Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS A Notice in the "Brunswick News," Georgia Elder L. R. Condie, W. W. Kirkland, D. C. Gardner and E. B. Tenney report from Odum, Georgia, that their labors have been quite successful in a district heretofore indifferent. Four of the elders were at Brunswick for the holidays, and held a series of spirited meetings, eight in all, six of which took place at non-members' homes. All were well attended. Much interest was manifest. Many conversations followed, and a number of Books of Mormon and tracts, song books and other pamphlets were sold and distributed. A picture of President Grant and writeup concerning his seventieth anniversary recently appeared in the Brunswick News, which we appreciated very much. We see that opposition is weakening and the work is gaining momentum. We read the Era eagerly and find it to be a wonderful help in our work. — L. R. Condie. Left to right: L. R. Condie, W. W. Kirkland, E. B. Tenney. D. C. Gardner, Early Teaching Counts David Anderson, writing from Matthews ward, Calif., states that he attended the Los Angeles Conference of the Southern California mission on Sunday, January 10, at which a very thrilling testimony was delivered by President Joseph W. McMurrin. In writing to his father, Peter A. Anderson, 23rd ward, Salt Lake City, he expresses his thanks and gratitude to the Lord that in his early day his father helped him by insisting that he should go to Priesthood meetings, in the Sixteenth ward, and by patiently teaching him the gospel. "I am thankful," he says, "that I had a father like you, willing to counsel and advise me and who insisted on helping me to obtain a testimony of this great work of the Lord in which we are engaged." The incident is an encouragement to parents to teach their children the gospel in early life and to insist upon their attendance at the quorum meetings and

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 459 the organizations. Their efforts will result as in this case, in the complete conversion of their children and in giving them a living testimony of the gospel. Early persistent teaching in wisdom and love counts in the charac- ter of children. A Good Six-month's Work What was considered one of the best conferences of recent years in the London district was held on Sunday, October 10, 1926, with President and Sister James E. Talmage of the European missions in attendance. The spacious headquarters hall at South Tottenham was decorated in autumn garb; and the theme of the day was "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," as applied to the divine mission of Joseph Smith. A report showed a membership of 688 in the district, 100 of whom bear the Priesthood. During the six months preceding October 10, the elders distributed 43,322 tracts, 1,165 pamphlets, 73 Books of Mormon and 153 other books: and 35 bap- tisms were performed, as compared with 12 for the whole of last year. Several London newspapers gave liberal space to announcements of the conference ; reporters attended and good accounts of the proceedings have appeared in journals published as far north as Glasgow. — Harold A. Candland, president London conference. Elders of the London Conference Seated, left to right: Ivan J. Foster, American Fork, Utah; Hyrum J. Ward, conference clerk, Preston, Idaho; Harold A. Candland, conference president, Provo. Utah; James E. Talmage, president, European mission; Sister May Booth Talmage, president, European mission Relief Societies; Henry D. Bradford, Salt Lake City, Utah; Lawrence W. Bramwell, Ogden, Utah; Francis A. Rainsdoni Idaho Falls, Idaho. Standing: Roscoe E. Evans, Raymond, Idaho; Arnold F. Wright, Blackfoot, Idaho; Mark M. Argyle, Woods Cross, Utah; Alexander J. Bryan, Tooele, Utah; Ralph V. Chisholm, Salt Lake City, Utah; Jesse R. Smith, Salt Lake City; and two elders returning home from the continental missions.

460 IMPROVEMENT ERA London Conference Holds Leadership Day On December 19, 1926, the London conference of the British mission established what was called "Leadership Day," the theme being "Better Teach- ing of Religion." Hour classes and general assemblies were held during the day, and practical instruction given on the purpose and work of the Priest- hood and auxiliary organizations. Seven branches and twenty-two towns were represented, some traveling seveny-five miles to attend. A meeting of the elders, held at "Deseret" January 1, 1927, was characterized by the adoption of a year slogan, with monthly slogans based on the needs of the conference. — Harold A. Candland, conference president. Thirty Baptisms in Fresno Conference The semi-annual gathering of the Fresno conference was held on Novem- ber 6 and 7. Several meetings each day were held, and the missionaries of the conference were banqueted by the Fresno branch Relief Society, an affair greatly appreciated. The principles of the gospel were discussed at the various meetings, and the reasonableness and truth of "Mormonism" were shown to those who had assembled. Many investigators were present and expressed themselves as favorably impressed with the message they had heard. There is much indifference among the people of this part of Califor- nia, but we are successful in distributing our literature and placing some Books of Mormon. There have been more than thirty baptisms in this conference this year, more than fifty per cent of them being converts. — Merlin J. Larsen, conference president, Fresno, California. ELDERS OF THE FRESNO CONFERENCE Seated,, left to right: Thomas Farr, Ogden, Utah; Asahel J. Barnum, Los Vegas, Nevada; Merlin J. Larsen, Preston, Idaho, conference president; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; James I. May, Honeyville, Utah, branch president; Arthur F. Miles, St. George, Utah; Orson P. Badger, Ogden, Utah. Standing: John E. Evans, Salt Lake City; Thomas S. Toyn, Arbon, Idaho; George C. Lloyd, Salt Lake City; John Adams, Brigham City, Utah; Perry Montaine Jordan, Boise, Idaho: Vetta Linford, Panguitch, Utah.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 461 New President for the Canadian Mission In early February it was announced by the First Presidency that Elder Chas. H. Hart of the First Council of Seventy was appointed President of the Canadian mission, with headquarters at Toronto, 3 6 Ferndale Ave. President Joseph Quinney, Jr., after years of labor, was honorably released. President Hart left to fill his new call on Feb. 14, 1927. One in a Thousand The Elders of the Fairmont, West Virginia, conference north, report forty-one baptisms in 1926. During the summer of 1926 the elders had unusual success in preaching the gospel. Forty-one counties, with a popu- lation of 600,000, contained six hundred Saints; forty-one were added to the number this year, thirty-five of whom were adults. Instructions to' the elders before they started on the summer campaign were that they were to preach faith, repentance and baptism in the homes of investigators; and in the homes of the Saints, obedience, Word of Wisdom, tithing and prayer were to be taught. The Lord blessed our efforts and thousands have heard the gospel through our humble labors. Missionaries of West Virginia Conference North: E. E. Green, Ogden; J. Francis Giles, Provo; Seth W. Ballard (short term), Salt Lake City; W. W. Nisbet (re- leased), Salt Lake City; Elmer B. Peterson, Chandler, Arizona; Golden H. Black, incoming conference president, Delta; A. B. Curtis, Payson; Orion N. Follett, Logan; Fidelia Nelson, Sandy; Clifford L. Madsen, outgoing conference president, Charles- ton, Utah; Daphne Smith, Salt Lake City; Arnold Westover (short term), Rexburg, Idaho. And You? He dreamed that he dared the dare of a man, That he faced the world without fear: The dullard's dream since time began, The coward's cup of good .cheer. He dreamed that he'd. won the fellowship Of his fellowman, and he cried With a joyous heart and a quivering lip, But at dawn his hope-dream died. Then he dreamed that he'd treated the whole world square And resolved that in justice he'd do The things that were honest and just and fair, And he tried, and his dream's came true. George Walter.