The Central States Mission

The Central States Mission By President Samuel O. Bennion THE history of the Central States mission dates from the year 1855, when, at a general con- ference of the Church held in Salt Lake City, five elders were called to the In- dian Territory to labor among the Cherokee and Creek Indians. They worked diligently and successfully, baptizing a number and organizing several small branches of the Church. They also met a number of brethren and sisters, former adherents of Lyman Wight, who had drifted into Okla- homa, and before the end of the year 1855 a company of sixty-five of these emigrated to the West. In the spring of 1859, all the elders but one returned to Utah, being expelled from the Indian Territory by Indian agents, on account of the Johnston army trouble. From this time, excepting the labors of two elders who were called into the field in 1877, little work was done until 1883, when Apostle George Teasdale and Elder Matthew Dalton arrived in Indian Territory as missionaries to the Cherokee nation, "to show them the records of their forefathers and make them acquainted with the promises of the Lord to them in the latter days." While there, Elder Teasdale wrote and published several gospel tracts for cir- culation among the Indians, being assisted in the work by an Indian interpreter by the name of Eubanks. Elder Andrew Kimball followed Elder Teasdale, in 1855, in the presidency of the mission, and remained in charge twelve years, when he was succeeded by Elder William T. Jack. The mission had now developed into one of the largest fields in America, the states of Kansas, Arkansas and Texas having been added to its territory, making an area of 351,000 square miles and a population of more than six million people. The headquarters were at St. John, Kansas. On March 29, 1898, the name, "Indian Territory" mission was changed to "Southwestern States" mission. Many new branches were established and Church buildings were erected. On January

564 IMPROVEMENT ERA 20, 1899, a monthly paper, Truth's Reflex, promoted and edited by President Jack, was published at St. John, Kansas; it was devoted entirely to religious matters. The first woman missionary in this field, and one of the first called by the Church, was Sister Belle T. Copening. In May, 1900, Elder James G. Duffin was made president, and in October of the same year the states of Missouri and Louisiana were added to the mission. Before President Duffin left his field of labor, in 1906, two comfortable places of worship had been erected in the state of Kansas, two in Indian Territory, three in Texas, two in Louisiana and two in Arkansas. A Latter-day Saint colony had also been established at Kelsey, Upshur county, Texas, which, in 1906, had a population of about 400 souls. They owned a good meeting house, a school, a saw mill and about 14,000 acres of land. Other Latter-day Saint colonies were located near Poynor, Henderson county, and near Spurger, Tuler county, Texas. About 1000 members of the Church resided in the state of Texas alone. ' In the year 1904, an important acquirement of property in Independence, Missouri, was the purchase, by President Duffin, under the direction of President Joseph F. Smith, of about 25 acres of land, part of which had belonged to the 65 acres originally pur- chased for the Church by Bishop Edward Partridge, in 1831, and which was known as the "Temple Property." On the highest part of this property a spot was dedicated for the great temple which is to be built in Independence, Missouri. On April 1 1, 1904, the "Southwestern States" mission became known as the "Central States" mission. President James G. Duffin was succeeded, in October, 1906, by the writer, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. In March of the following year, however, mission headquarters were moved to Independence, Missouri, where the Church, for the first time since the Saints were driven out in 1833, became officially located. In 1914, an excellent chapel was erected in Independence, under the direction of the First Presidency, and a comfortable mission home was built in 1917. Church buildings have also been pur- chased, or built, in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, and in other cities, that the Saints may be provided with suitable places of worship. An outstanding source of good in the mission is the Zion's Printing and Publishing Company which was incorporated in the state of Missouri in 1907, under the direction of the first Presidency of the Church. At the present time, the missions of the United States and some of the foreign missions are supplied with literature from this institution. An adequate building in which to house the printing plant was erected, and the equipment is of the best.

566 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Central States mission, at present, comprises the states of Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. There are twelve districts, thirty-three branches, twenty-one Church build- ings, fifty-five Sunday Schools, thirty Relief Societies, and fifteen Mutual Improvement Associations. The membership of the mission is about ten thousand. During the presidency of the writer, more than 100,000 copies of the Book of Mormon have been sold by the missionaries, and many thousand copies have been loaned; and thousands of baptisms have been performed. The year 1926 was one of the most fruitful. During 1927, however, between five and six hundred baptisms were performed, more than eight thousand Books of Mormon and more than thirty-six thousand commentaries were sold, three-quarters of a million tracts were distributed, and more than thirteen thousand meetings held. The average monthly expense of our missionaries was $29.10. One particular item of interest during the past year was the calling of twenty-five or thirty local short-term missionaries to serve within the mission. Practically all of these were born and have grown to manhood since the writer's appointment. They per- formed wonderful missions. Their faith is an indication of the faith of their parents, and their activities in the mission field bring to mind very forcibly the words of the Savior: "By their fruits ye shall know them." This mission was blessed, in September, by a visit of President Heber J. Grant, who dedicated Church buildings at Springfield, St. Joseph, and Kansas City, Missouri. Public meetings were held at each of these places and President Grant spoke with great power to the blessing of all who heard him. During the month of November, Elder David O. McKay visited the mission, and on that trip conferences were held at Little Rock, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Kelsey, Enoch, Tulsa, Kansas City and St. Louis. The missionaries were greatly encouraged in their work and the splendid sermons delivered by Brother McKay were an inspiration. The elders have been well received. Many notable instances of healing, through their ministrations have occurred, and their testi- mony concerning the divinity of the gospel is an inspiration to all who may listen. No college training or other experience that man can receive can equal that obtained in the mission field. The work of God is growing; the power of the gospel is felt. A wonderful opportunity awaits young men and young women who go into the field and become better acquainted with the power of truth as revealed by the Lord to Joseph Smith, the Prophet. Independence, MittouH