChem- inant. Alvin E. Miller. Front row: Leo J. Huskinson, Lewis E. Row, superin- tendent Mission Sunday School and Y. M. M. I. A.: Reed S. Gardner, mission secretary: Raeburn E. Richloff. conference president: Laura I. Astle, correspond- ing secretary: Joseph W. McMurrin. mission president: Moselle Michaelson. President Mission Y. L. M. I. A. and Primaries: Margaret K. Miller, President Mission Relief Societies: Theodore A. Christensen. Var O. Buchanan. — R E. Bischoff. Twenty-three Baptisms Elder Justin E. Erickson of the Southern Indiana conference, reports forty-six baptisms since the first of the year and that the meetings of the elders have been very successful and many investigating the gospel. "Visits have been made to the conference by Andrew Jenson, Assistant Church His- torian, and Elder Stephen L. Richards of the Council of Twelve. Their presence and kind instructions were highly appreciated by us. During the time from June to November, we had twenty-three baptisms; four hundred cottage meetings and two hundred thirty-six open air meetings were held. Four hundred and forty-one Books of Mormon were sold; sixteen hundred and forty-three were loaned; three thousand eight hundred and sixty-three other books, including a wide distribution of pamphlets and tracts. We MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 285 appreciate the Era as a helpful guide in preaching the gospel to our investi- gators and friends. V 1 '> VJCI * <«»* ^ 0 •».%»,, ^ ELDERS OF THE SOUTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE Elders, left to right, front row: Dean A. Anderson, Pleasant Grove; Andrew, R. Somerville, Moab; Justin E. Erickson, conference president, Richmond; Stephen L. Richards of the Council of Twelve; John H. Taylor, mission president; Phillip C. Jessee, Springville; John L. Isaacsen, Garland. Second row: Alvin B. Rigby, Rexburg, Idaho; Rolla M. Rich. Paris, Idaho; Vada S. Newby, Monroe; Leora Cook, Afton, Wyoming; Alice Morgan, Driggs, Idaho: Alzada Wilmott, Springville; Melba Merrill, Pima. Arizona: Ernest C. Hanks, Salem. Back row: George T. Talley. Thatcher. Arizona: R. Clifford Albrechtscn. Emery: Gladys Millar. Shelley. Idaho: Joseph L. Jorgensen, Salt Lake City, Lloyd A. Davis, Blackfoot, Idaho. New Chapel Dedicated in Australia Elder Leon A. Robins, writing from Enmore, Sydney, Australia, reports the dedication of the new chapel at which the following elders attended. The work of the Lord is progressing in the Tasmanian conference, both temporally and spiritually. The new chapel just completed cost $10,000, with a seating capacity of 170, with a dwelling at the rear of the Church for the elders. The Saints testified to the help of the Lord in obtaining their part of the money for the building of the house. The elders spent the greater part of their time foi nearly four months on the Church, yet, notwithstand- ing, the spiritual part of the work was not neglected. There were twenty- one baptisms in the last year.