Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-11-08
SAINTS IN TIE SOUTH SEAS.
TEMARfE, AuAAi
AmnnsllI. 1888.

TEAiAHfE, AUAA,
August IL, 1898.
Editor Descret NetCc
Thinking few lines from an almos
unknown locality would be acceptable
take pleasure in writing you respect
ing the work Of God here. Three
months since Brother G.. J. Larsen aud
myself landed on the Tuamo,u L.
lauds, at the city Of "Teavaroa," were
kindly entertained there by "MapuhPi
whose name mas previously appeared
In your columns ne a charitable, open
hearted and God-fearlng man After
On olapso Of three weeks we were
Joined by Elders Joe. w. Dimron, the
present president, and Thomas Jones,
who have been laboring among this
Tuamotu group for upwards Of ten
months.
On July 2 we set sail for FAksrava,
the ISLAND designated for this session Of
our quarterly conference. The sea be-
ing high And the rain continuous, our
journey was anything hut pleasant
Upon arriving At our destination, we
found Brother William A. Sergmillor
who has been laboHng on the island Of
Tupoi. lie reports a good feeling
among the Saints, besides eighty bap-
tisms during the past year
Conference commenced nj Totamanu
July 9th. Elder 5eogmlller called the
Saints u order, asd after the opening
services President DAmron spoke upon
the subject Of Moses not being permit.
ted 10 lead the children Of Israel into
the Promised Land on account Of die
obedience, Number, chapter XXI also
the restoration Of the Gospel In the last
days. lie CLOSED W urging the people
10 serve Col rather than Mamm0n.
The report fsr the past Three months
showed bbplisms twenty i've, marriages
twelve, births four aud deaths two.
After the acceptance Of the report
the choir sang, aud Elder Suogmillsr
pronounced the benediciion.
Ia tho afternoon Elder Beegmiller
hddfuased the congregaliln ON thu
subject OF circumcision; anu the meet
Ing was brought 10 a close by the choir
singing "Hail 20 the prophot,D etc.
Brnediction by Elder Mapuhia.
On Friday morning, July zen, con.
ference was called 10 order BY Prrsl.
dent Damfon. And alter tho usual
services Brother Thomas Jones Ad.
dressed the congregation. He OK horte
the saint. 10 live la obedience TO those
In authority, aud reiterated some I
ex-Pfesidont Jas. =. Browns inatfut-
ton. Elder DAmfon followed him
with n few remarks. The choir then
sang anu Elder Thomas u. Woodbury.
dismissed the meeting.
The afternoon session was called 20
order by Elder Jones anu after singing
anu prayer, the Saints were Addressed
BY Elders Damr0n, seUgmiller, Wool.
bury, Lafae n and Jones. Some sfs-
liminary business followed and tho
conference was Adioufuea for three
months 70 the Island Of Auni.
Monday, July 10Th, Brothers Lar.
sen and Jones oct sail for Rlfaka,
while the rest OF ~ left Tor Auar.
President Damron aud landed af,er
two days voyage, leaving Bro.
ther seegmiller on tho vessel
on his way 10 Takatoa,
We were Hospitality greeted by the
whites upon our arrival, AMI pAr,oos
OF their hospitality number OF times
afterwards. Among them was the
French peace officer; ho treated ia
with all the courtesy and Kindness pos.
nible, stating that he would DO ali In
bis power 10 protect our rights. The
inhabitants OF this island are pfinci.
pally Catholics. Here IL where the
doepel was hrst preached, the people
receiving itA everlasting truths and
embracing the principles nnd Ofdi.
~ IL -.
The success that attended our Eldefa
soon Awoke Satan; no fiuw % the rpn.
cue, putting IL In mems hearts 90 cifcu.
late falhehoods concerning CODE !
chosen servants. AsA result, the gov. |
ornmont was deceived by the untrulh. |
ful and evil Intended reports. Tho |
officials listened 10 these falsehoods, |
anu our Elders were forced 10 depart |
with no show Of Justice exercised In I
their behalf, thus leaving tho branch |
seemingly without a head during their |
absence, which was about forty yOata. |
Wolves came into the flock, scattering
itlike chan before the wind, and where !
We once mad u membership Of 1900, II
has dwindied down 10 thirty. sun, By
the aldo God we anticipate performing
an extensive worn among this people,
although Satan iu fighting Va on every
hand.
The Catholics have forbid their fol.
lowers 10 come near Ne. The JuFephitra
are doing all In their power to obtain
our old broken down meeting house,,
beaidcs printing a tract mlsfspresenl.
90. ~. Many ialsehoods are thus pua.
SKA. The principal ono II that We
MeF nip Joseph Smith, brigham
Young, Adam and others instead of
God.
We have visited i've out Of tho six
ollieS on this island. Some have re-
ooiyod and treated VA ~ suryAnta pos.
syssing authority from the Creator OF
al, while others have summed our
very presence. The Sunday meetings
have been well attended, and many
have expressed themselves az TO the
simplicity and olearness OF our doc.
trine, each statement being supported
nnd sustained by aoriplural refer
ence. Others make light OF what 10
spoken. There are some who attend