--- 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: 30 number: 2 published: 1926-12 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* 30, no. 2 (December 1926): 182–188." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3002unse 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: improvementera3002unse start_page: 182 end_page: 188 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3002unse 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 ''Send forth the elders of my Church unto nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. " * * * Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord. "Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour." (Doctrine and Covenants 133:8, 10-11.) A Successful Conference at Chemnitz, Germany On September 25 and 26, President and Sister Tadje attended the Chemnitz conference and were present for their last association with the Saints in this city. Many came in from the outside branches to bid them goodbye. All the meetings were well attended, the largest being the Sunday school, where 950 assembled. The number present at all of the meetings attained a grand total of nearly three thousand souls. The Sunday school ELDERS OF THE CHEMNITZ CONFERENCE Sitting, left to right: Chas. J. Taylor, Ogden; E. Barr. Fischer, Salt Lake City; Reed T. Rolo, president of the Leipzig conference, Salt Lake City; Rudolf Erikson, Salt Lake City; Fred Tadje, released president of the German- Austrian mission. Salt Lake City; W. Thalman Hasler, president of the Chemnitz conference, Provo; Clyde Bramwell, Salt Lake City; Irvin G. Bunnell, Provo; K. O. Lindquist, Logan. Standing: Russell G. Cranney, Logan; Maurice Nuttall, Provo; Maeser Crandall, Springville; William D. Cook, Logan; Walter Sirstins, Salt Lake City; Heinz Pueschel, Dresden, Germany; Preston Watkins, Brigham City; Perry L. McArthur, Huntington, Utah; Gordon B. Summerhays, Salt Lake City; Herbert W. Ulrich, Idaho Falls; Russell Rodgers, Salt Lake City; Albert S. Hutchings, Springville; and George Reynolds, Salt Lake City. program included a performance entitled "Sin and Purity," which captivated the entire audience. The people were highly touched by President Tadje's MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 183 departing speech, and as all the voices in unison sang that farewell hymn, "Der Liebe Abschiedszol," many eyes were wet with tears, showing the great respect and love with which he is regarded among these Saints. In the eight branches of the conference, seventy-one baptisms had been performed in the last three months, something never before equalled in the mission by one conference in so short a period of time. One hundred twelve baptisms were performed in the first nine months of this year. The missionaries are working hard, and the Lord is blessing their labors. The monthly average tracting for every missionary during the last three months was seventy- three hours, and for the month of August alone one hundred eight hours. A total of one hundred sixty house meetings were held during the three months. All their labors were advanced with determined purpose. We thank the Lord for the success he has given his work in this part of his vineyard. Again we heartily thank the Era for its excellent work and support. — W. Thalman Hosier, conference president. Traveling in Unbeaten Paths Manchester held its conference gathering September 26, 1926, in a spacious building at Glossop, Derbyshire, a new field for our missionaries, and especially for holding a general conference. In this district the Lord has been so kind to us in opening the homes of the people that we thought it wise to hold a conference there. It proved a good movement, and we had a MISSIONARIES OF THE MANCHESTER CONFERENCE Sitting, left to right: L. L. Fryer; James K. Knudson, Liverpool office; Landell S. Merrill, conference president; James E. Talmage, mission president; Sister Talmage, president of the mission Relief Societies; H. R. Price. Standing: A. C. Reynolds. F. D. Merrill, N. Glenn Stanford, clerk, W. I. Osmond. A. L. Baird, V. P. Sheffield, E. R. Budge. large crowd, even though the rain was pouring down and many had to walk a considerable distance to the hall. For the past two years our efforts have been directed in unbeaten paths, with results very encouraging. On the 1 6th of October we held a baptism, at which several persons were baptized, and the number during this year so far will be about thirty-one or thirty-two. 184 IMPROVEMENT ERA We have been successful in distributing more literature of all kinds than ever before, and the newspapers are publishing the reports df our conferences, and other good and fair accounts of our Church and people, from time to time. We have adopted the slogan, "Every member a missionary," and the results so far this year have been very gratifying. — Landell S. Merrill, con- ference president. No Time for Loafing in This Program President Stephen L. Chipman of the Alpine stake, now on a short-term mission in California, writes, from 1 8 Cleaves Avenue, San Jose, California. "We have {eighteen missionaries and two more expected — a fine array of young men and women, clean, energetic, young people. A week's program will inform you of our work. After a class we hold each morning, 8-9:30, we tract in the forenoon. In the afternoon, Mondays and Tuesdays, we visit investigators; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we hold class meet- ings in one of the beautiful parks, at 3 p. m. to 4, and study the remainder of the time between meetings and tracting. On Saturday we clean house, repair and do our shopping. Saturday evening we hold meetings oo the busy street corners. Sunday we have teacher-training class, 9:30 to 10:30; Sunday school, 10:30 to 12; at 1 p. m., Sunday, we hold park meeting, Front row, left to right: Harriet Wight, Malad Ida.; Nina A. Halliday, Stephen L. Chipman, conference president; Mrs. S. L. Chipman, Norman B. Wing, American Fork; Maurine Gamett, Pleasant Grove, Ut. Center row. Author Ashby, Oakland, Calif., Eva Gunther, Lehi, Guelda Elsmore, Lucretia Ashby, American Fork, Ut., Winfield B. Burton, Afton, Wyoming, Anna S. Drake, Payson, Ut., George E. Miller, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Back row: Elva Meredith, Manilla, Pleasant Grove, Delbert J. Fugal, Pleasant Grove, Loyal Carter, Provo, Marvel Atwood, ,Manilla, Pleasant Grove, Daniel L. Corry, Cedar City, LaRue Robinson, American Fork, Jos. Alton Neilson, Ephraim, Utah. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 185 and then Sunday evening, Sacrament meeting. Priesthood meeting Monday evenings, M. I. .A. meeting Tuesday evenings, Cottage meetings Wednesday evenings, and on Thursday and Friday evenings we visit the Saints and en- courage them. We hold, besides, monthly priesthood meetings, conference meetings twice a year, which are held two and three days at a time. Among the missionaries we have good expounders of the gospel, soloists, pianists, readers, and instrumental artists. We have a fine orchestra, soloists and duet singers among our local talent. We visited the "Pratt Home," for the aged a short time ago, and gave them an entertainment, and another enter- tainment will be given by us at the state home of the Odd Fellows lodge, where the veterans and the attendants number about three hundred. The program will consist of short talks, singing, reading, etc. This home is a very commendable place for disabled men and women of the lodge, with every modern convenience. I am the only short-term missionary in the conference. We could use some more to advantage. We read the Era with enthusiasm and interest; then read it to our friends, and give it to those who will appreciate it. The Era is a wonderful missionary itself. I am thankful to say that I have been a subscriber every year since it began, and to the Contributor before it. I think the Church magazines are as, necessary to members of the Church as the farm implements are to the farmers. Wishing the Era success, your brother in the gospel, Stephen L. Chipman." New Organizations Effected The missionary work in the Waikato conference is advancing, and the gospel message finding its way into the hearts and homes of many who have been investigating the fruits of "Mormonism." Six elders are laboring in the conference at the present time. All phases of the work are steadily advancing, and several new organizations have just recently been effected. — Leslie D. Burbidge, conference president. ELDERS LABORING IN WAIKATO CONFERENCE, NEW ZEALAND MISSION Standing, left to right: Conrad C. Doney, Franklin, Idaho; Elmer S. Palmer, Preston, Idaho; Wm. T. Ogden, Richfield, Utah; Rex Christenson, Lyman, Wyoming. Sitting: A. Wright, Grant, Spokane, Washington; Leslie D- Burbidge, conference president. Salt Lake City. 186 IMPROVEMENT ERA Thirty-five Baptisms in Michigan Elder Lester W. Lee, conference president of the East Michigan con- ference. Northern States mission, reports as follows, under date of October 26: "Since the first of January we have had thirty-five baptisms in this conference; thirty-two of them were in the city of Detroit, the other three were in Flint; twenty-four of them were converts, all of whom have a firm testimony of the gospel. At the recent conference held at Detroit we were privileged to have in attendance Elder Hyrum G. Smith, presiding patriarch of the Church, who is visiting the mission conferences and branches. He and President Taylor were the principal speakers. There was an average attendance at the three sessions of the conference of one hundred seventy-eight. Many of our friends and investigators were present for the first time. They expressed their joy and satisfaction at hearing the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints." MISSIONARIES OF THE EAST MICHIGAN CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: Ellen M. Jensen, Burlington, Wyoming; Leah Nielsen, Redmond, Utah; John H. Taylor, mission president; Hyrum G. Smith, presiding patriarch of the Church; Lester W. Lee, conference president, Woolford, Alta., Canada; Zelda F. Keetch, St. Charles, Idaho; Edith Booth, Provo, Utah. Back row: J. Lamar Johnson, Tabiona, Utah; L. Verl Broadbent, Heber City, Utah; Louis G. Myrup, Centerfield, Utah; Boyden L. Wood. Salt Lake City; Francis H. Worley. Logan, Utah; Clair S. Terry, released, St. George, Utah; Z. N. Skouson, of local branch presidency; Warren S. Jones, released, Vernal, Utah. New Chapel Contemplated A conference was recently held in Charleston, West Virginia, at the chapel, and one session at Huntington. At the time many investigators were out to attend the meetings, and much encouragement was given to the Charleston elders by the unusual number of investigators who were present. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 11 President B. H. Roberts delivered some truly wonderful sermons, and all the missionaries bore testimonies of the truth of his statements, with unusual spirit and power. The strangers present were very much impressed with the meeting and expressed the desire of attending more of our gatherings so as to learn more about "Mormonism." A new chapel is to be erected at Verdunville, West Virginia. In this locality there are no other churches, and being the first church erected, with a hundred or more members of the Church located there, we expect to see many converts made. — Lyman C. Pedersen, West Virginia conference South. f t'f # f % T-* w w l* - * » - •' \ % 3 f f f * 1 ' W % f f. vl W W '" ^fc# *^ W3M ^\>:^;^:''*^v.:*M\to>; Front row, left to right: Arthur Palmer; Lyman C Pedersen, president of West Virginia South conference; President B. H. Roberts, of Eastern States mission; Elsie Cook, Clark L. Showalter, Stanley W. Jones. Second row: Bretnall Curtis, West Virginia North conference; J. Francis Giles, West Virginia North conference; Francis L. Shaffer, Elsie Jacobsen, Ruth Gollaher, Mabel Larsen, Elder Smith, of South Ohio conference, Northern States mission; Lewis T. Ellsworth. Third row: William S. Bailey, Delbert V. Groberg, Richard H. Christiansen, Ernest A. Richards, Nile G. Matthews, Elder Swenson, South Ohio conference, Northern States mission, Lowell R. Berry; Elder Freeman, president South Ohio conference, Northern States mission. The Saints of Twelve Languages Taught How to Live On October 2. early in the morning, the elders of Kauai conference met the semi-weekly steamer which brought President Wm. M. Waddoups of 'h? Latter-day Saint Hawaiian mission; Sister Waddoups, president of the Relief Societies of the mission ; Sister McGuire, her second counselor, and Elder Clissold, from Honolulu. The first meeting was held in the after- i oon, it being a Relief Society meeting, with an attendance of sixty-three. it was carried on in the Hawaiian language, and a very interesting two-hour gathering was enjoyed. At night a dance was held in the Kapaa Hall, where some of these Pacific islanders did the latest dance steps to the music of 188 IMPROVEMENT ERA a real orchestra. A Priesthood meeting was held the next morning, with sixty-nine present and four visitors. Respect for authority was treated by President Waddoups, Elder Clissold and Elder Wm. C. Holding, conference president, the Hawaiian language being used. Following was a Sunday School meeting, conducted in English, there being three hundred forty-five in attendance. The afternoon meeting of that day, conducted in the Hawaiian language, was the most interesting and instructive of all. President Waddoups told and explained ways whereby the Hawaiian race could be made to increase, instead of decrease, how the death rate could be lowered by the sanitary care of children. This meeting was followed by a genuine Hawaiian banquet, free for all. At the meetings, at different times, there were representatives of twelve different nations of the earth, which goes to show that the word of God is for all the children of the earth, and we elders of the Kauai conference arc well pleased with the results. Hawaii is known as the melting pot of the world, and it might be interesting to note that there were eleven races of the earth represented at the meetings who were baptized members of the Church; namely, English, Hawaiian, German, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Negro and Porto Rican. — Wm. C. Holding, president of Kauai conference. A Christmas Story of Life "Please tell me a story, dear Grandma," Begged a bright little boy of four. Of a kind, old, grey-haired lady, Whose years would number four score. He had wearied of blocks and of pictures And of watching the pretty red yarn Forming stitch upon stitch on the needles. As she knitted his mittens so warm.- 'Twas a beautiful picture of contrast. In'the firelight's cheery glow; The chestnut curls of the youngster, And the tresses as white as the snow: The dimpled young face', round and ruddy; The features all furrowed by years; The bright, laughing eyes looking askance Into those slowly filling with tears. "Tell you a story, my darling?" And she stroked his sunny hair, While a smile lighted up those dear features, Erasing the worn look of care. "Tell you a story of what, dear? It must be something pleasant, I know. For outside the storm is raging, And the flowers are covered with snow." "Please tell me a story of Jesus. Who gave us the glad Christmas day, With its plenty of gifts rnd of greetings, And the bells ringing loudlv and gay. And the beautiful pine tree, all loaded With candy and all those nice things: And the candles that shi^p on fhe finsel 'Till it looks like a live, fairy's wings."