--- 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: 4 published: 1927-02 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. 4 (February 1927): 360–369." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3004unse 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: improvementera3004unse start_page: 360 end_page: 369 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3004unse publication_year: 1927 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 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS Prospects in the Netherlands Encouraging The fifth semi-annual conference held at Utrecht, Netherlands, Novem- ber 26-28, was very successful. The elders had a meeting on Thursday, November 25, and enjoyed their Thanksgiving feasts, both temporal and spiritual. The following days the public meetings were of note because of the large number of non-members who attended. Members, officers and teachers, as well as missionaries, enjoyed the meetings very much. Several have been baptized, and the prospects are encouraging. — W. Cordon Rose, conference president. ELDERS OF UTRECHT CONFERENCE Back row, left to right: Francis H. GunnelL J. B. Bernards, S. B. Woolley, L. L. Bishop, Fred W. Newbold, R. Dale Snow, J. Herbert Milburn. W. M. Chipman. Front row: Reed M. Black, J. H. Dijkstra, Mission President John P. Lilly white. Conference President W. Gordon Rose, Ray J. Hutchinson, Dan Simmons. Latter-day Saints in South America From Elder Waldo I. Stoddard, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in the South American mission, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Riva- davia 8968-70-72, we have received these interesting pictures, recently taken, of their two Sunday schools. Considering the recent organization of the mission, we are ready to state that they have a splendid start for a com- munity of Latter-day Saints that will be felt for good, as time rolls on, in all that land. Elder Stoddard remarks that he has enjoyed the mission news of the Improvement Era (torn time to time, and modestly asks that the South American mission for the first time be also represented. We doubt that any mission can report a better showing, when the length of time since its organization is considered. From the looks of the youngsters, one would MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 361 think that there is splendid material in Buenos Aires for an M. I. A. organ- ization. Here's wishing that you may join us. MEMBERS OF THE L. D. S. CHURCH IN SOUTH AMERICA Six Baptisms in Gothenburg, Sweden In October, six new members were baptized into the Church in this con- ference of the Swedish mission, makiflg a total of nine so far this year in the conference. The members in the branch are faithful and a source of help to us in proclaiming the gospel. We find a large percentage of the people are inclined to treat religion with indifference and consider it a minor issue in life. We meet up also with many who are, as they call it, saved; but, in conversing with them, we find them quite ignorant of the prin- ciples of the gospel, with a lack of a knowledge of the real meaning of the scriptures and their message to the children of men. Through the inspira- tion of the Lord, we have been able to enlighten some who were in the dark concerning the new revelation of the gospel in the latter days. The elders laboring in this branch are: Emil G. Thedell, Park City, Utah; David H. Larson, Long Beach, California; Franklin S. Forsberg, 'Salt Lake City; M. Foss Smith, Snowflake, Arizona; and Erich W. Larson, conference president, Ogden, Utah. 362 IMPROVEMENT ERA Elder David O. McKay in Virginia On November 20 and 21, Elder David O. McKay, of the Council of the Twelve, and President Charles A. Callis, of the Southern States mission, began the fall gatherings of that mission by holding a conference with the elders and Saints of Virginia, at Richmond. The attendance was good, all parts of the state being well represented. Valuable instructions and counsel were given by Elder McKay and President Callis. The past year has been a notable one. in this conference, new records having been made in baptisms and other lines of missionary activities. We are ever striving to become more efficient in our work, through humility and greater endeavor. We feel the old spirit of prejudice towards the gospel broken down. A greater desire on the part of the Saints to live the gospel is also noticeable. The Era is a great help to us. — Arthur Peterson, president Virginia conference, Rich- mond, Virginia. ELDERS OF VIRGINIA CONFERENCE, SOUTHERN STATES MISSION Front row, left to right: J. E. Eldredge, Woods Cross, Utah; A. L. Mortenson. Webb, Arizona; Charles A. Callis; David O. McKay; Arthur Peterson, conference president, Pocatello, Idaho; Philo V. Carter, Manassa, Colorado; A. H. Talbot, Panguitch, Utah. Second row: M. P. Christensen, Tremonton, Utah; T. H. Merrill, Salt Lake City; F. R. Epperson, Panaca, Nevada; O. Perkes, Hyde Park, Utah; K. E. Rosenlof, St. Anthony, Idaho; L. J. Foote, Gunnison, Utah. Third row: L. Horrocks, Neola; C. L. Karren, Lewiston; G. R. Hurst, Blanding, Utah; G. W. Fuller, Pine, Arizona. Fourth row: Wm. Behle, Jr., Thatcher, Idaho; J. C. Spencer, Escalante, Utah; H. A. Faught, Taylor, Arizona; D. M. Shupe, North Ogden, Utah. Success in the Rural Districts We achieved splendid success in 1926, and the elders of the Norwich conference began the new year with the aim and desire to set the standards for 1927 a little higher. During the year 1926 special attention was devoted to MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 363 missionary work in the country and rural districts, and thousands of the more humble folk listened to the message of the restored gospel. Frequently the elders received money and food to help them on their way. Six new fields were established, and many new homes are now opened to the elders; in addition, 115 separate towns and villages were completely canvassed from door to door; 65,000 tracts were distributed, 4,500 pamphlets, with a noticeable increase in the sales of the Book of Mormon and other books. Considerable interest is being shown by the people of the city of Peter- borough, where eight of our Latter-day Saint brethren from Utah and Idaho, including Brother Thomas R. Cutler, who held the position of traveling engineer for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, and who is now engaged with Bishop Lewis W. Drake, from Burley, Idaho, and the others, by a British sugar company in connection with efforts to establish the sugar industry in England. It is with pleasurable anticipation and keen interest that we look forward to the reception of the Improvement Era each month, and we wish to thank those responsible for it. ELDERS OF THE NORWICH CONFERENCE, ENGLAND Sitting, left to right: Andrew E. Stewart, Sugar City, Idaho; Grant M. Broadhead, Beazer, Alberta, Canada; Leland N. Wight, outgoing conference president, Brigham City; William G. Bennett, conference clerk, Beazer, Alberta, Canada. Standing: Morgan Hawkes, Pocatello, Idaho; William J. Attridge, Rigby, Idaho; Clemuel J. Neville, incoming conference president, Rexburg, Idaho; Raymond Murphy, Salt Lake City. Fifty-two Baptisms in Nine Months in Berlin. Germany We are meeting with success in the capital city of Germany. During the first nine months of 1926, fifty-two baptisms were performed, and the regular services held in the eight branches of the conference were well at- tended by friends and investigators. In our regularly organized branches all the priesthood and auxiliary organizations are functioning, with the Saints, friends and missionaries all working harmoniously together for the 364 IMPROVEMENT ERA forwarding of the work of the Lord in this foreign land. The Improvement Era is a great help in our work here. At our late conference a pageant was presented by the combined Sunday schools of the conference, entitled "Das Faterunser," and the work of the combined Berliner choir of a hundred voices, which sang several selections. — Eulon Biddulph. Local Elders Conduct Bordertown Branch, Australia This branch is two hundred miles from the main Adelaide conference, and is conducted by local elders, Stephen and Arnold Threadgold. They have a Sunday school organized, and faith-promoting services are held. Through the exemplary lives of the Saints, many are seeking to know more about the gospel and its fruits. A visit was made to the Bordertown branch of the South Australia conference by Elders Francis and Nelson, and they found the Saints energetic in explaining the gospel and in the execution of their duties. They were invited to the homes of quite a large number of earnest seekers after the truth, and many erroneous ideas were supplanted by the messages which they left. The work is advancing with pleasurable success. We enjoy the faith-promoting articles contained in the Era, and rejoice in the reports made by the various missions. — Richard JR. Francis. LO-f:rcnce president, Adelaide, South Australia. MEMBERS OF BORDERTOWN BRANCH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Front row, left to right: Harold and Kenneth Threadgold. Middle row: E. Nelson, Howell, Utah; Arnold Threadgold; Richard R. Francis, Morgan, Utah, president of South Australia conference; Stephen Threadgold; Marjorie Threadgold. Back row: Maurice Lee Thomas, Rosa Threadgold, Thos. Virgin, Vera Threadgold, Ellen Virgin, Theo. Threadgold. President Talmage Visits Austria President James E. Talmage of the European mission, visited the Vienna conference, which embraces all of Austria. He was accompanied by President and Sister Hyrum W. Valentine of the German-Austrian mission, who had recently arrived to take charge of the work. They stopped in MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 3 65 Prague, Checho-Slovakia, enroute, and held a meeting in their hotel rooms with the Saints of that city. A very inspiring missionary meeting was held the day following their arrival in Vienna, all the missionaries of the con- ference being present. Conference was held on Sunday, November 28, 1926, all the sessions of which were indeed spiritual feasts, and were well attended by both members and friends. Due, perhaps, to its distant location, only one other apostle (1897) ever visited this conference, and the people were thrilled with President Talmage's inspiring message, cheerful spirit, and his ability to speak a few words in their native tongue. President and Sister Valentine were also well received and readily won the love and confidence of both Saints and missionaries. After a short rest in Vienna, these mission officials, together with the conference president, visited the Saints in Northern Austria, and organized a new branch in Salzburg. We are reaping good results from the visit of President Talmage and President and Sister Valentine; we have been able to make many new friends, and the work is progressing s:eadily. — Eugene F. Pratt. MISSIONARIES OF THE VIENNA CONFERENCE, AUSTRIA Sitting, left to right: Ralph W. Ford, Centcrville, Utah, branch president at Linz; Hyrum W. Valentine, president German- Austrian mission; Ellen B. Valentine, pres- ident mission Relief Societies; Demoivre R. Skidmore, Brigham City, Utah, pres- ident Vienna conference; James E. Talmage, president European mission. Standing: Clark T. Robinson, Beaver, Utah; Eugene F. Pratt, Arco, Idaho; Clarence A. Kirkham, Provo. Utah, president Vienna branch; Thomas Biesinger, Salt Lake City, 82 years old, 4th mission; Harold G. Hancock, Salt Lake City, Utah. Inspiring Conference in Hannover The Hannover district of the Swiss-German mission held a con- ference on the 14th and 15 th of November. President James E. Talmage, of Liverpool; President Fred Tadje of the German-Austrian mission, recently released, accompanied by his successor, President Hyrum W. Valentine, were present; also our own president, Hugh J. Cannon, with several conference presidents. This was considered the most inspiring conference that had ever gone on record in the district of Hannover. The Sunday meeting of the 366 IMPROVEMENT ERA conference had an attendance of 272 in the afternoon and 375 in the even- ing. An outstanding feature of the meetings was a splendid pageant de- picting "The Ideal 'Mormon' Home," presented by the Hannover Sunday school. The combined choirs of Hannover assisted. President Talmage spoke on the difference between "homes" and "houses." At the afternoon meeting the presidents bore strong and inspiring testimonies of the gospel and of the divinity of "Mormonism." Special sessions were held for the missionaries, who received valuable instructions from President Talmage and the visiting presidents. A Relief Society festival was enjoyed in Bruns- wick, following the conference, and all the missionaries gathered at Hannover to celebrate Thanksgiving in really American style. A good, hard game of football was fought between two divisions of the missionaries, after which a savory banquet was given in our local hall to thirty-two missionaries. Sixty-one baptisms have been performed within the last year, and at the close of conference nine others were baptized at Hannover. — Norman C. Pierce. The Canadian Mission The year 1926 was a very successful year in missionary activities. During the summer a great deal of country work was done, and many people who had not heard the gospel received the message. Our prospects for the New Year are better than ever before. Our missionary force has been small, but we are receiving many new missionaries, and hope, through visits and meetings, to reap a rich harvest before the winter is over. — Oris Orchard, mission secretary. MISSIONARIES OF THE NOVA SCOTIA CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: A. Frelen Dahl, Raymond, Alberta, Canada, conference president; Joseph Quinney, Jr., Logan, Utah, mission president; Henry Rasmussen, Fairview, Utah, conference president, released. Back row: J. Willard Matthews, Panaca, Arizona; Leslie T. Maw, Ogden, Utah. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 367 Twenty-three Baptisms in Texas On November 5 the missionaries of the South and West Texas con- ferences met at Houston. Elder George F. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve, and Mission President S. O. Bennion were in attendance, and at the evening meeting spoke to a large audience, some of whom had traveled from distant sections of the state, making a special effort to be present. Many of the investigators present were greatly impressed with President Richard's remarks. President Vance of the West Texas conference reported fifteen baptisms; and South Texas, eight, in the past three months. — John C. Sandberg, South Texas. MISSIONARIES OF SOUTH AND WEST TEXAS CONFERENCES Front row, left to right: D. C. Dana, Mexican mission; N. A. Durst, local; John C. Sandberg, president South Texas conference; S. O. Bennion, mission presi- dent; Geo. F. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve; Reed Vance, president West Texas conference; A. W. Steiner. Second row: L. F. Livingston; L. J. Bjorklund, O. W. Call, Mexican mission; Eugenia Vawdrey; Harriet Larkin; Norma Smith; Geo. V. Stewart; L. A. Larson; G. H. Williams. Back row: D. A. Alder, D. O. Bigelow, M. T. Marsh, L. Jensen, R. V. Liljenquist, D. S. Hymas.. Local People Help the Work Along George H. Blunck, conference secretary, Zurich, Switzerland, furnishes an account of a Sunday School convention held there on the 3rd of October, at which time the superintendents of different branches of three conferences of Switzerland met with the superintendents of the Swiss Sunday schools and the missionaries and Mission President Hugh J. Cannon. It was the first meeting of its kind ever held in the mission and proved very successful. We were especially pleased to see the local people take such an interest in helping the work along. We have exceptionally good success in using the local people in our organizations, giving the missionaries more time to work with those who have not heard the gospel. The Zurich conference is presided over by a local man, as also are all of the branches except one. All these officers 368 IMPROVEMENT ERA are punctual and up in the work and willing to do whatever may be required of them. Zurich is our largest branch, with about 225 members. We have baptized, so far this year, fifteen persons, a very good record, considering the condition existing in Switzerland at the present. We appreciate the Era very much in our work; it has surely been a great help to us. — George H. Blunck, conference secretary, Zurich, Switzerland. ELDERS, S. S. SUPERINTENDENTS. AND PRIESTHOOD CLASS, ZURICH BRANCH MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 369 .■******. i Top: Back row, left to right: Blaine Bachman, president Bern conference. George H. Blunck, secretary Zurich conference; L. D. Zollinger, Bern, released; Elder Chamberlain, Bern; J. W. Stucki, Zurich. Second row: Waldo R. Frandsen, St. Gallen; Earl J. Rhees, Luzern; Clinton M. Dinwoodey, mission secretary, Basel. Third row: A. A. Hoffman, Zurich; Walter Trauffer, Zurich; J. Hamilton Caldar, mission bookkeeper, Basel; Elder Sohn, editor Stern, Basel; Elder Kohler, Bern; Dean W. Tucker, Zurich. Front row: Don P. Nebeker, St. Gallen, branch president; Walter Ruf, Luzern; K. Ed. Holman, president Zurich conference; Hugh J. Cannon, mission president; Elder Rinderknecht, Cologne, released; Elder Weidmann, Bern; Lamont E. Tueller, president Bern branch. Center: The Sunday School superintendents who came together at the convention. Bottom: The Priesthood class of the Zurich Branch. Elder George F. Richards in Oklahoma At the regular quarterly conference held at Tulsa, Oklahoma, Central States mission, Elder George F. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve, met with the elders, giving them substantial counsel and very valuable sermons. In the past three months we gained considerably over the previous three months. Nine elders sold 107 Books of Mormon, 894 other books, held 193 meetings, and baptized seven persons into the fold of Christ. We rejoice in the opportunity granted us in being called as ministers of the gospel of truth. We all enjoy the monthly visits of the Era, and find great comfort in its messages. — Daniel K. Brown, president Oklahoma con- ference, Central States mission. Two Mutuals in Sheffield Raymond H. Haight, Nether Edge, Sheffield, England, reports that the traveling elders of that conference celebrated Thanksgiving day with a genuine American dinner, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tow, who made them very welcome. There are four branches of the Church in the conference, with three fully organized Sunday schools and two organized Mutuals, one M Men class and one Bee-Hive class. "The elders are having fair success and we expect to baptize three before Christmas." Elders laboring in the Sheffield Conference are: Harold E. Brown, M. B. Lang- ford, Nathaniel E. Parry, Fred L. Finlinson, Raymond H. Haight, conference pres- ident; Clinton L. Mills, clerk; J. Deloy Hansen, James S. Chadwick, Eugene H. Hall. • , | . . Many Friends Found President Albert K. Bramwell, Peoria, Illinois, reports the elders throughout that conference diligently at work, with the result that many friends and investigators have been found, and additional cottage meetings are held in homes during the winter. Through the courtesy of a certain minister in Bloomington, the elders have permission to preach on Thursday evening at a social mission church, and much good in proclaiming the gospel should result from this opportunity. The elders of the Northern Illinois conference are: Alton F. Jones. Hooper, Utah; J. Mylo Wright, Delhi, California; Louis C. Larch, Idaho Falls, Idaho; James R. Atkinson, Woods Cross, Utah, former conference president; Albert K. Bramwell. Ogden, Utah, conference president; Gerald Frank, Alberta, Canada; Alma Heinle, Huntington Park, California; Lyman Call, Woods Cross, Utah; Dewane M. Kelly, Safford, Arizona: Leonard Peterson, Brigham City, Utah.