--- 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: 31 number: 3 published: 1928-01 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* 31, no. 3 (January 1928): 249–254." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3103unse 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: improvementera3103unse start_page: 249 end_page: 254 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3103unse publication_year: 1928 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 1928, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions Messages from the Missions JUST A MISSIONARY There he stands; his head uncovered — Shouting to the rushing throng! Struggling through the human current With his message and his song! His companion, staunch, beside him, Scatters tracts to those who pass; And the motley, human river Flows along, as smooth as glass! Few to listen — some to ponder — More there are, who rush on by — But the Elder goes on preaching Of the Plan of God on high! He is burning with the message He has brought from Zion's door; And he pleads with those who listen, To repent, and sin no more! Just a "Mormon" missionary, In a strange, unwelcome land! But a man of strength and wisdom Tutored by God's gracious hand! Just a witness to the nations Of the gospel, now restored — But a faithful, willing servant — Blessed and prospered of the Lord! Elder Weston N. Nordgren. Chapel Dedicated, West Virginia This chapel was opened in Huntington, Wesit Virginia on November 6, 1927, by President Henry H. Rolapp. It has been circumstances. We have approximately fourteen hundred members, three large branches, six Sunday schools, and four jjjfl \ p 1 fil |-*s" . IH-:i*^m ^lf HH^ww" 11 5-sBB~3 ' Hit ' ' 11 ' 'rwm-'- *tB B9 leased for services by the Church. The large number of people at the opening were impressed by the spirit manifest. We have three chapels in this district, 801 Penn. Ave., Charleston, 601 Sixth Ave., Huntington, and at Verdunville. We re- joice that the three branches of this dis- trict are privileged to meet under such primaries. The M. I. A. and the Relief Society are organized in the three branches. Auxiliary conferences were held in the branches by Secretary Mark K. Allen and Sister Lola R. Bradford, November 5-8. So far this year, we have had seventy-two baptisms and thirty-four blessings. 250 IMPROVEMENT ERA Present at the opening of the chapel at Huntington, West Virginia: President Henry H. Rolapp was the principal speaker. Front row, left to right: Harold G. Glade, president of the West Virginia north district; Lewis T. Ellsworth, president of the West Virginia south district: Henry H. Rolapp, president of the Eastern states mission: Mark K. Allen, secretary of the Eastern states mission: Lola R. Bradford, president of the mission Relief Societies: Leonard D. Bellamy. Second row: Blanch Cole: Mada Shelley; Vernon Davies; Phyllis Palmer: A. J. D. Schetselaar. Third row: Antone K. Romney; Cora Gardner; John W. Hubbard; Bessie Smith. Fourth row: Merle Kimball; D. E. Cluff; Ethel Lenzi; Mason W. Davis: L. T. Dahl. In Far-Away Tonga The annual conference of the Tongan mission, President Jay A. Cahoon pre- siding, was held September 23-25, 1927. The Church has organized districts and branches on three different groups of the Tongan Islands, the Togatabu, Haapai, and Vavau groups. Each group consti- tutes a district, the Vavau district being the most distant, 150 miles from mission headquarters, Nukualofa. Transportation between islands is done in small sail boats and provides very non-dependable service because of the wind being used for power. This mode of travel, however, does not prevent the Saints and elders from coming to conference. A good representation was in attendance, also many investigators. A baptismal service was held at the seashore on the 25th. at which three adult con- verts and two children were baptized. Monday, September 26, was spent in sports, contests, and a social in the evening. There are 1 1 missionaries in this mission, 9 elders, and President Cahoon and his wife. The elders have been engaged mostly in building a home in Makeke. Now that the manual labor is finished, they can give more time to preaching the gospel. Re- cently much success has been attained in gathering genealogy and names for bap- tism for the dead from the Saints and outsiders, especially from the chiefs along the lines of the kings of these islands. Few MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 25| natives can speak English. Elders' meetings are the only meetings where English is spoken. The elders have certainly been blessed in learning the native language. The Bible is the only book printed in the native tongue. Hence the responsibility resting upon the elders to reveal the contents of the other Church books to the natives in their own tongue. Little by little the Book of Mormon is being translated by the elders, and we hope within a few years it will be printed, which will aid greatly the missionary labors in the Tongan Islands. We have mail only once a month. The Improvement Era aids us greatly in our labors here and is very much appre- ciated— C. Sterling Cluff, mission secre- tary. MISSIONARIES OF THE TONGAN MISSION Sitting, left to right: Maurice W. Jensen, Byron, Wyoming, president Togatabu district: Mrs. Ada B. Cahoon, president mission Relief Societies and Primaries; Mission President Jay A. Cahoon, Leavitt, Alberta. Canada: Da Costa Clark, Provo, president Vavau district: Orrin P. Fisher, Hillspring, Alberta, Canada, president Haapai district. Standing, left to right: C. Sterling Cluff, Provo. mission secretary and bookkeeper; Fred W. Stone. Aberdeen. Idaho, president Haalaufuli branch: Aldin C. Clines, Woolford, Alberta, Canada; Ralph D. Olson, Brigham City, superintendent mission Sunday schools and Mua branch; J. Otto Jensen. Bear River, president Pagai branch; Austin A. Carter, Santaquin, president Makekc branch, school and church plantation. In Handsworth Chapel, Birmingham The theme, "Joseph Smith the Proph- et," was developed most effectively in the Birmingham district conference in the Sunday school session, on the morning of October 9. The young people displayed their talents through discourses, recitations and songs. President Heber J. Matkin. in the afternoon conference service called attention to the praiseworthy accomplish- ment of the Birmingham district elders during the past six months; of special note was a record distribution of 146 copies of the Book of Mormon. All the ciders present delivered discourses and bore testi- mony of the divine mission of Joseph Smith. Sister May Booth Talmage and Elder Seth \V. Pixton were present from 252 IMPROVEMENT ERA mission headquarters and delivered spirited addresses. Kindly accept our sincere thanks and gratitude for the Improvement Era which is indeed a source of edification for the elders of this district. A favorable account of our conference was published in the Birmingham Gazette. — Merrill Sandberg, district secretary. ■$. If* % w r r ^ ' f ▼, f- O f f / m Si, m Front row, left to right: La Von E. Payne: Seth W. Pixton. secretary of European missions: May Booth Talmage, president of European missions Relief Society, and M. I. A.; Heber J. Matkin, district president; Merrill Sandberg, district secretary. Back row: Laurence Peterson; John P. Hopkinson; Alva L. Ritchie; Grant W. Wilde; Kenneth H. Smith; Ezra M. Parry; R. LeRoy Fletcher; Rulon F. Thompson. In the Zwickauer District, German-Austrian Mission During the last half of the month of July and the month of August, all the missionaries of this mission spent their time entirely in the country districts, where the message of the gospel had never before been heard. The elders of the Zwickauer branch, are glad to report that we met with wonderful success and feel that our efforts will be of value and that the seeds we sowed may bring forth fruit. From the first of August until the first of September, my companion, Matthias C. Richards, a new missionary just arrived from Zion, and myself, spent 178 hours tracting, gave out 3,358 tracts and book- lets, visited 43 friends for the first time, also visited 43 saints, and engaged in 165 gospel conversations. With the help of other missionaries we held 5 cottage meet- ings at which we had present 23; 70; 135; and 19 friends respectively. During this time we traveled one week without purse or scrip and were so won- derfully blessed that we ate five meals every day and were given a bed every night without having to ask. We had some wonderful experiences. The third day out was my birthday and the entire morning was spent tracting in a small town, called Rottenkirchen ; we started out at eight in the morning, and having had only a very light breakfast, we became very hungry, but no one of- fered us anything to eat. At about noon we decided that we would buy a few cakes', so we entered the first bakery we came to but we came out without having bought anything and Elder Richards, who MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 253 could not understand a word of German, was a bit out of patience with me because I had not purchased something and I myself could not understand why I hadn't done so, so we went on a short distance and found another bakery; we went in and were buying some cakes when the baker, an elderly man, entered and in a very surprising manner spoke to us, shook our hands and then without further words turned to me and asked me how old I was. It took me so by surprise that I could not answer for a second and when I had answered him, I remembered that this day happened to be my birthday. Then we began to explain the gospel to them; and being tired, I asked if we might sit down while we ate our cakes and then we could converse further. To our surprise they invited us into the next room where we were served a hot meal which tasted better to us than any meal we ever ate. We explained to them who we were, and what we were doing and the principles of the gospel and gave our testimonies that God had again spoken to the people of the earth and before we knew it we were served with the choicest of cakes and hot chocolate. As we finished, several friends came in to visit and we told them our story, when more friends came and we were again served. We spent almost the entire afternoon there and explained the gospel the best we could to twelve persons. Although we were entire strangers in a strange land, the Lord arranged that we should not suffer and saw fit to give me a real birthday party as is the custom in the land. When we left, the people invited us to visit them again if we should ever come that way. It was a wonderful testimony to us although it may appear to others as an incident which might happen at any time. To us it was a testimony that our efforts were accepted by the Lord and that his words are true where he promised to provide for his servants in the line of their duty and that he keeps his promises. We are very thankful for his manifesta- tions and it is just one of the many which we enjoyed on our trip through the coun- try. During the month of September, after we had returned to our branches, we had a campaign to sell the Book of Mormon and we were successful in this branch in selling some 150 books. To advertise the campaign and to celebrate the hun- dredth anniversary of the coming forth of the plates, we were also successful in hav- ing an illustrated lecture and a very fine program at which a short play taken from the Book of Mormon was carried out. We are expecting to reap a good harvest from the work which has been going on in this section of the mission. We have been working hard and with the Saints here we are enjoying a won- derful spirit. The future looks good and our greatest need here in the harvest field is harvest hands to gather the crop which is ripening fast. We enjoy the Era every month and wish to express our hearty thanks for the same and hope and pray for your continued success. — Wesley Anderson. Vienna Commemorates Delivering of Plates to Joseph Smith On September 25, 1927, the nearest Sunday to the one-hundredth anniversary of the bringing forth of the golden plates by the Prophet Joseph Smith, a successful conference was held in the Vienna district, of the German-Austrian mission. A Book of Mormon campaign wals inaugurated throughout the German-Austrian mission during September and the subject was chosen as our conference theme. Speakers of the conference included mainly Pres- idents James E. Talmage and Hyrum W. Valentine. They gave inspiring sermons on the divinity of the Book of Mormon, which we hope made a lasting impression in the hearts of many new investigators of the gospel. The attendance of new friends was perhaps greater than ever be- fore in Vienna. The missionaries in turn, also gave earnest testimonies of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. — Reeves Baker, president, Vienna district. Missionaries, left to right, first row: Thomas Biesinger, Salt Lake City; President James E. Talmage; President Hyrum W. Valentine. German-Austrian mission, Brigham City, Utah: Reeves V. Baker, president Vienna district, Boulder, Utah. Top row: James Lewis McCarrey, Richmond: Clark T. Robinson, Beaver; W. Lee Davis, president Vienna branch; Brigham City. Utah; Merrel Cook. Paris. Idaho, Harold Gale Hancock, president Linz branch. Salt Lake City; Johann Hausmann, Dresden, Germany. The New Mission President for Sweden Elder Gideon N. Hulterstrom has suc- ceeded Andrew Johnson as president of the Swedish mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Hulter- strom and his wife and child left for his field of labor on November 11, 1927, expecting to sail from New York on the steamer Oscar II, November 1 7 for Stock- holm. This is his second appointment as mission president of Sweden. He was born in Orebro, Sweden, October 31, 1885, and joined the Church June 30, 1894, coming to Salt Lake City in 1902, and this is his third mission, the first being in 1908, the second in 1920. While on his second mission he acted as con- ference president of the Stockholm conference and later as mission secretary and writer for the mission Nordstjarnan, and when Elder Isaac P. Thunell was released, Nov. 10, 1922, he was appointed president of the Swedish mission, which position he held until he was released July 29, 1923. In the Ensign stake of Zion, Elder Hulterstrom labored as home mission- ary, and he also acted as counselor in the Swedish organization. He was set apart for this latter work by President Hugh J. Cannon being released from that position on August 17, 1927. He was ordained a seventy July 19,1927 by Rulon S. Wells. He has also labored as Sunday school teacher and as a member of the presidencies in priesthood quorums and in other capacities.