--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Sloan, William R. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 31 number: 7 published: 1928-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "William R. Sloan, “The Northwestern States Mission,” *Improvement Era* 31, no. 7 (May 1928): 585–586." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3107unse 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: improvementera3107unse start_page: 585 end_page: 586 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3107unse 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. --- # The Northwestern States Mission The Northwestern States Mission By President William R. Sloan w HOLE-HEARTED effort and willing cooperation, on the part of the missionaries, com- bined with the good work of our Saints, made the year 1927 one of the most successful in the history of the Northwestern States mission. More real missionary work was accomplished than in any previous year. With an average of only eighty missionaries, one of the smallest groups in the Church missions, 260,000 hours were spent, during the year, in effective activity. The records show that 844,- 000 tracts and pamphlets, containing the message of truth, were placed in the hands of the people; — 50,000 hours were spent in tracting. The Book of Mormon was found to be the best missionary we had. More homes were opened for our meetings and more investigators found by means of this sacred book than through all our other literature combined; — 19,164 copies were distributed, a large percentage of which were read from cover to cover by the recipients. In the month of September alone, when a special drive was made in celebration of the one hundredth anni- versary of the delivery of the plates to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 3,065 Books of Mormon were placed by the missionaries, and 1,859 by the Saints. "Investigator work" is one of the most important phases of our missionary labors, because it is through this that con- verts are made; — 19,439 hours were spent in visiting 204,000 investigators. Besides this, 12,000 meetings were held by the mis- sionaries, 1,324 of them being on the streets. To maintain these missionaries in the field, and for the literature they gave away, the total expenditure in money was $47,389. During the year, five new branches were established, making a total of twenty-four organized branches in the mission; thirteen new 586 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sunday Schools were organized, and an increase of 26% shown in Sunday School activities; five new Relief Societies, six Young Men's and seven Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations also were organized, besides Primaries were established in orphan homes in Seattle, Spokane and Portland. The Primaries of the mission made a phenomenal growth during the year, their enrollment in- creasing from 1,232 to 2,333 members. A caravan of one hundred ninety-three Saints went, by auto- mobiles, to the Cardston temple, in July, some of them traveling 1600 miles. During the two days spent in the temple, they per- formed 1,575 ordinances. Nothing else has ever been experienced in this mission which tended to build up the faith of the Saints as this group work in the temple. The free publicity given the Northwestern States mission last year, by the press, caused many to investigate the gospel and to ask for further enlightenment on the work that our people are doing. The Saints and the missionaries, alike, feel that the future holds a very bright outlook for the Church in this section of the country. Every Latter-day Saint youth should have a fervent desire and determination to go on a mission and do his share in establishing the Church of God among the various peoples of the earth. Regular attendance at sacramental meetings, priesthood quorum meetings and the classes of the auxiliary organizations of the Church, accompanied by an active interest, is essential to a thorough preparation for a mission. A young man should also magnify his calling in the priest- hood, and fill promptly and energetically all assignments made to him; and he should strive to know himself the message that he will try to teach to the world. The mission field itself is a wonderful school, — the great miracle of our Church. As the lives of these young missionaries unfold and blossom into a spirit of service to humanity, they become the very embodiment of the admonition, given of the Lord, "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." Portland, Oregon. A Prayer Dear Father in the heavens above, — in humbleness to thee I kneel in prayer. Oh, may thy Spirit always with me be! When thou art near to mark the path through which my feet shall go. All things seem bright. I thank thee for the happiness I know. I thank thee for the troubles, too, which come across my way. For knowing such helps makes me strong and better day by day. Dear Father, though the time be short while on this earth I live. Help me ever to do thy will and to thy children give The greater part of all I have that they may happy be. Watch o'er us all each passing hour and guide us unto thee. Laura Hudson