Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSION West Maui Conference, Hawaiian Mission Baptisms performed during 1925 exceed, by 11, the previous year's record for the conference; and in all vital points, a general increase is shown over previous records. "Our labors, practically entirely among the native people heretofore, are being gradually extended, as the English language becomes more widely understood, to the English speaking people and to the different nationalities represented in Hawaii. Mutual Improvement work is being carried on in many of our branches, with a live interest characterizing the gatherings. We feel thankful for the hospitality extended us in this land, and for the reputation and respectable standing that our cause has won among the people. We extend greetings to our companions laboring through- out the various missions of the world, and wish them success. '" i §1 B 7 I H9 ' > Jst mxMm O S+Ka. TJ " *\ ELDERS OF THE HAWAIIAN MISSION Standing, left to right: George R. Hammond, Mancos, Colorado; Lee N. Taylor, Salt Lake; Russell F. Taylor, Salt Lake; Lorin W. Goates, Lehi, Utah; James W. L. McGuire, local elder from Honolulu; W. Earl Pendleton, Panguitch, Utah, East Maui conference. Sitting, left to right: Edward F. Packham, Acequia, Idaho; A. B. Thorup, Salt Lake, succeeding president, West Maui conference; Sister A. B. Thorup; George W. Hall, Salt Lake, retiring president. West Maui conference; Spencer E. Saville, Salt Lake, president East Maui conference. Preaching the Gospel by Reindeer Elder Vance O. Lind of Gefle, Sweden, reports that J. C. Berglund, of Price, Utah, has the honor of being the northernmost missionary. He

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 587 is seen in the picture herewith driving a reindeer near Boden, Sweden, 1200 kilometers north of Stockholm, very close to the arctic circle. "Brother Berglund has lived in Utah for 3 7 years, and has been a member of the Church for four years. So after an absence of nearly forty years, he has come back to his birthplace and the associations of his youth to declare unto his relatives and acquaintances the glorious message of truth and light leading to salvation, as revealed to the earth in these latter days. We ap- preciate the Improvement Era, which comes to us regularly in this far northern land. We wish it were possible for our members to read it over here, so that they could share the enjoyment that the elders receive through the message of good cheer which it conveys." A Three-day Conference in Los Angeles Forty regular missionaries of the Los Angeles conference, with Presi- dent McMurrin and other mission officers and visitors, met at 10 o'clock, January 8, 1926, in the Matthews ward chapel, in Los Angeles, where a very instructive Priesthood meeting was enjoyed by all present. For six hours, nearly all the missionaries bore strong testimonies and related interest- ing and profitable experiences peculiar to missionary work. Elder John F. Bringhurst, a short-term missionary and former Bishop of Springville for twenty years, now a member of the stake presidency in that locality, was called on to speak, and in his remarks stated: "I have been a bishop for twenty years, and conducted and attended innumerable meetings of this na- ture, but never before have I attended one equal to this." A sumptuous banquet was served by the Matthew ward Relief Society, following the Priesthood meeting. On Saturday, regular sessions were held at 2 and 7:30 p. m., the body of the chapel being filled at each meeting. President McMurrin and the missionaries delivered impressive discourses during the time. Sunday, President Heber J. Grant was present, and during the morning and afternoon sessions, delivered two ideal missionary sermons, enlarging on some of the most vital and far-reaching points of Mormonism. Many non-members were in attendance. On Sunday _ night, President McMurrin related interesting experiences and added his testimony as a fitting climax to what had been termed one of the best conferences ever held in Los

588 IMPROVEMENT ERA Angeles. A very appropriate correlation of music was woven in throughout the various sessions, furnished by the missionaries, the M Men, and the Gleaner Girls of the Los Angeles stake, led by Chorister William Salt. — L. C. Miles. 1 H rt * W^^l'^f^ ' .V^H - j^^VfjKvni ('" fe . t^m £ ^ ▼ f «fr | ■ fjfib m fc w 4rl ?j f 1, ¥ * J ' 1 i f V /- " - * * ' »•■• i -"I %» •I to . V 1 ,v 1 a ^ I MISSIONARIES OF THE LOS ANGELES CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: Louis S. Iverson, Calimis Editor; Lewis E. Rowe, superintendent Sunday schools and mission Mutuals; Laura I. Astle, correspond- ing secretary; President Lorin C. Miles, Los Angeles conference; President Joseph W. McMurrin of California mission; Margaret K. Miller, president mission Relief Societies; Charlotte Stahr, assistant president mission Relief Societies; Reed S. Gardner, mission secretary; Agnes Nibley, secretary mission. Relief Societies; Frank Brown. Second row: James Crook, Lorin M. Noble, Bertha Roderick, Arnold C. Brems, Verene Adams, Milton W. West, Ebenezer O. Wilcox, Noel A. Fuller, Evelyn Schank, Violet Bennett. Third row: Clyde T. Wilde, Mrs. Frank Pocock, Sarah Cornick (San Bernardino con- ference), Mary Holland (San Bernardino conference), John H. Wheeler, Hyrum David, Edna Harris, Thelma Taylor, Mark C. Black, Madora Lund. Fourth row: Alexander Coleman, A. L. Oklebery, Marion Haliday, Luther Y. Smith, Sarah A. Farr, Lucian C. Farr, James A. Culimore, Arthur Condie, Walter B. Mason, Harvey M. Burnett. Fifth row: John F. Bringhurst, George C. Larson, A. E. Lemon, Truman Swallow, Arlene B. Lemon, Fredinand Hansen, George H. Sims. The Pageant, "The Standard Bearers/' at Long Beach Long Beach held their conference December 18-20 in the Santa Ana chapel. Twenty-two missionaries were present, as well as Saints and investigators, and a rich manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord was enjoyed. The first three sessions were given over to the Primary, Relief Society and M. I. A. work, respectively. All officers and teachers felt more keenly, after the meeting, the responsibility placed on them as leaders. A priesthood meeting, at which thirty-two missionaries were present, was held on Saturday morning, December 19. President Joseph W. McMurrin, and Dr. George H. Brimhall, of the Brigham Young University of Provo, attended the Sun- day sessions. They stressed the point that, as Latter-day Saints, we are responsible and that it is our duty to warn the people of the world that

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 589 the gospel of Jesus Christ has again been restored to the earth. An interest- ing feature of the conference was a pageant, entitled "The Standard Bearers," given by twenty-five members of the Santa Ana branch, under the direction of Elder Rowe and others. About 200 people enjoyed the pageant, which was well presented. IIS mfUm ST™ "5 MISSIONARIES v^^ of (he Lcmi Beach Conference CaliibrnkMissioit Missionaries in the picture are; top row, left to right: Jean West Hawkes. Salt Lake City; Iris Coombs, Fielding, Utah; J. D. Fowers, Provo; Reed Rasband. Heber; John H. Godfrey, Clarkston; Wendell M. Jensen, Brigham City; Stella Mae Reese, Coleville; Floyd Anderson, Mantua, Utah. Second row: John Halls, Ogden; Gwendolyn Nelson, Ogden; Ernest M. Horsley, conference president, Brigham City; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; Miles L. Jones, Ogden; Lenora Jensen, Brigham City, Utah; Thos. E. Doman, Rigby, Idaho. Third row: T. Delice Andelin, Provo, Utah; Thos. E. Cheney, Victor, Idaho; Axie Spackman, Sterling, Canada; A. M. Wilde, Welling, Canada; J. W. Vance, Alpine, Utah; Edna Harris, Thatcher, Idaho; Arthur C. Harris, Ririe, Idaho; Heber T. Willis, Snowflake, Arizona. Good Results Looked for in Wales Elder Peter J. Clark, Cardiff, South Wales, reports an inspiration con- ference of the Welsh district, held there November I, 1925. The restora- tion of the gospel was treated in the Sunday School session by President James E. Talmage, who gave the principal address of the day. Conference President Wendell R. Anderson, Elders Sterling C. Rigby, Claude C. Wheeler, were honorably released to return to Utah. Special missionary and priest- hood meetings were held and an inspirational music treat was furnished by the Cymric Sextette, Taibach, Port Talbot, consisting of John Bowen Davies, Reese Bpwen, John David, Jenkin Price, William Lewis, James Batt, who sang a number of selections in both Welsh and English. Reports of the elders indicated the campaign of falsehood, which a few months ago

590 IMPROVEMENT ERA raged against the Church in Wales, has abated and that there is con- fidence that Wales, which has produced so many stalwart men of the Church in the past, will continue to be a fertile field for the propagation of the gospel. Northern Indiana Conference Recently the regular tri-annual gathering of the elders at Marion, Indiana, was held, at which President and Sister John H. Taylor met with the missionaries, the saints and the investigators of this conference. Con- siderable enthusiasm was stirred up among the elders, and as a consequence all who attended were renewed in spirit and a new desire kindled in their hearts to serve the Lord and to help others to see the light of the gospel truths. Every month brings on new opportunities to develop and to grow, and the missionaries are happily engaged in their activities, striving their best to present the gospel to the honest in heart and to all who will listen. — Ivan I. Barlow. MISSIONARIES, NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: Geo. P. Jones, Henefer, Utah; Horgan Haroldsen (re- leased), Idaho Falls, Idaho; John H. Taylor, mission president, Chicago, Illinois; Ivan I. Barlow, conference president, Clearfield, Utah; Geo. W. Butler, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada. Second row: W. L. Spencer, Esclante, Utah; T. A. Brown, Trenton, Utah; Monroe Michil, Tabiona, Utah; Arden Payne, Glen- wood, Utah; Willard H. Nelson, Thayne, Wyoming; Leo F. Freeman, Snow- Flake, Arizona. Third row: Ronald J. Dyches, Silver City, Utah; C. H. Durrant, Provo, Utah; Stirling Johnson, Lowell, Wyoming; O. M. Christensen, Rexburg, Idaho; A. F. Tanner, Hill Springs, Alberta, Canada. "Work and Humility" "This is the mission motto of the Northern States mission, and through its application the Lord is blessing us with many opportunities to preach the Gospel, and with success in our efforts. We hope to make 1926 a

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 591 banner year in the history of this conference. We held a conference in Davenport on January 16-17, in East Iowa. All present expressed their appreciation of the testimonies of the missionaries and the inspirational discourses of President John H. Taylor of the Northern States mission. We appreciate the Era and the part it plays in this great work; it is of great inspirational encouragement to us." — Clifton H. Ludwig, conference presi- dent. East Iowa. MISSIONARIES OF EAST IOWA CONFERENCE Top row, left to right: Wm. D. Atkinson; Clifton H. Ludwig, conference pres- ident; John H. Taylor, mission president; S. R. Wilkenson; T. Wm. Duce; W. G. Bawden; George W. Miller. Second row: Melvin Powell, Norman L. Jacobson, Francis P, Hailing, Ben M. Doty, Rineldo L. Borg; Utah Thompson (in front.) Black Hills Conference, Western States Mission, Organized Elder Evan W. Morgan, Rapid City, South Dakota, reports that a new conference was organized in the Western States Mission and will be known as the Black Hills conference, named after the beautiful Black Hills ol Western South Dakota. "On October 23-25 the elders of the Western South Dakota conference attended the Wyoming conference held at Casper, Wyo- ming. The matter of adding the Northeastern part of Wyoming and a section of Northwestern Nebraska to Western South Dakota, was discussed and it was decided that the organization of this territory into a conference would be advantageous in the spreading of the gospel in those sections of the country. The organization was consummated on November 11 at a conference held at Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Black Hills confer- ence was created. In spite of a growing spirit of indifference among some people, we are having excellent success in our work. We enjoy reading the Era and recognize it as a great help in our missionary work.

592 IMPROVEMENT ERA Two Baptisms in Sweden Elder Alma G. Jacobsen of Norrkoping, Sweden, sends kind regards to the Saints and elders at home and abroad. "The Norrkoping conference has been sorely in need of a new hall for a number of years. Just recently the way was opened so that we were able to hire a new place of worship. Since then, the work has been progressing favorably. Two baptisms1 have been performed and the attendance at our meetings has been doubled. We have each Sunday night from five to twelve investigators. We enjoy the faith promoting stories and articles in the Era and find it a storehouse of much valuable matter of great use to us in our work. ELDERS OF THE NORRKOPING CONFERENCE Missionaries, left to right: Rudolph A. Anderson, Malad City, Idaho; Alma G. Jacobsen, Jr., Salt Lake City; Karl A. Hansen, Cornish; and Gustave A. Seequist, Salt Lake City, conference president. South African Missionaries Meet in Annual Convention The regular annual elders convention of the South African mission was opened December 28, 1925, at "Cumorah," Cape Town, with a fast and testimony meeting, at which the Spirit of the Lord was greatly manifested. If no other meetings had been held, we could have returned to our fields spiritually recharged, with testimonies stronger, and better qualified to deliver our message. At the other meetings held during the convention, papers on the various phases of missionary activities were" presented, and afterward discussed by the assembly, and definite conclusion formed. ' All the meetings, a total of thirteen, were immensely profitable, and a source of inspiration to all who attended. The elders arrived from their various fields on December 23 and 24, and celebrated Christmas in real home style, with stockings, Santa Claus, etc., in evidence. It was a happy crowd, the equal of which, we are sure, could not have been found elsewhere in all South Africa. A feature of our New Year's day celebration, which was held on the slopes of "Devil's Peak," was the adoption of the following slogan for 1926, the key to which was sug- gested by Elder Kenneth D. Wright: "This year I will not disappoint them who have confidence in me and expect me to accomplish much." Our annual convention is a happy event, when we can again clasp the hand of good fellowship with our co-laborers in the cause of truth and hold our home evening in song and prayer together. We all look to "Cumorah"

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 593 as our home, and to President and Sister Sessions as our parents in South Africa, for indeed they have so proved to be to the elders laboring under their leadership. We are as a large family with the bonds of love ever growing stronger as we come to know one another better. News of the possible release of President and Sister Sessions in the near future caused heavy hearts. Their going will indeed be a sad loss to the South African mission. Prior to their departure to their various conferences, on January 5, the elders showed their esteem and appreciation by the presentation to President and Sister Sessions of a gold medal. The work in the South African mission is steadily progressing. Many of the country districts which have never heard our message are now being tracted. — George Pugmice, president Transvaal conference. i •**■ IS - MPT ' 3> ' 4tk: • R & \i • «r % **» %%^ -. "»■ 4 . sf*.Ust*-~ mm: i' ELDERS OF SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION Back row, left to right: Paul A. Thorn, Springville, Utah; Wm. E. Hutchings, Springville, Utah. Second row: Cornelius Vanderende, Salt Lake City, out- going president, Bloemfontein conference; Grant H. Mortenson, Riverton, Utah; Miles P. Romney, Salt Lake City, president Port Elizabeth conference; Marion Lee Allred, Ephraim, Utah; George Y. Pugmire, Pocatello, Idaho, president Transvaal conference; C. Alden Gray, Provo, Utah; Kenneth D. Woodruff, Salt Lake City, incoming president, Bloemfontein conference. Seated: Keith P. Heiner, Salt Lake City; H. Lorden Baker, Salt Lake City; Sister Magdalin Funk Sessions, president mission Relief Societies and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations; James Wyley Sessions, mission president, Pocatello, Idaho; Waldemar Young Clayton, Salt Lake City, mission secretary and pres- ident Cape conference; Hyrum L. Crane, Pocatello, Idaho; Clarence L. Rock- wood, Salt Lake City. Front row: Noel G. Knight, Lehi, Utah; Kenneth D. Wright, Salt Lake City; Marc and Rosamonde Sessions; Leo R. Jenson, Salt Lake City; Leon S. Saunders, Salt Lake City, president Natal conference.

594 IMPROVEMENT ERA Gospel Message in Song Elder A. S. Millward, of Rochester, New York, reports: "The soil here is not very fertile for seeds of 'Mormonism.' Owing to the fact that we are so near the birthplace of 'Mormonism,' the people are bitterly opposed to Joseph Smith and his followers. On the 25th of February, Elder J. Delos Thompson and myself were privileged to sing at the funeral services of a Lutheran lady. At the close of the services, the minister inquired as to where we obtained our songs; he said they impressed him very much, and that never before had he heard the words that were contained therein. When we sang 'O My Father,' there was not a tearless eye in the house. Even though we were not permitted to speak at these services, we feel that the gospel message was carried to those in attendance, in part at least, by song." The pictures represent: 1. President A. Selden Millward, of Berkeley, California, singing to attract passers-by. 2. (At the bottom), Elder G. Kenneth Driggs, of Phoenix, Arizona, preaching to the assembled crowd.