Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions The Welsh District Conference District President Iver L. Larson sends the following report: The suc- cess of the fall conference of the Welsh district caused some consterna- tion among the clergy and lay mem- bers of the many churches of South Wales. Prior to this gathering an ex- tensive advertising campaign was car- ried out in the eastern valley by the traveling missionaries. This made it possible for the people of the colliery districts to receive, upon small hand bills, a part of the message of "Mor- monism." At the conference, about 275 non- members, together with 130 members, crowded into the Varteg Memorial Hall and listened to the inspired re- marks of President and Sister Widtsoe, and to the testimonies of the restored Gospel given by the missionaries. The humility and sincerity of these young men touched the heart of every earnest listener. The Welsh people are very tolerant and sympathetic. From them the missionaries receive courteous treat- ment. The alarming amount of un- employment among the collier-men has brought about depressing condi- tions in the coal mining area. The under-clothed and under-fed people are beginning to recognize the hand of a supreme power in bringing them to m 51 mk * 4 ^I^^_ : Wsjmwtm #jjl A H^^"" ' •A8MS5 .. . _„ jdS«,.«»-" 1 .-.- '"Usi ■ * A -> \ i' j 1 '".■ ;« ',: Elders of Welsh District Front row. left to right: Clifton G. M. Kerr, district clerk, Tremonton, Utah; Sister Leah D. Widtsoe, president of the European missions Relief Societies; John A. Widtsoe, president of the European missions; Nathaniel E. Parry, outgoing district pres- ident. Manti, Utah; David M. Davis, Pocatello, Idaho; Edward E. Morgan, Gunnison, Utah. Back row: A. Faron Spackman, Richmond, Utah; Robert L. Bradford, Spanish Fork, Utah; Hilliard L. Rose, visiting from the Birmingham district, Hyrum, Utah; Iver L. L.arsen, incoming district president, Hyrum, Utah; Paul A. Peterson, Lehi, Utah.

April, 1929 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 503 humility. The commercialized form in which the Gospel has formerly been preached to the people is fast becoming undesirable to them. Thus the future is bright for the work of the Lord in this part of his vineyard and the zeal of his ambassadors here is being recog- nized. Through the Era the missionaries of this district send their love and best wishes to their co-laborers in the many lands and to their parents and loved ones at home. They express joy and appreciation of the fact that there is, in the Church, such an organ as the Improvement Era. Conference at Neiafu If Era readers were asked to tell where Neiafu is, it is not probable that many could answer correctly. If they were told that it is the chief port of the island of Vavau, many of them, perhaps, would not be much enlightened. It is one of the Tongan group, or Friendly Islands. This group lies between Samoa and Fiji, and as it is always summer there, the barefooted children in the picture (page 504) do not indicate the season. District President DaCosta Clark reports a recent conference at which there was a splendid outpouring of the divine spirit. He says further: "We have in this district six branches, four of which are presided over by native Priesthood, the other two by white Elders: six Sunday Schools; six Mutuals; four Relief So- cieties; one Primary and two schools. "Owing to lack of help and other unfavorable conditions, we have not been able to do much proselyting up until a few months ago, but since that time we have had very good success tracting and holding meetings. "There are big opportunities in this district, many places where branches could be organized with profit, but Seated, left to right: Fred W. Stone, president of we arc not g^Jg to take advantage Leimatua branch and teacher in school there; DaCosta r -w r t i c t. C Clark, district president; Harold Peterson, president of all of them because of shortage Of of Haalaufuli branch and teacher in school. Standing: missionaries. Still WC feel that the Jone Ulufonua, president Koloa branch; Mateaki. wot\i 0f the Lord IS progressing here assistant teacher in Haalaufuli school; Tohi Koula, # • ' » » president Otea branch. in the Vavau dlStHCt. MISSIONARIES OF VAVAU DISTRICT

504 IMPROVEMENT ERA April, ,929 SAINTS AND ELDERS AT CONFERENCE, VAVAU DISTRICT, TONGAN MISSION Hawkes Bay District, New Zealand Pres. J. Edmund McGregor reports that a very successful conference was held at Te Hauke on September 1 and 2, 1928. There were in attendance President John E. Magleby and wife and thirteen Elders and three sisters from Zion. The average attendance at meetings was 300, of which 50% were investigators. It being a Maori branch, very few Europeans were present. An important feature of the confer- ence was a Primary pageant presented by the Maori Primary children under the direction of Sister Louise Magleby. Primary work is a new phase of the Gospel recently introduced into the New Zealand mission. It is progress- ing rapidly and gaining much favor among the Maori and European people. Many non-"Mormon" Primaries are already organized. A new district presidency was sus- tained to take care of the five Maori branches in this district, under the direction of President J. E. Magleby. Elder J. Edmond McGregor was re- leased as district president; the posi- tion was filled by Eriate Nopera, pres- ident; Stuart Meha, first counselor; Wilson Paewai, second counselor. All are Maori brethren, Brother No- pera being the only High Priest among the Maoris in New Zealand. Several advances were made in the Priesthood. It is the first time in the history of the mission that district presiding authority has been given to the Maori brethren. We are anticipat- ing greater advancement among these people in the future. The New Zealand mission is en- joying the spirit of the great latter- day work. The Elders are laboring in unity and are enjoying the spirit which accompanies devoted service. We appreciate the valuable material and articles printed in the Era and find it a great help to us in spreading the truth.

April, 1929 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 505 Missionaries in New Zealand Back row, left to right: A. S. Ballif, principal Maori Agricultural College; Sister A. S. Ballif. president of mission Primaries, Rexburg, Idaho; Mission President John E. Magleby; Sister Jennie Magleby, president of mission Relief Societies, Monroe, Utah; J. Edmond McGregor, district president, Ogden. Utah; H. Lawrence Manwaring, president of mission Sunday Schools; Sister Manwaring. first counselor in presidency of mission Primaries, Rexburg, Idaho; E. C. Allen, College faculty, Mesa, Arizona; Halvor F. Johnson, president Auckland district, Benjamin, Utah; Grant S. Stark, Wellington district, Spanish Fork, Utah. Front row: Elmer S. Palmer, editor of Te Karere, Preston. Idaho; A. Ammon Benson, assistant editor, Moreland, Idaho; Richard Marsh, College faculty; Shirley F. Jensen, College faculty, Holiday, Utah; Ernest G. Hymas, Preston, Idaho; Lcland P. Roberts, Logan, Utah; J. Reed Jones, Cedar City, Utah. Campaigning in Albany The Era is in receipt of two reports from Albany, N. Y., one from Dis- trict President Leonard D. Bellamy, the other from Mission Secretary Wil- burn C. West. Albany, capital of New York and one of the oldest chartered towns in the United States, having been incor- porated in 1686, has not been a par- ticularly fruitful field in the past. It was the objective of Burgoyne's cam- paign during the Revolutionary war. Now it is being invaded by an army (a very small one, it is true) of peace, whose objective is to bring to the peo- ple the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the truth which makes men free. Street meetings are held regularly and are resulting in much good. Sev- eral honest souls have recently been baptized. A Primary, made up of non-"Mormon" children, is one of the outstanding associations of the mission, having a regular average attendance of twenty-five boys and girls who are not yet members of the Church. The recent visit of Richard R. Ly- man, of the Council of the Twelve, and Mission President James H. Moyle has inspired the missionaries with renewed energy.

306 IMPROVEMENT ERA April. 1929 Missionaries of Albany District Front row, left to right: Cora Roberts, John S. McAllister, Leonard D. Bellamy, district president; Richard R. Lyman, of the Council of the Twelve; Sister James H. Moyle. president of mission Relief Societies; James H. Moyle, mission president, and Susan Phillips. Back row: Vernon L. Johnsen, Glen J. Neilson, Edmund W. Ellsworth, Franklin R. Barner. Harry P. Jones, Louis J. Bowers, Hames H. Yardley, and Gordon M. Blaylock. Elder George Albert Smith Visits San Jose Although the members of the Coun- cil of the Twelve are traveling much of the time, it is not possible for them to go often into the various districts. When they are able to do so, Church members and friends feel very much blessed. Pres. Everett T. Devey ex- presses himself thus in reporting Elder George Albert Smith's visit, in com- pany with Mission President Joseph W. McMurrin, to the San Jose district on February 16. The missionaries were encouraged and as a result of the meetings, and the instructions which were given by the visiting brethren, are facing the tremendous responsibility of warning the world with added determination to do their best. Many Saints and investigators were present at the meetings and expressed their gratitude for the visit and for the valuable instructions that were im- parted. Missionaries, too, join in the hope that President McMurrin and Elder Smith will be blessed to continue their splendid work.

April, 1929 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 507 Missionaries of San Jose District Front row, left to right: Joseph Rackstraw, president Palo Alto branch; Franklin Jones; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; Elder George Albert Smith, of the Council of the Twelve; Everett T. Devey, retiring district president; Samuel J. Robinson, incoming district president; Frank Harmon, president San Jose branch. Second row: Lorentz Peterson, Irene Seal, Erma E. Sparks, Emma Farnsworth, Sarah S. Clark, Naomi Fjeldsted, Winfield B. Burton. Third row: Theo H. Corry, J. Karl Heywood, Raymond Knell, Winfield H. Clark, Burdett Coleman. Second Annual Caravan of the Northwestern States Mission to the Alberta Temple, Cardston, Canada By Marian Gardner, a Missionary Hearts must be pure to come within these walls, Where spreads a feast unknown to festive halls. Freely partake, for freely God hath given, And taste the holy joys that tell of Heaven. Here learn of Him who triumphed o'er the grave, And unto men, the keys, the kingdom gave. Joined here by ties the past and present bind; The living and the dead perfection find. — Orson F. Whitney. This beautiful sentiment is written on bronze tablets above the portals of the Lord's Holy House in Cardston. Canada. Hundreds of tourists every

508 IMPROVEMENT ERA April, 1929 year, passing through that little city, on their way to see the scenic beauties of Waterton Lakes, and the National Glacier Parks near by, pause at the gates of the "Mormon" temple, and read these lines. These verses furnish food for thought for the wisest heads, but to none was this poem more im- pressive than to the band of Church members and missionaries of the North- western States mission who recently went to Cardston that they might re- new their covenants, and obtain their blessings in this temple of God. The temple workers and the Card- ston citizens greeted the travel-worn Caravan from the mission most gra- ciously, and hosts of the occasion opened their hearts and their homes to their guests. The first division of the Caravan arrived in Cardston from Montana on the evening of July 10, and the next two days 150 Saints and 1 5 missionaries from Montana, among whom were 66 representatives from the little farming community of By- num alone, spent every available hour in the temple. The following week 94 Saints and 54 missionaries from the western division of the mission spent two days in that house. In each case a rich outpouring of the Spirit of God, with manifestations of healing and prophecy, was enjoyed. Just at the close of the visit of the Montana division of the Caravan, Cardston was honored by the visit of the king's representative, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon, and his lady, who came to this part of Canada expressly for the purpose of seeing the "Mormon" temple. Lord Willingdon is tall and dignified, and Lady Willingdon is most charming and vivacious. Both were much im- pressed by the hospitality of the people and by the sentiment expressed in Brother Whitney's poem. Lord Wil- lingdon, speaking informally to some of the Church members, said: "The greatest thing in this world is the liv- ing of a clean and wholesome life." The temple, in its dignity and beauty, looms like a lovely monument above the surroundings, as the ideals it represents stand out above the drab- ness of our daily lives. It is a symbol of heavefi, and gives to all who seek understanding, a perfect assurance of God's nearness and his love for his children, a new vision of the purpose of life, and a determination to live for the priceless gifts of eternity. There the cares and petty problems which shadow our days drop from us like a tarnished cloak, and we bask in the light of newness of life. That "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven" was manifest many times during this visit, for many of the Saints had made great sacrifices to be there; but their compensation was ample in tasting the heavenly joy so freely given. President Wood, at the opening meeting in the assembly room, pointed to the mural paintings of Book of Mormon events and made more explicit their message. To the left the Patriarch Lehi is seen with his family bowed in worship around the sacrificial altar. Above the pulpit is the risen Savior, giving to the assem- bled Nephites the emblems of his death. To the right, the Prophet Abinadi stands in the dignity of his prophetic office, calling the wicked King Noah and his priests to repentance. The comment he made concerning the les- son depicted by these pictures was, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven," but too many blessings, un- appreciated, causes men to forget God, and brings upon them his wrath. Many impressive scenes were wit- nessed. Parents with their children were, through their faithfulness, joined as a family for all eternity, through the power of the Priesthood. There were 21 husbands and wives sealed to each other and 49 children sealed to their parents. In addition to these living sealings, 83 husbands and wives and 618 children were sealed by proxy for those who have gone before. A beautiful picture of the altar was that of a wedding ceremony, which

April, 1929 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 509 occurred as the culminating event of one of the temple sessions. At the close of the very impressive ceremony, while the couple still had their hands joined in the covenant of marriage, the group were asked by President Wood to bow their heads, and sing softly the words of the first verse of "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Pro- phet," with emphasis placed on the last two lines of the song, "We feel it a pleasure to serve Thee and love to obey Thy command." It was there made clear that the blessings of God are predicated upon faithfulness and obe- dience to his commandments and a new beauty and a deeper significance, became associated with the ceremony for all those who witnessed it. Peter, standing overwhelmed with the glorified Lord on the mount of transfiguration, exclaimed from the depths of a grateful heart, "Master, it is good to be here!" During the en- tire period spent in this temple, every- one repeated Peter's glad expression, "It is good to be here." In the closing temple session, President Sloan of the mission and President Wood of the temple addressed the group assembled. President Sloan's message was to his missionaries, and especially to those five girls just released, and his beautiful blessing and his warning to keep sacred the covenants made, his expression of love and trust in them was followed by powerful testimony, "I know that God lives, that Joseph Smith is the chosen vessel to bring forth this Latter- day Gospel, that this is God's work, and this temple is his holy house." President Wood brought the meeting to a fitting climax with the words, "The Lord has reiterated the promise made to Solomon in the temple of old, when he said, 'I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me; I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there per- petually.' He promised those assem- bled that if they would pray in the temple that night for their heart's righteous desires, either for self or loved ones, in faith, believing, God would hear them, that holy messengers would bear the petitions to him and he would grant the fulfillment of their prayers." As a result of that Caravan, 3,007 ordinances were performed, and the spirit of temple work has permeated every branch in the entire mission. The greater vision and understanding given to the men and women there will alter lives and hallow and bless many homes. And this second annual caravan has paved the way for future caravans to this and to other temples in the years to come. Following is the Second Annual Temple Caravan Song, written es- pecially for the Mission Temple Cara- van by Linda S. Fletcher and sung by the missionary chorus in several of the meetings at the temple: (Tune: "Ye simple souls who stray," by Evan Stephens, Songs of Zion, page 116.) Ye heav'nly hosts draw near! Our Father, gracious, kind, To Thee we bow in humble prayer — Unite us, heart and mind. Here, in Thy Holy House — A Caravan of Love — We ask that Thou on us bestow Thy Spirit from above. We, on Mount Zion bright, Saviors of men would be, When Christ again on earth appears, In pow*r and majesty. Grant us a harvest rich — Bright sheaves of precious souls— As publishers of Light and Peace. While on Thy kingdom rolls. Elijah's spirit, now Abroad throughout the land, Hath touched the hearts, the spirits stirred, Of this, our humble band. We, with our dead, would be A mighty, linked chain, In Thy Great Day, when — Earth re- deemed— Our King shall rule and reign!