--- 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: 12 published: 1926-10 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. 12 (October 1926): 1180–1188." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29012unse 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: improvementera29012unse start_page: 1180 end_page: 1188 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29012unse 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 "And ye :hall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God. "And ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; * * * and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you ye shall build up my Church in every region." — D. and C. 42:6-8. Twenty-Seven Baptisms in Nine Months In the Brooklyn Conference, which comprises all of the densely popu- lated territory around New York City, there were twenty-seven baptisms in the nine months preceding June, 1926. This is unusual considering the large percentage of Jews in the population and the intensely commercial feeling in the city. The presence of the "short-term" missionaries added greatly to the morale of the workers. This, with the energetic activity of the regular missionaries, and an abundance of the Spirit of the Lord, made it possible to obtain these results. Such a report counteracts the frequent thought that the work of the Lord is not prospering in the "big city." We may add that of these twenty- seven baptized, eighteen were new converts. Further, we are adding rapidly to our numbers by immigration from Europe, principally from Germany. In the past year there have been added more than a hundred in this manner and the prospects point to a larger number in the future. The Gospel is making headway in New York. — Fred L. Markham, Conference President. The Martyrdom Commemorated in Hamburg The oratorio, "The Martyrs," was sung with great success by the Hamburg city combined choirs, on June 27, observing the 82nd anniver- sary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith, 1844. At the largest meeting of the conference 600 people were pres- ent. The local brethren are loyal and of great aid in their support of the missionaries here. This can especially be said of the new branches opened up here recently in Rendsburg, Schleswig and Flensburg, during the past six months. Good results have been shown and wonderful progress made in the entire conference. We held a baptism on the shores of the Baltic at Flensburg, Germany, on May 13 and 16. This branch has thirteen members and many friends and prospects. A Sunday school is organized and held regularly with two other services each week. An average of twenty-five children attend the Sunday school from the neighborhood. A wonderful, modern chapel has been available from the start here, and the private owner of the building is now one of the Latter-day Saints. Twenty-three of the elders attending the conference walked from their fields of labor; some had to walk from the Baltic Sea, and others from the other far corners of the territory. They tracted on the way. We believe that the farmers and the peasant folk along the road, in this way, also received our message, which could not have been delivered in any other way to them to advantage. Following the conference meetings, the missionaries were given permission to visit Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 4th of July, as a celebration. We were greeted and cordially welcomed by President Peterson and the elders of the MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1181 Danish mission, and also by President Anderson of Sweden, at Malmo, Sweden. — Randolph Reusser. ELDERS OF THE HAMBURG CONFERENCE Back row, left to right: J. Jordan, E. Stucki, E. Romney, H. Mqnson, F. Horlacher, H. Cummings, N. Nielsen, T. Richins, J. Stringham. Middle row: R. Hubbard, J. Johannsen, H. Wahlqui;t, C. Worthington, J. Stewart, R. Reusser, N. Fox, B. Bott, L. Curtis, M. Anderson. Front row: F. Squires, N. Pierce, C. Cannon, R. Cannon, President Hugh J. Cannon, Conference President A. Taylor, Francis Moore, M. Barrett, J. Miller, Ray Ward Solomon. * Labors in Leeds The traveling elders of the Leeds conference met in the early part of the year and decided to increase missionary work to the maximum. The motto, "Leeds shall lead in 1926," was adopted. Monthly standards of a pro- gressive nature were also adopted and attained by the cooperation of mis- 4 sionaries and the conference president. During the first six months of this year we spent 2,800 hours tracting, had 7,800 gospel conversations, dis- tributed 55,000 tracts, 9,000 pamphlets, together with 85 Books of Mor- 1182 IMPROVEMENT ERA mon, an excellent record for the British mission. There is an average of ten missionaries in the conference. We recently held a baptismal service where fourteen persons were baptized. Trading in the country is being undertaken, and weekly street meetings are held in several towns, with an attendance of 200 or more. The picture shows a street-meeting scene, George T. Harrison addressing the audience in Town Hall Square, Leeds. It is not often one can obtain a picture of a street meeting here, because of the heavy skies and rain, and the majority of the open-air meetings are held at night, too late to take pictures. This picture was taken from the Town Hall steps of Leeds, Yorkshire, England. The elders are President George T. Harrison addressing the meeting, and Elder Noble L. Chambers of Smith- field, Utah, standing against the monument. Notwithstanding all our efforts, on the whole, the people seem to be cold and indifferent to religion of any kind. — Will B. Jex, Conference Clerk. ELDERS OF LEEDS CONFERENCE, ENGLAND Left to right: Franklin J. Newman, Riverton, Utah; David W. Sutton, Logan, Utah; Seth P. Leishman, Wellsville, Utah; James B. Collyer, Salt Lake City; George T. Harrison, conference president, Provo, Utah; Will B. Jex, conference clerk. Salt Lake City; Myron H. Brenchly, Wellsville, Utah; Evan H. Jenkins, Idaho Falls, Idaho; James L. Clark, Lehi, Utah. First L. D. S. Street Meeting Held in Aalborg Elder Egert M. Larsen, conference president at Aalborg, Denmark., reports that, through the courtesy of the chief of police, the L. D. S. mission- aries, for the first time in the history of the Church, were granted the privilege of holding street meetings in that city. Their first meeting was held on June 22, 1926, "in the most prominent place in the city, and where probably twenty-five years ago our missionaries would have beeo mobbed. A crowd of approximately 250 people assembled," says Elder Larsen, "and we proclaimed to them the gospel of life and salvation. Many tracts were distributed, and we feel that the people left with a good impression of the 'Mormon' elders in Aalborg. Opposition is slowly breaking down, but in its place we find indifferemce. Thirteen baptisms have been per- formed since the first of the year, and we have many friends and investigators, MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1183 many of whom, no doubt, will apply for baptism in the near future. We express our appreciation for the Improvement Era; it is indeed a great help and inspiration." Left to right: H. J. Christiansen, E. M. Larsen, conference president; Hugo D. Jor- gensen, W. T. Kilts, N. Halvor Madsen, C. A. Malan. Participating, but not in- cluded in picture: W. R. Petersen, Karl M. J. Thomsen. Many Nations Hear the Gospel Elder Frank Miskin, Memel, Lithuania, reports a conference held there on the 18 th of July, the first in many years. It was a big success. There KC*~ ■' * '..',''• X^jJaL 3EBft/ Hfe^, pTj| K£ ' & * pijw. min ^| * ■Br li, tit ;I^L, jJ^MHKww- A ■ ,<*" jiiMAQ^r^uw^ MK. 1 ££al '*^lv'^55 ^gj ' A good shepherd and his sheep. He lead,: his sheep and calls them. They all com; when he calls; they go only where he goes. They are very obedient. 1184 IMPROVEMENT ERA were about thirty-nine friends in the afternoon and evening meetings. Brother Cowley, the conference president, was in attendance, and gave two excellent talks on the principles of the gospel. His was the first visit of a conference president in several years. "Monday evening we held a baptism, one person being baptized, with the help of the Lord and the earnest prayers of the Saints. This land formerly belonged to Germany. The Lithuanians are Top: A Lithuanian Fast Express, or the way they travel. Bottom, right to left: Earl Jorgen^en; Frank Miskin, branch president: Joseph Cowley, conference president. trying to get all the Germans out of here and replace them with their own people. The Catholic priests have almost all the say, or have had so until the last election, held in May ; then they lost their control. When they get the ruling hand later,, the next war will start; that is, the war between religions. There are about eight different languages represented in this city. The main languages are, Lithuanian, German, Hebrew, Russian, English, Polish, Swedish and Danish. Memel is the harbor and fishing center, and fish are very cheap. There are many people without work, knowing not from one day to the next what they are going to eat. They receive a little from the Government, but that is too much to starve on and too little to live on. The Jews are playing quite an important part in this country. They have a big school, in which the students must all learn some kind of trade before they can go to Jerusalem. A company leaves here for the MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1185 'promised land' about every six months. The Era is always welcome; we could hardly get along without it and its glad greetings from Zion." Frank Miskin. A Catholic Monk. Taken in Kretinga, Russia The Message of "Mormonism" to the World General and special sessions of the semi-annual conference of the Netherlands mission convened at Rotterdam on July 1 to 6, with President and Sister James E. Talmage of the European mission, President and Sister John P. Lillywhite of the Netherlands mission, President John D. Kooyman of the Rotterdam conference, and the traveling elders of the mission in attendance. Well attended public meetings were held on July 1 and 3, and on July 2 a convention of the officers and teachers of the various branch and auxiliary organizations convened, under the direction of the mission president. Six hundred fifty people were present at the conference meetings on Sunday afternoon, many of the Saints journeying long distances under adverse circumstances to get there. "The Message of 'Mormonism' to the World," was the- general theme of the conference. Presidents Talmage, Lillywhite and Kooyman were the principal speakers. Sister May Booth Talmage also spoke of the work and interests of the Relief Society. Eight hundred fifty listened to the message of the speakers in the evening service, where the theme of the conference was further developed. The combined choirs of the Rotterdam and the Hague branches, supplemented by special numbers, furnished the music. A meeting of all the traveling elders of the mission was held on Monday, July 5, continued on July 6, where general 1186 IMPROVEMENT ERA and specific instructions were given to stimulate greater efficiency in missionary labors. Meetings were held in Amsterdam on July 7, at which Presidents Talmage and Lillywhite were the speakers, and Sisters Talmage and Lilly- white addressed the Relief Society and women's organizations — Pern's S. Jensen, Reporter and former Mission Secretary. MISSIONARIES ATTENDING CONFERENCE IN HOLLAND Top row, left to right: C. Fred Berghout, David E. Hamilton, Charles P. Mietus, William K. Potts, Ray J. Hutchinson, Albert Venema, Sieger Springer, Rupert Ravsten. Joseph F. Steenblik, George V. Ricks, Vernal T. Holland, John D. Lillywhite, R. Dale Snow. Second row. Melvin Webb, Fred W. Newbold, George A. Grover, William J. Denkers, William Postma, Peter Noorda, Anton G. Winkel, Royal G. Smith, John Ruitenbeek, Earl C. Wade, John B. Bernards, Francis H. Gunnell, S. Reed Andrus, Samuel B. Woolley, Ray B. Taft, Ira S. Ward. Third row: David G. Thomas, True B. Harmsen, Leonard L. Bishop, Daniel Simmons, John Vandenberg, A. M. Joseph de Young, Elias L. Brinton, Raymond K. Cromar, Theron J. Seeley, G. Wayne Esplin, Ralph A. Matson, Nicholas Van Alfen, William F. Ashton, Nicholas J. Teerlink, Martinus Vuijk, president Amsterdam conference. Sitting: Andreas de Bruyn; John Zilverschoon, president Groningen conference; Gerard Doezie, assistant editor De Ster; Perris S. Jensen, former mission secretary; Burtram A. Weight, mission secretary; Sister Lillian D. Lillywhite, president Nether- land Relief Society; John P. Lillywhite, president Netherlands mission; James E. Talmage, president European missions; Sister May Booth Talmage, president Euro- pean Relief Societies; John van der Werff, president Rotterdam conference; Sister M. Stam, Martinus Stam, Alfred J- Smith. Sitting in front: Henry Hansen, Hendrik Poelman, Master Joel P. Lillywhite, Lawrence D. Olpin, W. Gordon Rose, president Utrecht conference. Moving Fast in California During the first seven months of 1926, the Sacramento-Gridley con- ference, with an average of fourteen missionaries, placed into the hands of the public, 1,976 Books of Mormon, according to Elder Manton M. Moody, president of that conference. He reports that the spirit of service that char- acterized this accomplishment was carried over into all lines of missionary work, resulting in the winning of the California Mission "Efficiency Pennant." Elder Moody says: "The blessings of health, strength and in- MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1187 spiration, coupled with hard, consistent labor and perspiration, accounts for our success. We have a goodly number of investigators and friends in this conference. In one section we alternate in holding cottage meetings with a non-sectarian minister, holding our meetings at the same place, and preaching to practically the same group of people. An independent branch was recently organized at Stockton. At our last Priesthood meeting we adopted the slogan, 'Move a little faster and pray a little harder.' We feel that we are greatly blessed." Sacramento - Gndley Conference Missionaries CALIFORNIA MISSIOK 1926 M MISSIONARIES OF SACRAMENTO-GRIDLEY CONFERENCE Top row, left to right: Myrtle Kunz; Manton M. Moody, conference president; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; Waldon Ballard; Ruth Wintsch. Middle row: Algie Mann, Orsen Allen (released), Varro C. Jones, L. P. Jensen (released), Wenzel Luke, Nora C. Mason (released). Bottom row: Marie Swann, Fon R. Brown, T. Erwin King, Arlene Ashcroft. Memories O childhood days, come back to me, Loved, care-free hours of long ago, When I was just a tiny lad Unused to toil and earthly woe, When all the day was one glad song And life to me was naught but play, When I could climb on mother's knee And let sweet stories end the day. 1188 IMPROVEMENT ERA O happy, care-free days of yore, Could I but have you with me now, You'd make my heart feel light and gay And steal the furrows from my brow. Alas, you've gone beyond recall; Pale memory dim awaits for me; You came and vanished all too soon, Like rippling waves upon the sea. 0 childhood days, you were complete When mother, with her golden hair, Would listen to my breaking heart And ease my soul of childish care. When playmates dear grew cross with me And things would fail to come my way, She'd slip her arm around my waist And sweet, consoling words she'd say. At night she'd tuck me in my bed, 'Twas only yesterday, it seems, And stooping down she'd kiss my head And lull me into land of dreams. Oft when diseases came my way And I with fever tossed in bed, Sweet stories she would tell to me, While her dear hand would ease my head. Could I now have you, mother dear, 'Tis better far that I would know, Just how to treat your kind old heart, For I was careless long ago. Oft, mother dear, I try to think Of each kind act you've done for me, 1 count a few and then I cease, Your deeds are boundless as the sea. No mortals here can ever know Just how you've sacrificed for me, Until they next to death's door go, As you did once that I might be. Loved childhood days with mother too Have gone afar beyond recall, And left me now alone with thoughts Where pictures cling on memory's wall. Old age is fast o'er-shadowing me, And very soon I too shall go, Where mother dear awaits for me, That angel soul of long ago. But, as I yet must stay a while And finish up my work with men, I'd give the world if I could live Those dear old childhood days again. B. Y. U. Ptovo, Utah. FLORA D. ROBINSON.