My Brethren And Sisters: I Sincerely Trust...

My brethren and sisters: I sincerely trust that the Lord will assist me in making a brief report of conditions in the field of labor to which I have been called. It has been, practically, six months time since I went into that field — a short time more than that. At the present time we have ninety-six missionaries in the Western States Mission laboring in the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, with a few in the southwestern corner of South Dakota, and two elders and two sisters in Council Bluffs, Iowa — a Church population of about six thousand, six hundred members — with twenty-one more or less well organized branches, and quite a number of scattered families. As you know, the Western States Mission lies close to the Church at home, and in some of our districts, particularly Western Colorado and Wyoming, conditions are about as they are at home, except for the scattered condition of the people. Practically no prejudice to overcome, perhaps a good deal of indifference, but the great task the missionaries have, as I see it, is to teach the people the principles of the Gospel ; for many of them are in a receptive attitude. Many of them are friendly and willing to listen to our message. ¶

The experiences of the missionaries are interesting, to be sure. I want to pay tribute, if I may, to these young men and women who come to the mission field, converted in their hearts to the principles of the gospel, not altogether aware of the fact that they are converted, but genuine and sincere in their desire to do the will of the Father. The principal thing they need is just to be taught, guided and led into the way of their duty, for they are all willing and anxious to learn ; and it is a remarkable thing how fast they do learn when they can have competent supervision. I have in mind, for instance, one district in which it so happened that six young men were laboring, only one of them having been in the field longer than a year, the rest of them not longer than six months, four months, and three months. It so happened that the elders formerly laboring with them, the experienced elders, had been released all at once. Fortunately for us we had an elder sent to us as a short-term missionary, the superintendent of one of our seminaries, a wonderfully strong character, humble, intelligent, wise ; and it was my privilege to send him into that district for two months time to labor with those young missionaries. Two weeks ago I followed him up and came through there. He had been released, but the transformation in those six missionaries was wonderful. Each of them was able, with considerable ability, to express himself, to teach the gospel ; because they had had a competent teacher to give them a start. In other districts experienced elders fill such places, and the young elders and sisters, who come out are laboring under their direction, and they improve themselves very quickly. They are anxious, as I have said, to learn, anxious to teach. ¶

We came to the conclusion as a result of a conference of district presidents held in our mission, that it would be wise if every elder in the mission could have at least two weeks every year, traveling without purse or scrip, in the summer time. We felt that it would bring them nearer to the Lord and nearer to the people; with the result that I can report every elder in the Western States Mission has had that experience this year, and without exception they come back reporting that they have had a splendid experience. Perhaps not altogether a pleasant one, but they are delighted with their experience. It was their testimony that it was a good thing to do. Two of them started out with great confidence ; when they discovered that the Lord was blessing them and raising up friends for them they were over-confident, with the result they had to spend one night in a corn field and eat the green corn, but they were soon humbled and thereafter in response to their appeal they were never without friends. ¶

Perhaps another interesting experience that has come to the elders in New Mexico might be worth relating. A very unusual thing, and for it I have no explanation. A woman with Lamanite blood in her; veins became interested in the elders and their message. She purchased a Book of Mormon and read it partly through, laid it up on top of her library, put a portable typewriter on top of the book, locked up her house and went away to visit her daughter. In her absence her house burned to ashes. When she came back and was searching among the ruins of her home the spirit seemed to say to her, "Go get your book." She went over to where the library had been and poked among the ashes and found the typewriter burned and twisted. Under the typewriter she found her Book of Mormon, covered with a white paper cover, as we cover the fifty cent edition that we send out. The paper cover was scorched but the book was unharmed. All of the rest of her books were entirely burned. The woman brought the book out and came to the elders in great astonishment and showed them what had happened, how it had been miraculously saved. I saw the woman, I saw the book, and I felt a certain amount of reverential awe when I held it in my hand. We wanted to purchase it from her, but she would, not part with her wonderful relic. She has since become a member of the Church. ¶

I have to say to you that your missionary sons and daughters who are laboring in the Western States, with two exceptions are all well, enjoying good health. The two who are not well are lady missionaries, one in the Latter-day Saints Hospital in Salt Lake City and the other at Council Bluffs. That you may not be concerned or think it is your daughter, let me say that the mothers of these girls know where their daughters are. The missionaries are happy in their labors and are enjoying their work. ¶

One thing I would like to say to you is that when you write to your missionary sons and daughters write them encouraging words and do not worry about when they are going to be released. I have noticed in some cases where the fathers and mothers anticipate the release of their missionaries, the missionaries themselves become so interested in their release, about ninety days before it happens they let down in their work and lose to some extent the spirit of their mission. You do them a great injustice when you make them feel that they should come home, or that you are anxious to have them come home. Write them encouraging letters and tell them you want them to remain as long as they can. If you have any financial worries write to the mission president and not to the missionary. The mission president I am sure will always be sympathetic with you in your troubles, but keep your troubles away from your missionary sons or daughters. ¶

We have one missionary in our mission who I am told is about ready to come home because he does not get encouragement from home; he feels discouraged. That is very serious and ought not to happen. If you will encourage them you will bless and help them wonderfully. ¶

I want to testify that the hand of the Lord is over us to protect us and inspire us in all that we do. As long as we remain humble we enjoy a wonderful spirit. We are very happy in our labors and we are trying in our humble way to carry the gospel message as plainly and simply as we can. May God bless you, I humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶