Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-11-07
SAINTS IN THE SOUTH SEAS.
Interesting letter Prom Missionary
In The Low Archipelago.
TEaiABfE, AUAA,
August ~, 1898

take pleasure In writing you respect.
lug tho work Of God here. Three
months since Brother G. J.. Larsen and
myself landed on the Tuamolu L..
lauds, at the city Of "roavaroa,D were
kindly entertained there by "Mapuhin
whose name has previously appeared
Ia your columns as a charitable, OPEN
hearted aHd Goi.fearlng man. After
an c!apso Of three weeks We were
Joined by Elders Jos. W. Damron, tue
present president, aud Thomas Jones,
who have boeu lsborng among this
Iuamoiu group for upwards Of ten
months.
Ga July We yet sail Tor Faknrava,
the islAnu uVkeuUteu Tor this tCfaiuu OF
uur qua rtCriy conference. rhcty be-.
lug high anu the rain contiuuour, our
Journey was anything uut pleasant.
Upon ARA sias nt our destination, We
found Brother William A. Scrgmi llar
who has been lnbOuug on the leland ui
lupoi. He rcpcfis good feeling
among the Saint, btsldts eighty hap.
tisms during the Iast year.
Conference c0mmuuctd az Tctamanu
July 6lh. Elder Seegmillur called the
Saints q order, ahd after the opening
services President Damfun spoke upon
the subject Of MOsos not being permit.
ted TO lead the children Of Israel Into
tile PfomHod Land on account OF dif-
obedience, (Numbcft, chapter XXI nls0
tue restoration u the Gospel In tho last
dtyH. lie clOtcd by urging the people
10 servc COD rather than Mammon.
The iepuit Tor the past three months
showed b,p ismi twenty Ave, maffiagos
twelve, biuhs lour nuu deaths twU.
After the acceptance OF the report
tho choir sang, aud Elder Sgcgmiller
pronounced the benediCtion.
Ia sho afternoon Elder Seogmlllor
addressed the congregati3n ON tho
subject OF circumcision; ana the meet
ing was brought 10 close by the choir
singing "tiuil 10 the Prophet" etc.
Bvnrdiclion by Elder Mapuhia.
On Friday morning., July 7th, con.
ference was called 10 order by PTrsi.
dent Damron. And alter the usual
services Brother fhomas Jouss at.
dressed tbs congregation. He exhoTtei 1
the Sniuu 10 live Ia obedience 10 those
In authority, anu reiterated some Of
oX-Pfrsiiont Jas. 5. Browns instruc.
ton. Elder DAmton followed him
with lew remarks. The choir then
slug aud Elder fhomas Il. Woodbury.
dismissed the meeting.
The afternoon session was called 10
order by Elder Jones anu after singing
gnd prayer, the Saints were addtessed
by Elders Damon, Seegmiilrr, Wood.
bury, Larsr n aud Jones. Some ere
liminary business followed anu the
conference was adjourned for three
months b the Island of Aua'.
Monday, July 10Th, Brothers Lar.
sen anu Jones set sail for Rnrakn,
while the tost Of W. loft for Auas.
President DAmron aud ] landed AiJvr
n two days voyage, leaving Bro.
Their Secgmlllcf on the vessel
on his way 10 rakaruu.
We were Hospitality greeted by tho
whites upon our arrival, anu paTtook
OF their hospitality a number OF times
afterwards Among them was the
French peace officer; h1 treated US
with all tho courtesy and Kindness pos.
sibie, stating that he would do all la
bis power 10 protect our rights. The
inhabitants OF this island are pIinci.
pally Catholics. Here Ia where the
Gospel was firat preached, the people
receiving It's everlasting truths aud
embracing the principles aud Ordi.
nanoes with readiness aud sincerity.
The success that attended our Elders
soon awoke Satan; he huw 10 the res.
cue, putting II In mems hearts 10 clrcu.
lAts falsehoOls cOnceTaing GOd's
chosen servants. AZ "A result, the gov.
eminent was deceived by the untruth.
fol and evil intended reports. The
| Oilicinls listened 10 these ialsrhOOds,
aul our Elders were forced 10 depart
with no show OF Justice exercised In
their behalf, thus leaving tins branch
seemingly without head during their
absence, which was about forty years.
Wolves came into the dock, scattering
! II like chat before the wind, and where
We once had membership VI 1900, IL
has dwlndled down 10 thirty. sun, by
the aid OF God We anticipate performing
au extensive work among this people,
although Satan ID lighting US on every
hand.
The Catholics have forbid their iol.
| lowers TO como near ~. The Jlsephltts
arc doing all In their rover 10 obtain
our old broken down meeting hOu a.,
hpsides printing q tract misfeptosent.
! ir us. Many ialsehoOds are thus puu.
she The principal one il that We
or mp Joseph smith, Brigham
\ vuug, Adam and Others instead OF
Cod.
We have visited five out Of tbs ak
cities on the island. Some have re-
ceiyed anu treated Us as servants pos
aossing authority from the Creator OF
all, while others have summed our
very presence, rhu sunday meetings
have been iwoll attended, aud many
have expressed themselves us to the
| simplicity and oleaTnoss Of our doc.
trlne, each statement being supported
and sustained boy sGripturW refer
ence. Others make light o. what is
/ spoken. There are some who attend
I every meeting, listening atIentively u
what Is said, no doubt laying a ,Ouuda.
ton wherein they may erect suuc.
| ture which VIII DO OF an eYeTlastin T;
| benefit 10 them. Each night the house
| Is filled with people, some uHger u
listen aud others only curious. when
| we sing a hymn the latter class crowd
| M, but when the scripture part Is pros
cesded with they disappear into IN,
dark ness. No baptlsms nave been per,
| formed since our arrival, but prospects
are favorable, Many have tXpr,taed
/ their desire 10 Join the Church anu
become numbered with the iaithiul.
Praying God to bless all who are
striving to obtain .ruih, remain YOU
brother anu cJ.laburer In the Gnspel,
! #. l., WOODBURY..