--- 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: 32 number: 9 published: 1929-07 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* 32, no. 9 (July 1929): 771–777." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse 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: improvementera3209unse start_page: 771 end_page: 777 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse publication_year: 1929 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 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions Messages from the Missions Centenary Celebration Held in Switzerland As this year marks the one hun- dredth anniversary of the restoration of the Priesthood to the earth, it has been the special purpose of all con- ferences held in the various districts of the Swiss and German Mission to stress the importance of this great event. The elaborate program undertaken for the occasion reached its climax on the 18th. 19th and 20th of May, when a great celebration was held in Zurich for all members and friends in the three Swiss districts. As the pente- costal holidays offered a very favorable opportunity for carrying out the pro- ject on a large scale, the regular semi- MlSSIONARIES IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SWISS-GERMAN CELEBRATION Front row. left to right: Edwin H. Caldcr, mission superintendent of Sunday Schools and M. I. A. organizations; Wm. A. McClellan, L. Garrett Myers, mission secretary, Lilly Wciersmuller. President Fred Tadjc of the Swiss and German mission; Eliza W. Tadje, Juliane Lassig. Reed G. Probst, president of the Zurich district; Elmer T. Houston. Second row: Richard Stratford, Clyde Randall. L. Marcus Jensen, president of the Basel district; Ervine F. Smith. John R. Schaerrer. Max Zimmer. editor of mission publications; T. Bowring Woodbury, A. H. Bagley, Alma Huber, Walter M. Home, W. Miles Burgess, president of the Stuttgart district. Third row: Murray Mathis. Douglas B. Cutler, president of the Bern district; C. M. Stutznegger. B. M. Victor Goold, Jr.. Samuel Keiser, Harold H. Frederick. Wil- lard H. Dursteller, Z. Doyle Roundy, George J. Ross, president of the Frankfurt district. Back row: Irvine O. Lindquist, Geo. B. Alder, Arnold Blauer, Abraham Bargaehr. Arthur B. Morgenegg. Adolf Gysler, Henry P. Fetzer, Gottfried Bartlome. Walter Arm. Wayne J. Anderson, G. Chas. Liebelt. 772 IMPROVEMENT ERA July, 1929 annual conference of the Zurich dis- trict was scheduled to be held on that date in connection with the Priesthood celebration. The officers and teachers, together with the members of the va- rious committees, labored diligently and succeeded in making it the greatest event in the history of the Church in this land. An extremely interesting pageant, depicting the events preceding and sub- sequent to the restoration of the Priest- hood, was presented and appropriate speeches were made. The rendition of the oratorio, "The Vision," by the combined choirs of the Basel and Zurich branches contributed much to the success of the occasion. The visitors included President Fred Tadje, of the Swiss and German Mission, Eliza W. Tadje, Pres. of Relief So- cieties and Bee-Hive work; Edwin H. Calder, general superintendent of the auxiliary organizations, Max Zimmer, editor of the mission publications, and L. Garrett Myers, mission secretary. Over 2,600 people attended the meet- ings, including a number of members from neighboring German cities and thirty-five missionaries from Switzer- land and parts of Germany. The conference was given a great deal of publicity and many friends were present. Favorable comments by the press and the enthusiastic work of those who were in attendance will doubtless result in allaying much of the existing prejudice against the "Mormons." The Bee-Hive girls furnished the greater part of the entertainment at the celebration and assisted in caring for the visitors. The Boy Scouts of the Zurich and Bern districts rendered efficient service at the depot, the meeting hall, and helped to make the affair a success. — Walter M. Home. President Widtsoe's Visit to the French Mission During the latter part of March and the month of April the French mission has profited greatly by having a member of the Council of the Twelve and his family as guests. Pres. John A. Widtsoe and party have just finished a tour of branches of our mission for the purpose of encouraging and stimu- lating the members and friends here. The French mission comprises all of France and Belgium and the French- speaking part of Switzerland. It has in its confines three peoples who, al- though they speak the same tongue, are nevertheless racially and tempera- mentally different. This necessitates distinct and varied Gospel approaches. President and Sister Widtsoe, ac- companied by President Christensen of the French mission, made their first visit to the Paris branch. This branch is one of the youngest in our mission, having been opened only a little more than a year. The work, however, is progressing in this great cosmo- politan city. Many attentive people were present at this meeting. While Paris and high life have been made synonymous terms the world over our experience has shown us that for a large percentage of the people this reputation is greatly exaggerated. The Lyon district, situated in the center of the great silk industry of France, was next visited. Successful meetings were held in Lyon, which is the third largest city of France; in Grenoble, the scenic center of the French Alps; and in Ste Etienne, fa- mous for its mines and manufacturing. In these cities Pres. Widtsoe's forceful explanations of "Mormonism" won many investigators for the Church. In picturesque Southern France, noted for its ancient Roman ruins, in- teresting meetings were held. Ar Nimes, Marseille and Montpellier, many people gathered to hear the ad- dresses of the visitors, especially at Montpellier, where there was a crowd of over three hundred persons present. The missionaries of the Lyon, Swiss July, 19 29 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 11\ - *f t**Jkr •- ? if 1- 1 i H / *tf *7fe U 11 \yp -LJ-Y ^^^^_ " ^ /53I * 1 BHHh Missionaries in France Back row, left to right: Hansen. Brockb.ink. Emmet Berrett. Barker. Rands. Thalmap. Bodily, Ross and Moser. Second row: Niblcy, Hathcock, Clark, Hart. Blood. Thomson. Knight. Griffin, Holt (president Lyon district). Silver (President Marseille district), and Homer (president of Swiss district). Seated: Evans (secretary European missions). Sister Widtsoc, President Widtsoc. President A. O. Christenscn, Sister Babcock. C. O. Lees (superintendent French mission) and Bertoch (secretary French mission). On floor: Martin, Widtsoc and Johnson, missionaries of Lyon. Swiss and Marseille districts at Montpellicr. and Marseille districts met in confer- ence at Montpellier and listened to Pres- ident Widtsoe's counsel for the ef- fective preaching of this great message. Sister Widtsoc instructed the elders concerning the auxiliary organizations, giving some good motherly advice. Sister Maud May Babcock, also a member of the party, gave some de- lightful readings in dialects. Each elder rendered his testimony of the divinity of the work and of the pro- gress being made. At Geneve, the headquarters of the French mission, the members gave a large fete directed by the Relief So- ciety of the branch. The following Sunday a special Relief Society meeting was held with Sister Widtsoc. At night President Widtsoe addressed a large audience on the philosophy of "Mormonism," which discourse was well received. Large meetings were also held at Neuchatel and Besancon. cities of this district. At the last named city, President Fred Tadjc of the Swiss-German mission was in at- tendance. Liege was the scene of a conference for the entire Belgium district, the largest and oldest district in our mis- sion. Special conferences of the Sun- day Schools. Relief Societies, and Priesthood quorums were held. Pro- grams featuring the work were given, all of which were very commendable. Much credit is due to the elders of the district and to the Relief Society who presented a pageant depicting the spirit of the Relief Society and its four-phase purpose. President and Sister Widtsoe and President Christensen were the principal speakers at these conferences. A long to be remembered missionary conference was held with the elders of the Paris and Belgian districts. After 774 IMPROVEMENT ERA July. 19 29 the missionaries had rendered spirited testimonies, President Widtsoe, in a frank, fatherly way, explained the ne- cessity of correct habit formation in missionary life. Before leaving this part of Belgium the president visited the chapels now being erected at Liege and Seraing. Inspiring meetings were held in Ver- viers, Bruxelles and Charleroi. While in Charleroi President Widtsoe as- sisted at a baptismal service at which ten souls were baptized into the Church. It was with great regret that we bade goodbye to the Widtsoes in Bruxelles. They have indeed accom- plished much good in our mission. Many interesting press articles have been published concerning their visit and the subject of "Mormonism" in general. President Widtsoe and his motto, "When you have something to do, do it and get it over with," is sure to live in the memory of the mission- aries and members. — C. L. Rees, super- intendent of auxiliary organizations of the French mission. Spring Conference in Stockholm, Sweden Elder Hugo M. Erickson, secretary of the Swedish mission, sends us the following: Spring conference of the Stockholm district was held in Stockholm, March 29, 30, 31, and April 1, 1929, with an attendance of 1,328 people. The hall was beautifully decorated with missionaries of the Stockholm District, Sweden Sitting, left to right: Mission Secretary Hugo M. Erickson. Mission President Gideon N. Hulter- strom, Sister Signe L. Hulterstrom. and Willes B. Hulterstrom. Standing: Howard I. Childs, Knut A. J. Brandt, Arthur E. Britzell, Sister Anna E. P. Brandt. Kenneth F. Frederickson, Willard A. Erickson. Wilford E. Hokanson. Emil C. Ottensen. Roy W. Oscarson. and John Paul Adamson. July, 1919 MESSAGES PROM THE MISSIONS 775 spring flowers, which added their splendor and fragrance, and blended harmoniously with the inspiring spirit which prevailed throughout the con- ference. The testimonies borne of the divinity of this latter-day work, as well as the instructions given, gave encouragement to Saints and investi- gators. The missionaries present ex- pressed their joy in the Gospel and manifested a determination to serve the Lord with all their might, mind and strength. Reports were given by the elders which showed that the work of the Lord is progressing, and that more baptisms would soon be performed. During the conference, a baptismal service was held for one sister who had found the truth. The choir of 45 voices rendered songs of Zion in a praiseworthy man- ner, and thereby added to the effective- ness of the occasion. As a special closing feature of the conference, the choir gave a concert on April 1 , which was indeed inspiring. The chapel was filled to capacity, and at the close of the concert, the Saints and friends expressed their appreciation of the choir's rendition of the beautiful songs of Zion. London District Spring Conference Many people had the opportunity of becoming acquainted for the first time with the principles of "Mormon- ism" as a result of the London district semi-annual conference held April 14. 1929, at the Kensington Town Hall, Kensington. W. 8. Many thou- sands of others had the message of the Gospel called to their attention by the hundreds of large posters which were placed in prominent locations on the billboards throughout this most exclusive residential section of Lon- don's West End and by the thousands of handbills and tracts that were dis- tributed from door to door the week before the conference took place. The posters and handbills challenged the eyes with the large red letters, "What is Mormonism," and underneath all were invited to hear the truth at the meetings at which President A. Wil- liam Lund of the British mission would be in attendance. The feature of all three sessions of conference was the number of investi- gators and friends present and the widely representative types and in- terests of London's life. People from the highest level of society and repre sentatives of the commonly called "man of the street" mingled with the Saints in a truly cosmopolitan gather- ing. Great interest was manifest in the addresses of President Lund and in the principles of the Gospel as enun- ciated by the missionaries and local brethren and sisters called upon to speak. As a result of the conference the missionaries have received several invitations to the homes of prominent people to explain the Gospel, and greater interest is manifest in the work generally. The missionaries of the London dis- trict have been very fortunate in making a good and true friend in the person of Mr. William Goodair. Mr. Goodair, since becoming acquainted with the missionaries and the princi pies of the Gospel, has been untiring in his defense of both. His efforts to place in a true light the work of the missionaries and to allay the un- founded prejudice which exists even in the higher1 levels of London society in which he mingles, is a work that is of great worth to the cause of truth in this metropolis. The most recent of his long series of good works was the arranging of a dramatic recital which was given by Sister Maud May Babcock. department of speech of the University of Utah. Sister Babcock. stopping in London on the last part of an around-the-world tour, offered her services gratis to be used for any worthy purpose. Mr. 776 IMPROVEMENT ERA July. 1929 ELDERS OF THE LONDON DISTRICT Sitting, in front: Howard A. Thorn, Springville; Ferrell N. Beckstead. Preston, Idaho: David H. Huish, Douglas, Ariz. First row: Richard K. Knight, clerk of the London district. Salt Lake City: Clifton G. M. Kerr, secretary and treasurer of the British mission, Tremonton; A. William Lund, president of the British mission; Sister Josephine B. Lund, president of Relief Societies of the British mission, Salt Lake City; John L. Clarke, president of the London district, American Fork; Gwendolyn Lund, daughter of President and Sister Lund. Second row: William T. Mathie, Huntington; William T. Knapton, Salt Lake City; Jessco C. Nixon, Salt Lake City; D. Wayne Thorne, Brigham City; Harold B. Rowell, Murray; Milford A. Piggott, Ogden; James B. Harvey. Kaysville. Back row: Eugene Romney, Jr., Duncan. Ariz.; June E. Bartlett, Price; Myron D. Bitton. Blackfoot. Idaho: William M. Faulds, Salt Lake City; Alton A. Linford, Thayne, Wyoming. Goodair in conjunction with Mrs. Macdonnell, the founder* of the Cru- saders of St. George, arranged for the recital which took place at the palatial home of Lady Beecham, 19 Grosvenor Square, the heart of London's May- fair. Professor Babcock gave a delight- ful interpretation of Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra before an audi- ence of 250 which included represen- tatives from the Corp Diplomatique of several countries, the Army, per- sonages of title and practically all aspects of London Society. During an intermission between the second and third acts, Miss Babcock was presented with two beautiful floral tributes, as well as with a poem composed in her honor by Mr. Bernard Jolivard, which emphasized the value of strengthening the bond of "hands across the sea." At the close of the recital Elder Milford A. Piggot played the "Star Spangled Banner," followed by "God Save the King." The missionaries of the London district were all in attendance, as was President and Sister Lund of the Brit- Mv. 1929 MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 777 ish mission. The proceeds of the Goodair in speaking of the recital said concert went to the building of homes he felt sure that the example of Miss for the disabled officers and men of the Babcock in offering her services free great war, which is the work the Cru- for so worthy a British cause could saders are engaged in. not fail to strengthen the friendship A few days previous to this Recital, between Great Britain and America. Mr. Goodair gave an "At Home" for and we as missionaries are sure that Sister Babcock at the Royal Automo- this event will prove of great worth to bile Club, and there many people of the work in which we are engaged. — distinction and rank had the pleasure John L. Clark, president of London of making her acquaintance. Mr. district. Self-Improvement and Self-Criticism Self-improvement depends on self-criticism. The conceited person who thinks there is no room in himself for improvement never improves because the motive for improvement is lacking. Most of us sadly need to improve our minds. Our brains are not so clear as they should be, nor so keen. We do not enjoy the best books. We are not advancing in knowledge. We are not learning each year to think to better purpose, to speak more convincingly and helpfully. The improvement of our minds calls for careful and regular reading and study. It means also the avoiding of taking into our minds gossipy conversa- tion that can do us no good. And all of us need to improve our spiritual natures. We are not so kind, unselfish, loving, as we should be. Our courage fails, our faith falters, our* ideals grow earthy, our ambitions grow mean. We live as if we were to abide on the earth forever, instead of leaving it in a few short years. The improvement of the soul requires more care than all other improve- ments. It requires the scriptures and prayer, the church and all its aids, and carefully selected friends and a close companionship with God. — Frank Herbert Sweet. An Evening Prayer Both of my babies are sleeping. My treasures are safe and at rest. Breathing so softly and sweetly, The birds now secure in their nest. Cuddled down warm in their blankets. Heads pillowed on chubby round arms. Faces serene in their sleeping, No worry is theirs, no alarms. Innocence, purity, sweetness. Is given me here to keep rare. Help me and guide me, dear Father. To keep safe these gifts, is my prayer. Scipio, Utah NONA H. BROWN