Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS The missionary spirit of receiving help from members of the Church and from earnest investigators should be encouraged and developed. The recipients of the more than earthly treasure that the missionaries have to give — the message of life and salvation — should be ready and eager to contribute to the needs of those who come to them in the name of the Lord. Throughout the many missions of the Church in all countries there is abundant demonstration of the fact that wherever the people impart of their substance to assist the missionaries disciples are found and converts made. The elders should be in a receptive state of mind, ready to accept the hospitality offered them, and must not fail to invoke the divine blessing upon the individual, family or household from whom they receive such aid. — President James E. Talmage, in Millennial Star. Ten Baptisms in Colorado Elder Charles A. Remington, president of the West Colorado conference, Grand Junction, Colorado, reports advancement in the work of the Lord in that conference. "During the month of June, we administered the ordi- nance of baptism to ten persons, and organized one new Sunday School, which seems to be making very good headway." ELDERS OF WEST COLORADO CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: Chas. A. Remington, president West Colorado conference; President John M. Knight, of Western States mission; and Kenneth L. Burt. Back row: Joseph E. Lovell, Hyrum O. Hansen, Merrill W. Wood, Archie W. Gill, Newell H. Baum. Joseph Fielding Smith in Minnesota Writing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Robert W. Harvey, president of the South Minnesota conference, says: *Elder Joseph Fielding Smith made a tour of this mission and conference, and we had the pleasure of his presence at our quarterly conference. He and President Allred gave most valuable instructions and inspiring talks, which greatly encouraged the mis- sionaries to renewed energy. At a recent baptismal service four souls were

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1081 added to our already increasing numbers. One young lady, who has been deaf since she was seven years old, read our books and the missionaries wrote the answers to her questions, and she now has a strong testimony to bear and advocates 'Mormonism' wherever opportunity affords." MISSIONARIES OF NORTH MINNESOTA, SOUTH MINNESOTA, PARK CONFERENCES AND Top row, left to right: Ellis A. Heninger, former president Park conference; William Jensen, president North Minnesota conference; Earl M. Dixon, mission secretary; Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twleve; John G. Allred, mission president; J. Urban Allred, former president South Minnesota conference; Robert W. Harvey, president South Minnesota conference; Harold O. Merkley, president Manitoba conference. Second row: M. Elmer Roundy; J. Milton Whitworth; Otto T. W. Nielson, president Park conference; Jane Farmer; Gloria K. Mangum; Lovell J. Mendenhall; Wilhelm Pedersen, released; John V. Johansen. Third row: John A. Earley, Lake conference; Alma N. Redding, mission clerk; Wren M. Holman; Iva P. A. Mortensen; Ida Wealthy Lake; Andrew Johnson, released; E. Albert Rosenvall; Edward C. Gunderson, released. Fourth row: Raymond E. Nilson; William Penny, released; Howard W. Call; David A. Robison, released; Earl R. Egbert, released; William D. Baird, Jr., released; Floyd H. Johnson; E. Bennett Hansen. Bottom row: Ariel C. Traveller, Matilda L. Tueller, released; Lula M. Giles, released; LaBelle Anderson; Marva Crawford; Virginia Standifird;. Elmer J. PouTsen.

1082 IMPROVEMENT ERA A Prophetic Utterance President Ezra J. Nixon, 18 Loomis St., Burlington, Vt., reports: "On November 1, 1925, the Vermont-New Hampshire conference was or- ganized. Within three months of the re-opening of the gospel doors in this territory, two branches and one Sunday School of the Church were organized. This memorial locality, in recent years, has entertained a spirit of bitterness towards the Church. We have observed in the past few months that the Spirit of the Lord is working upon the people and preparing the way for us to preach the gospel. Cities which have heretofore ill-treated the missionaries and refused them the privilege of holding meetings, now • dm i - 1* r's, W 3L v %m MISSIONARIES VERMONT-NEW HAMPSHIRE CONFERENCE Top row, left to right: Edwin R. Kearsley, Victor, Idaho; E. N. Jensen, Smoot, Wyoming; L. G. Knight, Salt Lake City. Middle row: William Bradfield, Leaming- ton, Utah; A. L. Johnson, Preston, Idaho; Robert E. Adamson, Carey, Idaho; Lloyd W. Parkins, Woodscross, Utah; P. W. Johnson, Short Creek, Arizona. Front row: Ezra J. Nixon, conference president, Provo; Laura Hair, Duchesne, Utah; B. H. Roberts, Mission President; Anna L. Clegg, Grace, Idaho; Merrill L. Oldroyd. Fountain Green, Utah. welcome the elders into their midst and grant them the privilege of carrying on their regular missionary work. On May 1 and 2 an inspiring conference was held, including a spirited Priesthood meeting on Saturday; and in the evening President B. H. Roberts was the principal speaker at a street meeting, during which he declared that Vermont, in years to come, would be more proud of the fact that it had given birth to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, than to any of its celebrated statesmen. The street was thronged with people who seemed very interested in his discourse. It has been

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1083 stated that the re-opening of the gospel doors in this district is one of the greatest achievements of the mission." Two New Sunday Schools Organized The semi-annual conference of San Diego was held April 24-25, with President Joseph W. McMurrin in attendance. The Priesthood met at lr w & m to* -^ ■■'■■■# MISSIONARIES OF THE SAN DIEGO CONFERENCE Back row, left to right: Leonard L. Taggart, Dorus K. Warner, Lois Webb, Henry Gardner, Henry C. Watkins, Mrs. Charles Milton, Gloria Milton. Middle row: Axie Spackman, Mary I. Hansen, Arthur W. Maxwell, Consuelo Helen Milton (Saint), A. Golden Willie, Nils Lofgren. Bottom row: Milton W. West; Laura I. Astle, corresponding secretary; Lelland R. Wright,*president San Diego con- ference; Joseph W. McMurrin, president California mission; Charlotte Staker, Relief Society; Reed S. Gardner, mission secretary. 10 o'clock Saturday morning, with fifteen missionaries present. The Relief Society held the first session, on Saturday evening, at 7:30. The usual heart-felt testimonies were borne by the missionaries throughout the con- ference, and exhortation to those present to continue in the line of duty was given by President McMurrin. A financial report showed the splendid use that was being made with tithing money. The average attendance at the meetings during the conference was about two hundred fifty, of which a num- ber were investigators. We believe a good work can be done in this district. Satisfactory statistics marked improvement in the past six months. Two new Sunday Schools have been organized, and preaching services held in both places. A choir has been organized in Eskindido, and interest has increased in cottage meetings in new districts; and we- are in hopes of establishing more Sunday Schools, Relief Societies and Primaries. — Mary 1. Ham?n,

1084 IMPROVEMENT ERA A French Writer in the Land of the "Mormons" Elder Welden W. Taggart, of Ogden, writing from the French mission, under date of July 5, states that approximately twice the number of mission- aries are in that field than there were a year ago; hence, the mission is making appreciable advancement. "Increased activities and broadened fields have made it necessary for us to expand our store of gospel literature. Several new tracts, some of which appear in the French language for the first time, have been printed. ' Translations of two of the late President Charles W. Penrose's brochures, treating the "Book of Mormon" and "Work For the Dead," complete a collection of ten of his .series, Rays of Living Light, now available to the French-speaking people. Also new to the French language are translations of Extracts from the Prophet ■ Joseph Smith's Own Story. by Elder B. H. Roberts, and the tract, The Lord's Day. These additions MISSIONARIES OF THE SWISS-FRENCH CONFERENCE Front row, left to; right: Gordon N. Cope, Salt Lake City; Ethan O. Huffaker, Idaho Falls; George T. Lynch, conference president, released, Salt Lake City; Sister Venus R. Rossiter, president mission Relief Societies; Sister Betty Rossiter; President Ernest C. Rossiter, French Mission, Salt Lake City; Verle N. Fry, Logan: Leonard A. Robbins, Salt Lake City. Second row: Walton K. Hall, Salt Lake City; Rulon W. Shaw, Ogden; H. Cless Crockett, incoming conference president, Salt Lake City; Paul D. Miller, Salt Lake City; Welden W. Taggart, Ogden; Henry G. West. Pocatello; Harold S. Cole, Salt Lake City; George Y. Jarvis, Sacramento, California. Back row: John S. Ness, Salt Lake City; Ray C. Moody, Deseret; Odell L. Barnson, San Diego, California; Ralph C. Rich, Salt Lake City. to our comparatively meagre supply of literature will greatly aid the work in this part of the Lord's vineyard. Considerable favorable comment was made recently, and very much good done among the people, by the appearance in the Gazette de Lausanne of a front-page article, entitled "In the Land of the Mormons." ! This article, very fair and interesting, was written by a highly esteemed French writer, Benjamin Valloton, who visited Salt Lake City recently and did a bit of personal investigation. This article was especially valuable to our cause in view of the fact that slightly more than a year ago, our missionaries were unjustly refused the right to carry on their work at Lausanne and were driven from the city by authorities, influenced, no

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1085 doubt, by the clergy. The missionaries of the Swiss-French conference, June 24, were privileged to travel by autobus from Geneva to Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc in France. Here they made a side trip to the famous Mer de Glace, a glacier on the face of Mont Blanc. They were also fortunate a day later in being able to attend a beautiful flower festival given at Geneva. The elders of the mission send salutations to everybody at home and to elders in all the world." — Welden W. Taggart. New Chapel a Great Help On Sunday, April 25, under direction of Mission President Charles H. Hyde, a conference was held in Perth, Australia. There |was a large attendance and a rich flow of the Spirit of the Lord. President and Sister Hyde remained for a week, visiting with the saints and elders, giving them much encouragement and counsel. The Perth conference is more than twenty- seven hundred miles from the mission headquarters at Sidney. The visit from President and Sister Hyde was highly appreciated. The new chapel we have built here is a great help in promoting the work of the Lord, who is blessing us and rewarding our efforts and labors. — Morris B. Buckwalter. ELDERS OF THE PERTH CONFERENCE Sitting, left to right: Reuel E. Christensen, incoming conference president; Carrie Hyde, president of Relief Society of the Australian mission; Morris B. Buckwalter, outgoing conference president. Standing: Edgar Nelson, Rulon S. Stromberg, J. Wm. Christensen, J. Cash Smith. New Chapel in Florida Conference Elder J. A. Hendrickson, one of the short-term missionaries to the Southern States mission, reports the erection of a new chapel in the Florida conference of that mission, at a cost of $75,000.00. The new chapel is located in the city of Jacksonville, on what is known as Riverside, con- sidered the cleanest and most prominent part of the city. The building is made of brick, with a semi-basement, which will be used as an amusement hall and will seat about 350, while the auditorium will accommo-

1086 IMPROVEMENT ERA date 550. "We moved into the chapel on June 20," states Elder Hendrick- son, "making use of the lower floor, the auditorium not being fully com- pleted. There were 371 in attendance at the Sunday School at 10 a. m.. and 3 1 2 present at the evening meeting. Four baptisms were performed during the afternoon of that day, in the baptismal font situated in the lower part of the building, and four days later there were four additional baptisms. There are approximately five thousand saints in the state of Florida. Mission President Charles A. Callis stated that he believed this is the largest chapel owned by the Church east of Utah, and that our Sunday School that day was the largest ever held east of Utah." ELDERS OF THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE Top row, left to right: M. Owen Skousen; Fay Iverson; Geo. E. Nielsen; L. H. Brimhall, builder of the new Jacksonville church; Elder L. W. Parr, painter of the church building; D. D. Webb. Middle row: D. E. Stoker; J. G. Kerr; Bishop J. A. Hunt; J. A. Hendricksen, conference president; Mission President Charles A. Callis; N. T. Curtis; Lamond Lloyd; C. H. Turley. Bottom row: N. T. Ward, Lee Dearden, R. A. Sheffield, LaVern Wilkenson, H. A. Burgon, Jesse Baker. A Pageant on the Book of Mormon Reed T. Rollo, conference president Leipzig conference, Germany, re- ports all the branches in the Leipzig conference, Deutsch-Osterreichischen, in better condition than ever before. Missionaries were recently sent to the historical city of Weimar, where they have organized a branch. "The people of this city seem to be very susceptible to the word of the Lord. Thirty- five friends and investigators attend the meetings regularly; three have been baptized, and several others have applied. Our General conference was held June 5-7. President and Sister Tadje, and Brother Phillip Tadje, father of the mission president, were in attendance. The father of the mission president is fulfilling his third mission. In spite of the unemployment wave at present in Germany, more than a hundred saints from the outlying branches attended conference. A pageant entitled, Das Buch Mormon was remark-

MESSAGES PROM THE MISSIONS 1087 ably well presented by fifty children of the Leipzig Sunday School. More than five hundred Saints and investigators were present. Without doubt it is the largest and most impressive pageant ever presented in Germany. The evening preaching service was attended by more than six hundred people, two hundred of whom were investigators. A seventy-voice choir assisted in making the meetings successful. Prospects are bright for the progress of the work in the future. Cottage meetings are held in the smaller villages with much success. Plans are made to send missionaries in the near future to Dessua and Magdeburg, which places have had no missionaries since before the World War. The Improvement Era is a great aid to us in our missionary labors; and we extend hearty thanks for it." V f If # f f 1 ' * ■/ f *. IHIS v ^sii *■■■.. *■**■ MISSIONARIES LEIPZIG CONFERENCE, GERMAN-AUSTRIAN MISSION Three children of President Tadje, left to right: John, Bobby and Harold. Front row, left to right: Reed T. Rollo, president Leipzig conference; Phillip Tadje, Dresden conference; Sister Eliza Tadje; Mission President Fred Tadje; Milton Leishmann, president Breslau conference; Earnest D. Schettler, assistant mission secretary; Adelbert Cranney, president Chemnitz conference (released). Back row: Norman Berndt, Chemnitz conference; W. Lee Davis; A. T. Fotland; Russell Cranney, Chemnitz conference; Wm. Holt; Donald Jensen; Rudolph Erickson. Prospects For Baptisms Good in Iowa Lloyd A. Davis, president of the East Iowa conference, reports progress in that district, regardless of the fact that the people in that .part of the country are very indifferent to religion in general. He proceeds: "We have also been favored with some anti- 'Mormon' publications, but they have not hindered, but rather caused some interest to be shown, and have given us some chances to explain the gospel. A number of baptisms have been held this year, and the prospects of more are good. All the elders are in the country now, and are enjoying that part of the work exceedingly. Many large street meetings have been held. We have appreciated the help given in our conference by the short-term missionaries, and are looking forward to their coming again. The Era is a big help, and we look forward to it with its excellent stories and testimonies, which are very encouraging to the Saints here."

1088 IMPROVEMENT ERA Many Hear the Gospel For the First Time LeRoy E. Peterson, president of the Bristol conference, reports a Spring conference held at Bristol, England, on May 23, with President James E. Talmage of the European missions in attendance. He delivered some ex- cellent discourses and gave valuable instructions to missionaries and officers of the auxiliary organizations. "Since the coming of Spring, we are enjoying our labors immensely. We can now get out into the country districts. Many people of these rural districts have never heard the gospel message as we deliver it. We feel prayerfully confident that much good can be accomplished in these precincts. ' We extend our thanks and appreciation for the Improve- ment Era. It is a great spiritual benefit to the missionaries." ELDERS OF THE BRISTOL CONFERENCE Back row, left to right: Harold J. Butcher, Ogden; Harvey P. Foster, Ogden;. Lee W. Lund, Manti; Weldon G. Green, Salt Lake City; Robert Hannah (local brother), Torquay, England; Levon E. Payne, Provo, Utah. Front row: Howard Judd, St. George, Utah; LeRoy E. Peterson, conference president, Fairview, Utah; Mission President James E. Talmage, Salt Lake City; Carl E. Brown, conference clerk, Salt Lake City; E. Lee Nichols, Pocatello, Idaho. Opposition Melting Away Elder Lewis R. Bird, Rapid City. South Dakota, reports the Black Hills conference held last Spring, with President Rudger Clawson and Presi- dent John M. Knight present, both of whom gave some very enlightening sermons on our belief in God and his attributes and character and the divinity of Jesus Christ. Six men have been ordained to the Priesthood. A Relief Society has been organized in Rapid City this Spring and it is helping the missionaries very much. ' Nine persons have been baptized this year, and as many more are awaiting for the ordinance to be performed. Fifty-eight Books of Mormon were sold and forty-four loaned in the past three months. "We have been called upon to administer to many people, and the Lord has. answered our prayers. Opposition towards the work is melting away. We have attended some evening parties and introduced some recreations among the people, and have thus made some very good friends. We were asked to

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1089 take charge of one evening party and opened it with prayer and closed it with prayer. Those present said it was the best party they had ever attended. Three persons present have asked for baptism and have attended our services ever since. At the last conference Rapid City was made a branch, .with Elder Lewis R. Bird as president. We express sincere thanks and appreciation for the help derived from the Improvement Era; jit is helpful both to the missionaries and to the investigators." — Lewis R. Bird, conference president. The Elders of the Black Hills conference are: Lewis R. Bird, conference and branch president, Rigby, Idaho; Arthur F. Bliss, Sunnyside, Utah; Wm. R. Winmill, Sugar City, Idaho; Joseph H. Lym, Salt Lake City; H. Karl Harrison, Newcastle, Utah; Archie Sant, Grace, Idaho; Hilbert Smith, Sugar City, Idaho. The Way in Which to Walk A missionary conference was held in Douglas, Arizona, recently, in which it was proved anew that "in unity there is strength," and that "co- operation brings immediate results," and that "service to humanity and obedience to God is the way in which to walk," and these slogans bring big MISSIONARIES IN DOUGLAS, ARIZONA First row, left to right: Alonzo D. Bushnell, incoming conference president. Meadow; Marvin E. Dansie, Riverton; Herman A. Bjork, Sandy, Utah; Leland Call, Rigby. Idaho; Melvin C. Cornwall, Murray, Utah; Leo J. Huskinson, Rexburg, Idaho; Raymond H. Stewart, Lehi; Lloyd A. Perry, Brigham City. Second row: Vernal A. Smith, Lewiston; R. Claude Boyce, Murray, Utah; Raeburn E. Bischoff, outgoing conference president, Lovell, Wyoming; Mission President Joseph W. McMurrin; Frank Brown, Los Angeles conference; Aart J. Neuteboom, Ogden; Emery S. W-illardson, Monroe. Third row: William D. Kuhre, Sandy; Alvin E. Miller, Riverton; Mrs. A. E. Miller, Riverton; Dorothy J. Cox, Midvale; Jane Garfield, Draper, Utah; Var. O. Buchanan, Blackfoot, Idaho.

1090 IMPROVEMENT ERA dividends. Conference was a state-wide activity and people came from more than 425 miles to attend. The Saints of Douglas, Arizona, 200 in number, and the patrons who so cheerfully and adequately entertained for several days the 175 visiting guests are to be commended for their interest in the conference. They say they were richly repaid in the beautiful music rendered, and in the inspiring, enlightening and encouraging words that were spoken. The stakes and wards of Arizona are behind the mission work, pushing with united and untiring zeal. President Heber J. Grant in Massachusetts Elder Eldon Wittwer. president of the Massachusetts conference, writes that at their latest conference held in Boston, the elders and saints were favored with the presence of President Heber J. Grant, and President B. H. Roberts of the mission. Timely and inspiring instructions were given by £««• i 1 v< if i 1 * 7 - sJ- >1 . V ■ £ 1# ■ F .# ■ J- m k • mi 'm%\ ■ J ■"- . V tmSjm" ^ W VvM#! t. • -i '. ■ -^^ - % w < * 1? <Nfc **^» j 5£. \A ;; - • I j- i'€T¥ ' i ^HmBKBhhmSB dm IHH^I^HiB^^Hiil^H^B MISSIONARIES MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE Front row, left to right, E. D. Jenkins, Marie D. Christensen, Eldon Whittwer. conference president Massachusetts: Heber J. Grant, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; B. H. Roberts, president of the Eastern States mission; Dicie Brimhall, George E. Ellis. Center row: Aldo B. Stephens, M. V. Rigby, Carrol Wardsworth, L:aac E. Jacobs, Fern Carlile, Aleen Madsen, Asael Farr, Hobart White, James E. Trowbridge. Back row: Clyde Barker, Thomas K. Bailey, Gordon Reese, Mrs. Madsen (visiting) , LaGrand Richards, Delbert E. Cluf f, Frank Tidwell, Harold E. Ellison. them. "In the New England states, and especially in eastern Massachusetts, the elders have met with much indifference and considerable opposition in presenting the gospel, but we are being blessed of the Lord, and progress is being made in the work. We hold many open-air meetings, and large crowds of people stop to hear our missionaries in their delivery of the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. President Eldon Wittwer of the Massa- chusetts conference was recently invited to address the 'New Thought Forum

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1091 Association' of Boston on the subject 'Mormonism as a Philosophy of Life.' Two hundred people were present at the meeting. Much interest was shown in the subject. Several hundred tracts and pamphlets were dis- tributed at the close of the meeting, and there seemed to be a desire to get literature to read more concerning the Latter-day Saints. During the past month we have had nine baptisms in the Massachusetts conference. From many earnest investigators we hope to see fruits of our labors in the near future. We express appreciation to the Improvement Era for many helpful thoughts and suggestions obtained in reading its pages." — Eldon Wittwer, president Massachusetts conference. Fifteen Baptized in Jonkoping, Sweden This branch was reorganized on the 4th of July, 1924. The branch had been closed ten years prior to that time due to' the War. As time rolled on, we finally succeeded in obtaining a meeting house which was ready for use in November of that year. In that time the Lord has helped us mightily, for in the space of 18 months we have had fifteen souls added to the Church. Fifty per cent of the people who attend our meetings are investigators, and many there are who speak the truth. Our public meetings, Sunday School meetings, and Relief Society meetings have been hours of joy for all who have participated. The blessings of the Lord have been revealed many times since the branch was opened for the welfare of the saints and missionaries who have labored there. Missionaries are as follow, in the second row from the bottom: Left to right. George A. ,Hazelgren; Branch President Darcy U. Wright, Murray, Utah: Albert M. Larson, Long Beach, California. With one accord we proclaim the Era a source of "light and joy," and with anxiety look forward for new numbers to come. — Darcy U. 'Wright, Branch President. "* A Hall Obtained for the First Time in Four Years O. H. Pratt, president of the Nottingham conference, writes under date of June 19th, giving an account of the Semi-Annual Conference held on the

1092 IMPROVEMENT ERA 13th of June, at Nottingham, England. "The first time in four years, the Latter-day Saints were enabled to secure a hall in Nottingham for their conference. President James E. Talmage, and his wife, who heads the Relief Society and auxiliary organizations in the British Mission, Elders Z. Vernon Derrick and James K. Knudson from Mission headquarters at Liverpool, and ten missionaries of the Church laboring in the Nottingham district with their leader. Elder Orson H. Pratt, were in attendance. The spirit of the Lord was strongly manifest. The work is progressing in this conference. Many homes have been opened to the elders. People are receiving them with joy and happiness. Sincere investigation has been shown by many during the last year, and 1926 will be a prosperous year for the growth of the Latter-day Saints in the Nottingham conference. The elders have been assigned to new districts in which they are to tract, and then they will move steadily on into untracted country. We are regular readers of the Improvement Era, and look forward to its arrival as we do our mail from home. We appreciate its good instruction, and wish it continued success." f f f * f !' f f * r9^ MISSIONARIES NOTTINGHAM CONFERENCE Front row, left to right, James K. Knudson, Liverpool Office, Brigham City, Utah; Orson H. Pratt, conference president, Preston, Idaho; James E. Talmage, mission president; May Booth Talmage, Relief Society president of the European missions: Z. Vernon Derrick, Liverpool Office, Salt Lake City, Utah; Eric Snow, conference clerk, St. George, Utah. Back row. Dean A. Barker, Panguitch, Utah; Wallace D. Yardley, Beaver, Utah; George S. Wright, Idaho Falls, Idaho; John H. Wilson. Salt Lake City; George F. Deem, Ogden, Utah; Clifford D. Gough, Raymond, Alberta, Canada; William H. Johnson, Ogden, Utah; Jethro M. Palmer, Cedar City, Utah. Vienna Professor Praises "Mormons" Elder D. R. Skidmore, president of the Vienna conference, reports that on May 9. 1926, Dr. Victor Silbermark of the Vienna Urania University gave a lecture on his travels through North America, in the course of which he told about the "Mormons." His remarks were entirely favorable to the Latter-day Saints. He praised both the leaders and the people; and pointed out how industrious the pioneers were to turn a desert into a land "flowing with milk and honey." Conference was held on May 30, in the city of

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1093 Vienna, with Mission President Fred Tadje and many visiting elders in attendance. Two interesting features of the conference were the presentation of a playlet, entitled "The Fulness of the Gospel," and violin selections by Fred Schade of Salt Lake City, a boy of fifteen, who is studying music in Vienna. "Six baptisms were performed recently," reports Elder Skidmore, "and we note a marked increase in the number of investigators, and feel that we are making appreciable progress in the work. We appreciate the Improve- ment Era very much and look forward to its arrival each month with keen anticipation. It carries so many helpful and interesting articles. May we extend our best wishes through the Era to all the missionaries in other fields." 1 » f?. F^jfcJ EL vf. | f i m 1 ^ MB • i 1 > r ••, ■''' w >> ' 4 - ,i 1* r Mm ■* T 1 i 1 i * 1 * ";" * * 1 J 1 I ...,.«£ • rT^ ELDERS ATTENDING CONFERENCE AT VIENNA Standing, left to right: Glenn R. Dorius, president Cologne conference, released; Ralph W. Ford, president Linz branch; M. Douglas Wood, mission secretary; J. Lafayette Rhead, Linz; Stewart Campbell, president Dresden conference; Milton Leish- man, president Breslau conference; Campbell M. Brown, Jr., Frankfurt, released; D. R. Skidmore, incoming president Vienna conference; Fred L. Crandell, Cologne, released. Sitting: Ernest D. Schettler. assistant mission secretary; W. T. Hasler, president Chemnitz conference (formerly Vienna) ; Harold Tadje; Mission President Fred Tadje; Thomas Biesinger, who is :m his fourth mission in Vienna, at the age of eighty-one. A Drive in Tracting Recently the Swiss-German mission undertook a drive for more tracting. The missionaries responded readily and made a real record in this work. For the month of May, the average per missionary for the entire mission, including conference presidents and clerks, was fifty-one hours of tracting. — Constance Cannon, Basel, Switzerland. Many Strangers Visit Meetings in Bergen Elder John A. Dalsbo, conference president of Bergen, Norway, reports that the elders have been able to do much good in that district. Many

1094 IMPROVEMENT ERA strangers have visited their meetings; some who have never before heard the gospel, as presented by the Latter-day Saints, have attended. "We receive the Era regularly and get much information out of it that is of great help to us in our work." 'Sf-iTK, "iH SMHK^V^'/) / UK" Bd y -d $ $ iysiji fjObJ ^yCPjMrT^Sw nrNP fkT ' «W SfeSK mK&M~\bfi$ffi%$frf% i^jmm^m 1Zj«B ELDERS OF THE BERGEN CONFERENCE, NORWAY Left to right: E. B. Halvorsen; H. Helgesen, local: John A. Dalsbo, conference president, La Grande, Oregon; O. H. Vogeler; W. Bjorndal, local; Elias J. Ellifseji. Salt Lake City, president Bergen branch. Today 'Tis a coward who broods over things that are past, Over hopes that are shattered by life's stormy blast, And heart's roses that lie withered and dead, Leaving life to seem dreary, the future to dread. But no present is bound by the days that are gone, All unfettered you rise to meet each rosy dawn. And you see the grand heavens still shining above, Giving peace and assurance -oi God and his love. All life's failures are ladders, to those who will climb Up to heights oft unthought of in youth's sunny time; For desires are born when defeat looms in sight, And with faith, hope and courage you'll win in the fight. In the strength of your manhood and valor, arise With a step that is firm and a will that defies; Keep your eye on the goal, and still patiently trust, Then no ill can betide you, for conquer you must. Raymond, Canada. HELEN KIMBALL ORGILL.